“Consider it a little good faith on our new company. Let’s get to work, kiddo.”
She hands me a book of her clients’ profiles and headshots and points out the women she thinks need the most styling help.
“Hayden, my dear, Shopping for Love is going to be the one-stop shop now with you on board.”
“But what if Caroline and her new man don’t pan out?”
“I have a feeling you’re better at this than you think.” She pulls a bottle of champagne from a mini fridge and pops it open.
I’m so excited that I can help my mom. I’m excited that I can support myself and that I made this new business deal happen all on my own. I feel like something is still missing for me, and maybe it always will be. But I can’t let those thoughts get in the way of my happiness for now.
Weeks go by, and Diana and I have been working nonstop. Shopping for Love is the new Atlanta hit.
Crompton Enterprises hired Marcus, and he and Caroline have already been on five dates. One night after some champagne in the office, Caroline joined us. She alluded to the fact she and Marcus were compatible in all the ways you can think of.
I wondered about Blake, but didn’t want to ask.
I’m sitting at my desk going through invoices when I get a call from Caroline. She’s crying. “Blake’s been in an accident. I told him not to ride that death trap. Oh my god!”
My stomach sinks into a pit. “Calm down. Is he okay? What’s going on?”
“We’re at Saint Joe’s. They’re taking him into surgery. His knee is torn and he has lacerations. I don’t know what else. He was unconscious when I saw him.”
“Unconscious? Oh, no. But is he stable?”
“I don’t know. They don’t know if he has a head injury. Can you just come down? I need you.”
“Sure,” I say. “I’ll be down right away.”
I’m literally crying in Frankie as I speed toward the hospital. So young and vibrant, so beautiful and full of life. I can’t think about Blake being injured so badly.
When I arrive, the whole Crompton family is sitting in the waiting room in tears. My mind immediately goes to the darkest place, and then it goes to the lightest. His entire alternate family is here for him. I think about him almost kissing me, and then I believe in this moment that it will never ever happen again because he’s gone and I’m in the dark again. It’s like a knife in the gut.
Caroline runs to me and hugs me. “He’s still in surgery.” He’s alive.
I realize how much her family cares for him. He’s like a son to them. I look past her and notice Marcus is there. I wonder how Blake would feel about it.
Just then a doctor comes out and speaks to Mr. Crompton first as Caroline stands nearby. She comes over to give me an update.
“They said he’s stable. Thank God. His knee needed surgery, pins and screws or something, but no head injury.” She’s smiling through tears and so am I. I feel like I’ve known them all forever. I’m so glad he has this many people who love him in his life. He deserves it.
Several hours later we’re finally able to go in and see him. He’s lucid and smiling. Caroline starts in on him immediately. “I told you that death trap—”
He puts his hand up. “CC, they just cut my knee open. Give me a break here.” She’s crying as she goes over to him and hugs him. I notice Marcus is standing behind her, but in front of me. “Marcus.” Blake nods.
“Glad you’re okay, man.” They’ve met. He must know everything. I’m sure he sees that the bond between Blake and Caroline can never be broken.
As everyone else congregates around Blake, Caroline comes over and hugs me. “Thank you for coming. You’re such a good friend to all of us.”
The room starts to disperse; even Marcus puts his arm around Caroline and walks her out. Diana is the last before me to address Blake. “You know how hot I think you are on that motorcycle, right, Blakey?” she says. “Still, we don’t want to lose you.” She kisses him and he hugs her back.
“It was the other guy’s fault,” he says to her. He finally looks up at me and laughs.
She leaves the room and then it’s just us. “So, I guess this makes me the ultimate champion again,” I say. “Though I don’t know when you’ll be ready for a rematch.”
He shakes his head. “It was stupid. I got cut off. Some guy with a lead foot.” He winks at me. “Come closer, Hayden. I’m not gonna bite you.”
I move toward his bed and pull two small photos from my pocket. Photos I had taken of him that he wasn’t aware of. It was the night we were out, and he was walking a little ahead of me, laughing at something I had said. “I wanted you to have these.”
