Zane and my other kids are out at the playground.Zane’s got his little face smashed up against the fence, waving excitedly.I wave back mirroring his enthusiasm.
“Gosh, I love him,” I let slip out.
“He loves you too, Sutton.You’re all he talks about to me and Martha,” he informs me, and it makes me smile.
“He’s a good kid, Beckett.He’s kind and helpful and so loving,” I tell him.“I wish we could all stay so trusting and innocent,” I say the last part more to myself.
“Then let me in.Trust me.How can I help you if you don’t let me know what’s going on,” he says.
My shoulders sag in defeat.I’m leaving within the next week and maybe getting it all off my chest will help someone else after this town is in my rearview mirror.
“Pick me up after work tomorrow and I’ll tell you,” I say.
He growls, letting me know he hates waiting, and it makes me giggle.
“If you ghost me again, I’m chaining you to the bedpost and not letting you leave for a month, Angel,” he says and a horrible memory from Colombia surfaces.My body freezes and then sways.“Whoa, babe, it was a joke,” I hear him voice.I shake my head sealing the thoughts up tight.
“Right,” I clear my throat trying to play it off.
Beckett brings his hand up cupping the side of my neck.His thumb roams across my cheek ever so gently.
“I know you feel what’s happening here.Whatever you have to tell me won’t change things.”
If you only knew, it might change your mind.
Slowly, he bends down and presses his lips to mine.They’re warm and soft to the touch.A car door slams startling me, and I break our connection.
“I’ve got to go,” I say, bending down, grabbing my bag in the front seat.
“Tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow,” I agree.
He nods and I watch as he walks back over to his bike, swinging a leg over the seat.The motor rumbles before he kicks the stand back and shoots out of the parking lot.
I take a huge inhale of air and close my eyes.I just need to get through this evening and tomorrow, then I’ll be able to embark on my exit strategy.Telling Beckett isn’t going to change my mind, but he at least deserves to know why I can’t commit or stay here.
Tomorrow.
I’ll tell him what he wants, but first I just need to get through the race tonight, and then it’ll be easier.
BEEP…BEEP…BEEP…
“Let’s get a fresh IV bag and switch out the blankets now that we have all her wet clothes off… Her vitals look a little better than when she first got here… Once X-ray becomes available, we need to make sure there are no broken bones…”
“Mmm…”
“Sutton?Can you hear me?”a woman’s voice slides up next to me.“You’re at the hospital, can you tell me if anything hurts?”
My eyes peel open, but they’re a little blurry.It’s hard to focus.
What happened?What’s going on?
“Sutton, I need you to look at me,” I hear my name again.A shiver racks my body, and I feel a coldness settle into my very core.I feel my teeth chattering.“It’s going to be okay, sweetheart.Just focus on me for a second.I’m Dr.Melissa Spencer, okay?Can you tell me what hurts?”
“Her pulse is still low,” another voice says.
“Keep changing out the warm blankets.”
