Authors: Bec Botefuhr
He turns and storms out of the café and I put my head in my hands, crying. A woman comes over and lays her hand on my shoulder.
“He will come around, it’s ok.”
I look up at her, humbled by her kindness.
“Thank you.”
She hands me a towel and I wipe away my tears.
“Congratulations.”
I nod and stand, walking out of the café. I go to the hospital. When I walk in Nate’s room, it is dark and quiet. He
lies in the bed, in the same position he was in yesterday. I choke back a sob and walk over; I stare down at his battered face and stroke a piece of dull blonde hair away from his eyes. I slide into the bed next to him, and I break down.
“Please Nate, please w
ake up. Please,” I sob, clutching him.
I sob and cry for hours, nurses come and go, they don’t stop me. I lay beside Nate until I have nothing left to cry. I breathe in his scent and take him in, trying so hard to create every perfect memory in my head and keep it there. I feel the bed move, and then I
feel a hand go over mine. I open my eyes to see Ryder; he is in the bed, on the other side. His hand stretches across Nate’s chest to clutch mine.
“I am so sorry baby,” h
e whispers.
“I want him back, Ryder, I want him back.”
“God, I know, I know.”
“Why is this happening to us? Not him, Nate is beautiful, why him?”
“It’s how life goes sometimes.”
“It’s not fair.”
“He will get through this.”
“What about us?”
He lifts his head up and stares at me, “You’re really pregnant?”
“
Apparently,”
A smile plays across his lips, the first smile I have seen in days.
“I am going to be a dad, for real?”
“For real this time,
”
He lifts his han
d to cup my face, “I’m sorry about how I reacted, I was shocked, I didn’t see it coming.”
“Neither did I, tell me this is going to be ok?”
He grips my chin.
“It’s going to be ok, everything will be ok.”
CHAPTER
12
RYDER
Devastation doesn’t even cover how I feel right now. Seeing him lying in that bed each day is doing my head in. My best friend, my Brother, if he dies…I shake my head. I can’t think like that, I have to be strong, be positive. Maya is distraught; I hear her crying each night, even though she thinks I can’t. She is dealing with a lot, and I worry it is all just too much.
When she told me she was pregnant, I was so shocked. I couldn’t think, and I felt like a dick for running out on her. I am happy about it though,
God, I couldn’t be happier. I feel guilty, feeling happy while Nate is fighting for his life. I have felt every emotion in the past few days; I have felt fear, heartache, sadness, anger, happiness and loss. I blame myself; I was the one who made him run. I don’t know how much more I can feel before I explode.
I feel my phone buzzing in my pocket and I pick it up. “Hello?”
“Ryder?”
“Speaking,
”
“It is
Nurse Annie from the hospital. We have some news, can you please come in?”
“Is he ok?”
She laughs, “He’s awake!”
“What?” I cry, feelin
g my chest swell with happiness, “I’m coming.”
I quickly shoot Maya a text, and then I get in the car and begin driving. When I arrive at the hospital, I run down the halls. I skid into Nate’s room and I can feel the massive smile on my face when I see him sitting up. He looks over at me, his face is still bruised but I can see the small smile he gives.
“Oh fuck.”
I rush over and grip him in a bear hug.
“Whoa, go easy buddy,” he croaks.
I let him go,
and then I grip his shirt.
“If you ever fucking do that to me again, I will make that face look a whole lot worse.”
He laughs hoarsely, “I’m sorry bud.”
“I’m the one who should be sorry, fuck, I over reacted.”
“You had every right.”
“The thought of losing you,”
I whisper, shoving his chest, “Don’t scare me like that again.”
“Nate?”
We hear the little voice, and I turn to see Maya standing at the door. Her eyes are wide and tears thunder down her cheeks. She puts her hand over her mouth.
“Come here bubba,” Nate whispers
, his own voice cracking.
She rushes over and crawls into the bed beside him. He soothes her and strokes her, caring about how she feels, even though he likely feels like shit.
“I thought you were going to die…” she whispers.
“Y
ou can’t kill me off that easily.”
“I was so afraid.”
The nurse comes back in with a tray of food. She sets it down in front of Nate.
“The doctor said you can eat, just try it slowly.”
Maya covers her mouth, “Sorry,” she groans, and leaps off the bed and dashes into the bathroom where we hear her lose her breakfast.
Nate l
ooks at me and raises his brows, “Why did Maya just run in there like a pregnant woman?”
I grin and I see his eyes widen,
“No?”
“Yes, she’
s pregnant.”
“Holy fuck, get over here!”
I walk over and hug him again, he pats my back.
“Congrats man, that is awesome.”
“Yeah, it is. We haven’t really celebrated yet because someone took all the attention away by trying to kill himself.”
He chuckles,
“You know me, center of attention.”
“
Yeah, typical,”
“So a baby huh?
That’s fucking fabulous.”
“Yeah, it’s great.”
Maya walks out look pale and sick. She smiles weakly; I walk over and pull her into my arms.
“You ok baby?”
“Just sick, again,”
“Hey, you, get over here!” Nate calls.
She looks over at him and smiles, “He told you?”
“He told me, congr
ats, I am going to be a wicked Uncle.”
“When you get out of that bed,” s
he teases.
