“I want to be happy too, Em, but it won’t be for a while. You, on the other hand, have your ever after now. You have to chase it and lock it down.”
“I will.”
“Tomorrow!” She commands.
“I promise. I’ll call him tomorrow.”
My phone rings on the nightstand. A peek at my clock shows me it’s just past three o’clock in the morning.
“Well,” she says, detaching my cell from the charger and handing it to me. “I guess his ears must have been ringing.”
The display shows Casen is calling.
Trinity leaves me to my call and I answer on the fourth ring. “Casen, I was going to call you tomorrow.”
“Embyr,” a sobbing female voice responds. “Is this Embyr?”
“Yes,” I warily say. “Who’s this?”
“Embyr, it’s Megan, Casen’s sister. You need to come to the hospital as soon as you can.” Her sobs get louder. “Right now.”
I scramble out of bed, grabbing a bra and an overnight bag to fill with whatever I think I may need. “Is Casen okay?”
“No. He’s been shot. Come now. We’re in the surgical waiting room.”
She hangs up, and I scream for Trinity. She’s back to my room in an instant. “Casen got shot. He’s at the hospital. I need you to drive me.”
My hands shake as I throw my charger, sweatshirt, change of clothes, wallet, and phone into the bag.
Trinity doesn’t ask much as we near the hospital. I told her everything I know and calls back to Casen’s phone go straight to voicemail. This feels too much like the night Ian got shot. Late night phone call followed by a rush to the hospital, except this time it’s me who’s in turmoil. Yes, I knew Ian but my heart didn’t beat along with his. I don’t know how I could survive should something happen to Casen. I love him. I was stupid. He should have been with me tonight. This wouldn’t have happened.
I push out all the blame and what ifs out of my head and jump out when Trinity stops the car in front of the emergency room entrance. I remember where the waiting room was down here, but I’m uncertain where the surgical one is. The nurse at the desk directs me and I take the elevator up to the second floor. When the doors slide open, I search in every direction until I find Mr. and Mrs. Parker at the coffee vending machine. They see me, and Mrs. Parker races over to hug me.
“Oh, Embyr. I’m so glad you are here.” She cries, her tears dampening my shirt.
“What happened?” I try to ask, but the words are caught up in my throat.
“Embyr?” My name is called from behind. It’s Megan, Casen’s sister. She looks exactly as I remember her. Long dark hair, blue eyes, and without a stitch of makeup on, she still looks stunning. Her eyes show evidence of crying. “I’m so glad I was able to call you before Casen’s phone died.”
“Megan.” I hug her. “What’s going on?”
Her hand grabs onto mine and she pulls me to a few chairs out of earshot of other families. “Someone heard a gunshot in the building and called 911. When the police arrived they found Casen in the spare bedroom. He was shot in the chest and they had to take him into surgery. Reece called us.”
I shake my head in disbelief. “Someone shot Casen in his apartment? Was he being robbed?”
“No. It was at Reece’s apartment.” She grows quiet for a moment and then stares at me intently. “I think Reece shot Casen. He didn’t call 911 and he wasn’t there when paramedics arrived. He called my mom and told her to come here and then he just disappeared. Won’t answer his phone. Didn’t meet us here. Nothing. I’m not sure my mom has made the assumption yet, but I’m not stupid. Reece is a loose cannon. I’ve kept my distance from him since we were kids.”
The doors open up at the end of the hallway and the doctors immediately zero in on Casen’s parents. Megan and I stay where we are and watch as Mrs. Parker starts to cry. My stomach twists with sickness. I can’t lose him. I just can’t.
When the doctors leave, she comes over to us. “He’s out of surgery and in recovery. We can see him in a little bit but the doctor said he may not wake up for a while.”
I breathe out a sigh of relief, all the weight I’ve had for just moments has now lifted, and we all hug one another. Trinity finds us as she exits the elevators, pale as a ghost.
“Casen’s out of surgery,” I tell her. “He’s going to be fine. What’s wrong?”
She nods, bringing her cell phone up for me to see a text message.
Reece: Tell everyone I’m sorry for ruining their lives. Please tell me I didn’t kill Casen.
