My Beautiful (The Beautiful Series) (16 page)

“We are going to finish preparing dinner, dear.” Aunt Lucie smiled. “Why don’t you kids go sit and catch up?”

Meg, A.J., Kyle, and I took our seats at the patio table, and we continued to chat. Meg was dating Bruce, a guy we had gone to high school with. I vaguely remembered him. It seemed like she was really into him. Her smile went a mile wide just from talking about him. She said she’d needed this break from school, and she was ready for a short weekend back home. Bruce had a job near their college campus. If things were to work out between them, she was planning to relocate there permanently after graduating.

I was really happy to hear about all the great things happening in her life. She was thriving in her education, pursuing a career in teaching, which had been a childhood dream of hers, and she was in love with someone who seemed to be her perfect other half.

A.J. was very shy in the beginning. However, he managed to open up once we all got to talking. He had toured many coasts in the last few years. He wanted to purchase a home off the water. He did not go into detail as to where he hoped to settle down. He just said that it had to be somewhere warm. He was not dating anyone, and from what I gathered, he hadn’t dated for some time.

He seemed extremely sad about that fact, and I wondered if there was more to that story.
Maybe he had a bad breakup.
I didn’t want to invade his privacy, so I let the conversation drop.

Meg was not surprised that I had indulged in a writing career. She brought up fond memories of me sitting in my backyard, writing in notebooks, while she and Annie had played house, using their vivid imaginations to create knights and princesses on horseback adventures.

I smiled, remembering those carefree childhood times. It was funny how when we were so young, we had wished we could grow up fast. Then, once we had, we sometimes wished we could go back to being kids again, so we could have that untroubled spirit with no worries.

A.J.’s and Meg’s expressions saddened while talking of Annie. I found myself focusing very hard on letting Meg finish. My feelings of sadness mirrored theirs.

Oh, how I miss her dearly.

Meg moved on to hammer Kyle and me with questions of how, when, and where we met and what our future plans were. She specifically noted that we looked to be in love, and she wished us the happiest of times together.

I couldn’t help but blush at being put on the spot about our relationship. Kyle answered the questions with ease, and I admired his confidence. His voice resounded with such affection for me that I felt butterflies in my stomach every time I looked his way.

I felt almost as though we were being interviewed, but I pushed the thought aside when I remembered how direct and invasive Meg had always been. She liked to be fully informed with every detail.

Dinner went off without a hitch. We had brought out extra chairs to fit our large group around the patio table. We ate and conversed, rejoicing in the many good times we had shared in our childhoods. Kyle listened intently as though he was trying to pick up on any tidbits he could about me and my previous life in Colorado. I warmed at how much he cared to learn more about me.

After dinner, all the men congregated and talked about a new garage that Uncle Dan wanted to build in place of the old one that had seen better days. He mentioned that he needed double the space and a good shelving system.

Jason, Damon, and Kyle immediately ranted off hundreds of possibilities, including where to place the shelves and what material to use.

All the ladies sat closer together and enjoyed the time by discussing girlie things. Shopping, books, and movies took up most of the conversation.

Meg and I exchanged emails, and we promised to keep in touch. I found myself looking forward to hearing from her in the future.

I briefly overheard Kyle and Jason chatting about real estate again. They mainly talked about new construction versus remodeling older homes, and the rest involved many real estate terms that were foreign to me. Damon joined in their conversation toward the end, and he seemed equally interested. Jason asked Damon a few questions about architecture and any new ideas he had for expanding their business, and Damon easily responded with plenty of details.

I smiled while watching all three them from afar. I was delighted to see them truly bonding and building their friendship.

A short while later, we all said our good-byes. I promised to see everyone again before I left town. As Kyle and I walked to the car, I thought about the bittersweet evening. I was very thankful for the chance to spend time them all, yet I was sad that it was one of the last times I would do that before my visit here came to an end. But my life and heart weren’t in Colorado anymore.

It was a quick drive back to the house. After heading inside and up to my room, I changed into one of Kyle’s white T-shirts before my head hit the pillow. I was feeling a little overwhelmed from all of today’s events. I had made a few baby steps in the right direction, but the finish line was still so far away.

Getting into bed beside me, Kyle kissed my cheek and tugged me into his side. It was my own little nook that fit me perfectly. It was my home, warm and oh-so comforting. I settled in with a smile before a deep sleep overtook me.

I awoke to sirens. People were yelling commands while I heard footsteps here and there. I didn’t know where I was
, and I could not focus my attention on any specific details around me.

I blinked and tried to clear the fog from my eyes. My forehead and the left side of my face felt wet. I lifted my trembling hand to wipe off whatever was on my cheek. My body was tense, stiff, and weak.

I shuddered as pain radiated through so many parts of my body. My pulse felt slow, too slow. I felt dizzy and nauseous, so I tried to lean forward, but something was holding my shoulders in place. I blinked again, wanting to clear the blurriness in my vision caused by the intense pain pulsating in my head, but it was too strong. I raised my hand to look at it, and my vision filled with a blurry red hue. In that moment, I knew it was blood, a lot of blood.

Someone kept saying, “Ma’am, are you okay?”

It wasn’t until he said, “I think she’s the only one,” that I gave him my attention.

The only one?
It repeated over and over in my mind.

“No!” I cried. Filled with shock and fear and pure agony, I had a horrible feeling about what he meant, and I would not stand for it. “No! No! Help them!”

***

When a tight grip wrapped around my waist, I instantly felt surrounded by warmth. Gentle lips kissed my temple.

“Wake up, Lily,” Kyle said in a soothing tone as he caressed my back, pulling me even closer. “It’s not real.”

I opened my eyes to darkness. My lips parted, accommodating my heavy, rapid breathing. My pulse raced through every vein in my body.
Why, oh why can’t I shake these nightmares?
I snuggled my face into his neck and let the tears flow.