“Give me
time; I will be chasing you again.”
She laughs and walks over to hug him once more.
“Has anyone called your parents?” she asks, “They have been frantic.”
“The nurse did, they will be in soon.”
“And Janelle?”
“She came in this morning, Jasmine was with her.”
“Was she ok?”
“There was a lot of emotion, but they were a lot happier when they left.”
“That’s good bud; we should probably let you rest.”
Maya pouts and I laugh, flicking her lip.
“Don’t pout at me beautiful, he needs rest.”
Nate gives me a look, and I sigh.
“Alright stay, I have to head back to work.”
Maya beams and leaps up, wrapping her arms around my neck.
“I love you Ryder, you are the best.”
“Yeah, well, I try.”
“I will see you later?”
I lean down and brush my lips across hers.
“You know it.”
CHAPTER
13
MAYA
I snuggle closer to Nate’s chest, breathing in his scent. He has his arms firmly around me, and we are laying in silence. I am thanking God, I have been for the past two hours. He gave me back my best friend, and I will be forever grateful. Nate shifts a little, so I move and sit up.
“Am I hurting you?”
He smiles, “No sweetheart.”
“I am so glad you are ok Nate, the past week has been hell.”
“How is Ryder?”
“Truthfully?
He was a wreck. He has his brave face on now, but he was devastated.”
“I am sorry you guys had to go through that.”
“If you hadn’t made it…”
“Hey, I did make it, it’s all ok.”
“Nate, I’m so sorry about everything that happened.”
“You shouldn’t be sorry.”
“Can we move on from that?”
“Maya, I have to ask…”
“It’s Ryder’s,” I whisper, knowing what he is going to say, “I am over four weeks along.”
“Thank
God, I couldn’t do that to him again.”
I smile and grip his hand
, “It’s all ok, we will be fine. Have you told Trey you are awake?”
His eyebrows raise,
“Trey has been by?”
“Yes, every day. He was so broken over it Nate, you should call him.”
“I will. Imagine his face when my number comes up on his phone?”
I laugh,
“Don’t kill the man.”
“
I promise not to. So, tell me more about this family of yours? I haven’t even had the chance to ask you after everything that has happened.”
I lean back down and spend the next hour telling him about my new family. When a nurse comes in, I realize it is afternoon and I have probably drained him.
“I should let you get some rest,” I say, stroking his pale cheek.
“Yeah, I do feel a bit crap.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” I cry.
He smiles weakly, “A
nd miss out on snuggles? Not likely.”
I feel my eyes well up again.
“Now don’t cry again sweetheart, I am ok.”
“Nate, if anything ever happened
to you…”
He takes my face and brings my lips down to his, kissing me softly. When I pull back the nurse gives us an odd look. I know she has seen me with Ryder and is probably confused.
“I love you bubba, ok?”
I nod, biting my lip,
“Right back at you cowboy, rest up.”
I walk over to the do
or, and turn just as I reach it, “Call Trey, he needs to know you are ok. He has missed you. He is good for you Nate, I hope this helps things.”
Then I turn and leave. Part of my speech was true, and the other part was for the benefit of the nurse who clearly thought I was having some saucy relationship with two men. I snort as I walk down the
halls; it’s hard enough to keep up with one, let alone two. When I get out into the car park, I see Mark waiting by my car.
“Hey,
” I smile.
“Hey, I thought you might be here.”
“What’s up?”
“Do you want to come to a friend’s part
y with me tonight?”
“I should probably….go…”
“Ryder is working; he said it was all good. He also said if I let anything happen to you, he will cut my dick off and shove it up my ass.”
I snort a laugh,
“Oh God, he didn’t?”
“He did, but he loves you.”
“I…can’t drink, but will come for a while.”
“It’s nothing big, just a few friends. I really want you to meet them.”
“Alright,”
“How’s Nate?”
“He’s really good; he seems to be feeling better.”
Mark smiles,
“Good, come on, we will take my car.”
We walk over to his car and get in, we chat easily on the way over to his
friend’s house. When we get out of the car, I gape at the huge mansion in front of me.
“This isn’t a house…” I mutter.
He laughs, “No, I guess it isn’t. His parents are rich.”
“You think?”
We walk up the long driveway, and I admire the perfectly clipped gardens and rolling acres of green grass. The house is massive, and a light pink in color. I can’t see where it ends and begins when I am standing up close. Mark opens the front door and walks in, ok, I could so easily get lost in this place. We step out onto a massive patio with a spa, a pool and a really cool table set up.
Six people are sitting around the table, four boys and two girls. I recognize one of the
girls, she was with Mark at his house. I smile at them all, and they return the gesture. They look like a nice bunch of people, but I can’t help but feel a bit off. It’s been a long time since I socialized with people my own age; I haven’t really had the chance.
“Maya, this is Jack, Matt, De
on and Kurt,” Mark says, “And that is Shasta and Laine.”
I smile and wave weakly,
“Nice to meet you all.”
I get a lot of hi’s and hellos from them. Mark leads me over to a seat and I sit down, I am beside Matt, who gives me such a look, I feel dirty. It isn’t often I feel
awkward around a person, but Matt makes me feel that way right off the mark. He has steely blue eyes and light brown hair, and while he is attractive, he is creepy.