“Jesus, Lily. You’re trembling.” He paused. “Tell me what that one was about,” he said softly.

I pondered for a moment, still trying to steady my erratic breathing. “It was different,” I said shakily. “I’ve never had that one before. It was after the accident, and I was still in the car, but I couldn’t see anything or anyone. I could only hear. I heard someone say…that I was the only one,” I said, barely able to speak the last part.

Kyle’s hand froze in place on my back. “The only one? Do you mean the only one to survive?”

I wiped my nose and sniffled. “Y-yeah, I think so.” More tears slowly streamed down my face. “Why me?” I cried softly. “Why do these nightmares have to haunt me?”

Kyle shifted, turning into me, and I wrapped my legs and arms around him, needing comfort from the close contact.

“I don’t know, Lily. I don’t know, but I wish I could take all your pain away. I wish I could take you away to a happier place and keep you there forever. You don’t deserve this constant heartache.”

I closed my eyes and listened to Kyle’s heartbeat beneath my ear. I counted the beats until a restless deep sleep pulled me back in.

***

Still wrapped in Kyle’s embrace, I awoke to my cell phone vibrating on the nightstand. Just as my phone stopped, I glanced up and realized he was already awake. My phone was quickly forgotten as I took in Kyle’s tousled hair. He looked as sexy as ever.

“Hi,” I said in my morning voice. I wanted nothing more than to devour the man before me.

“Hi.” He smiled back warmly.

His eyes searched mine, making sure I was really okay, as his hands made their way to my waist. Seeing that I was definitely better than okay, his eyes heated. He was clearly ready to satisfy my needs.

My phone vibrated again, and Kyle chuckled at my frustration from being interrupted. I turned and reached over to grab my phone from the nightstand. Kyle pressed his chest against the lower half of my back, and then he started to place small kisses up my spine.

Laughing, I shivered and squirmed away. I answered my phone, masking the lust in my voice, “Hello?”

“Hello, Lily, is that you?” asked a woman in a tone that sounded off.

I was momentarily stunned into silence at hearing Luke’s mom, Caroline Thompson, on the other end of the phone. I instantly wondered why she would be calling me. I had never spoken to her on the phone before. My whole body froze.

Kyle immediately backed off of me and leaned up on his elbow. When I glanced at him, his eyes probed mine as if trying to read my thoughts.

“What’s wrong, Mrs. Thompson? Is Luke okay?” I asked, worried. I felt Kyle’s body stiffen slightly beside mine, but I ignored him.

“Oh, Lily!” Caroline choked back a sob. “He’s been in a terrible accident. He was jet skiing…an-and they said the waves were too strong,” she cried. “He’s going into surgery now.”

My eyes filled with tears. “Is he…is he going to be okay?” I asked.

I didn’t want to hear if she would answer no, but I needed to know. Luke was my friend, and I cared deeply for him. We cared about each other unconditionally, and we had seen each other through the worst and lowest points in our lives. I would always be there for him, no matter what.

She couldn’t answer me through her sobbing. My heart stopped as I waited for her to say something.

“They told us to be prepared…either way.”

I inhaled sharply, feeling a stabbing pain in my chest. I jumped off the bed, ran to my closet, and threw on the first outfit I could get my hands on. Kyle followed behind me while also packing, but at a slower pace. He watched me wordlessly as I wrote down the hospital information.

After I hung up the phone, I threw some clothes into my suitcase as I rapidly explained the situation with Luke to Kyle. Then, I texted my aunt about the emergency, and I said I’d be in contact as soon as I had any information. Kyle called the airport and reserved our tickets.

We were on the next flight out.

***

Fear seeped into my mind just as the hospital came into view. Only then did it occur to me that I had not been in a hospital since…the accident
.
Even though it was a different hospital, strong emotions coursed through every nerve within me.

I swallowed hard as Kyle parked the car and turned off the ignition.
Shit, I have to go in now.

Kyle reached for my hand. He had barely spoken to me since we left the house, and I had a pretty good idea why. Now wasn’t the time though. That conversation would have to wait. I had to focus on making it through those double doors and up to a friend who needed me. Kyle’s hand tightened around mine, pulling me back to reality. I met his stare with faltering courage.

“You can do this, Lily. Your friend needs you,” Kyle assured.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath before nodding.
I can do this. I have to do this.
Luke was on the other side of those doors, fighting for his life, as I once had done.

With shaky hands, I opened the door handle and stepped out of the car. Kyle’s strong, steady paces led us through the parking lot to the front doors. I grasped his hand tightly as we made our way to the emergency wing.

As we approached the front desk, Caroline rose from her chair in the attached waiting room. She doubled her strides until she was in front of me. Her face was pale and frightened, and she pulled me into a hug, squeezing me hard, as her body trembled.

“Th-thank you for coming, Lily.” Caroline took a step back and gave me a weak smile. “Your presence here will mean the world to him.” She glanced over at Kyle and then returned her attention to me.

“Thank you for calling me.” I gestured to Kyle. “Mrs. Thompson, this is Kyle, my boyfriend.”

“Caroline, please,” she said in a strained voice as they shook hands.

I had to know if she had any more information. “Any news yet?” I asked hopefully.

Caroline nodded. “Yes. He made it out of his first surgery.”

Kyle’s hand came to the small of my back in a supportive manner.

“He had severe internal injuries and head trauma. The first surgery was to repair the internal damages. Now, he is having surgery to drain the blood from what they call a subdural hematoma, which is located underneath the skull but on the outside of his brain. The doctors are hoping to alleviate the pressure it’s causing on his brain.” She choked back her sobs as she placed her hand over her heart. “Oh, Lily. They have to drill into my baby’s head,” she cried.