Billion Dollar Mistake: An opposites attract billionaire romance: (The Lincolns Book 1)

Chapter 32

An alarm sounds in my ear. Fuck my head hurts.

I wince as I turn my head and open my eyes. The bright lights make it so hard to see.

But the sirens don’t.

What’s going on? Why are there sirens? I remember being in the car with Nova.

Fuck. Nova.

I focus on the body beside me. She’s not responding. Her body’s limp in her seat. I try to move, but my head is screaming in pain.

I can’t recall what happened, other than work distracted me. Now I’m waking up with my girlfriend unconscious beside me.

I try to speak, but my throat hurts.

Fuck!

I jerk in my seat, frustrated that I don”t hear my voice and am unable to move. I’m trapped.

A surge of panic courses through me. I’m trapped and so is Nova. I have to help her. This is all my fault.

“Sir, please, stay still; we are getting a stretcher. We need urgent scans to make sure there are no severe internal injuries.”

I want to tell her to focus on Nova and forget about me. That I deserve to die. She doesn’t.

But when I open my mouth, nothing but a rasp of air leaves my throat.

“I’m going to put a neck brace on now.”

I don’t bother responding because I can’t.

I’m at the paramedic’s mercy.

She puts the foam around my neck and explains how she’s going to get me out. How I don’t need to move. I tune her out. My eyes are trying to find Nova.

I’m out of the car, but my body is on fire. The pain from my waist takes my breath away.

“I’m going to give you some pain relief. Do you have any allergies?”

I try to shake my head. It must work because she replies, “Good. This should make you feel a little better.”

The pain reduces, but my head feels groggy.

I can’t feel or see Nova, but I have to know if she is alright.

“Nova.” I finally manage to say.

“We are taking care of her. We have to take you to the hospital now.”

“No,” I choke out.

“You can’t stay here. The quicker you’re assessed, the quicker you’ll be able to see her in the hospital.”

She pushes more pain relief into my veins. It helps the pain in my hips but not my heart. My eyes close, too tired to stay awake. “Nova…” I call out before I fall unconscious.

A few hours later, I wake to new beeping sounds. I groan. I’ve never wished for silence and darkness, but today I do.

My eyes slowly adjust to the light as I slowly look around the hospital room. It’s not one of my hospitals, which is good. I don’t want any special treatment. I don’t deserve it. I hurt Nova.

I touch my neck, realizing the brace is gone. But the pain in my body is still a big reminder of the crash. But I deserve the pain. It’s only a fraction of the pain I’ve caused Nova.

I look around for any of my belongings. I need to find Nova.

I can’t see a single thing of mine. I’m in a hospital gown with a stupid IV drip and monitors attached to me.

I peer around the room. I try to find a phone or plan my escape. I touch the IV in my arm. I’m ready to remove it when the door to my room opens. I drop my hand away.

I turn my head to the sound. Mom and Dad enter.

“Oh Jeremy, you”re awake,” she exclaims, tears filling her red-rimmed eyes. She’s obviously been crying.

“I don’t deserve to be,” I grumble.

She rushes forward, setting her coffee cup on the table, and hugs me.

Her body shakes as she cries.

“Please don’t cry, Mom. I’m fine.”

“You scared us, Son,” my dad says as he stands on the other side of the bed. He reaches out to touch my cheek as if he can’t believe I’m awake.

“I’m sorry,” I murmur.

Mom sniffles. “Are you sore? Do you need me to call the nurses?” she asks, pulling back to take a good look at me.

“No. I’m fine. But where’s Nova?” The tension in my voice mirrors the sudden knot in my stomach.

My mom looks over at my dad and my heart drops.

“What?” I choke, the weight of uncertainty settling over me. The backs of my eyes begin to sting and I fight to hold back tears. My parents have never seen me cry. I’m not a crier but fuck, for Nova, I’m a pussy and would cry over her.

“She’s in an induced coma,” my dad says.

“What. Why?” My eyes dart between the two of them.

Mom inhales a deep breath before gripping my hand and explaining. “She has a broken pelvis and internal bleeding, Son. They are trying to stabilize her.”

A numbness settles within me, rendering me speechless. I gaze blankly at the end of my hospital bed and mumble, “It’s all my fault.”

Mom attempts to comfort me by stroking my arm, but I pull away. I don’t deserve warm touches. My girlfriend is in a coma because I was reading an email from the board of directors of the Boston hospital.

I’m a selfish prick. That should be me in the induced coma not Nova. She’s innocent. I’m not. I’m a criminal. They should lock me up and throw away the key. I deserve any punishment thrown at me.

“The driver who ran the red light died at the scene.”

I don’t know how to feel about that. Should I be happy? They could have made a mistake like me. One single mistake cost him his life; I just hope it doesn’t cost Nova hers.

“Is she at this hospital?”

“Yes, but she’s in the ICU.”

“And where am I?”

“On the medical ward. You’re lucky you missed surgery. You have a few cracked ribs and a lot of bruising, but you’ll recover.”

I grow quiet. Unsure what to say. I don’t feel lucky.

“When can I see Nova?”

“I don’t know. We’d have to ask the doctors and nurses,” Mom replies.

I find the call button and press it. I’m not waiting a second longer. I want to go see Nova. Need to see her. Tell her I’m sorry. Tell her. Fuck. Tell her I love her. I’ve never said those words to her. I’ve felt them for so long, but it wasn”t the right time. Now I worry I’m too late.

A nurse walks in. My parents back away from my bed to give her room.

“Mr. Lincoln, you’re awake.”

“Seems so,” I say.

She walks directly up to the machines and assesses them. I watch her intensely. She presses buttons and then she is putting a cuff on my upper arm.

“I’m going to check your vital signs.”

She takes my temperature and other signs before informing us that they are all within the normal range.

“Do you need some more pain relief?”

“No.”

I’m tender but not enough to require painkillers. I want the pain as a reminder of what I did. What I’ve done to Nova. If she’s in pain, I need to be too.

“Are you hungry?”

As soon as she asks the question, my stomach grumbles.

“Yeah.”

“A man of few words, aren’t you? Well, I’ll call the kitchen to bring you some food.”

She looks like she is leaving.

“Wait,” I call out.

She spins around. “Yes, Mr. Lincoln?”

“When can I go visit my girlfriend, Nova? She’s in the ICU.”

“You need to be seen by the doctor before you can leave the room. So it won’t be until tomorrow at the earliest.”

“Tomorrow? I can’t wait that long.”

“I’m sorry, but you don’t have a choice. You also need to rest.”

I want to argue, but I know it’s pointless. I blow out a frustrated breath. I need to see her with my own eyes.

I don’t say any of that out loud. Instead, I just stare at the nurse who looks at me with pity.

Guilt fills my stomach. Does she blame me? Does she know I was typing an email and wasn’t paying attention to the road?

I don’t deserve Nova. This is why I could never be with a woman. All I do is let them down by working too much.

This time it cost me more than just a breakup. This time it could cost a life.

The nurse leaves the room without another word. My parents are sitting in chairs silent. I’m grateful for the silence because I’m not in the mood to chat.

I’m too busy rolling around in self-pity. Mom and Dad are on their phones typing away. Reminding me…

“Where’s my phone?”

“You’re not planning to work, are you?” My dad says, his disapproval evident.

I haven’t even considered working or checking my emails. Right now, thinking about it fills me with self-loathing and a nauseous sensation.

“No. I’m just asking.”

“It’s probably in the bag of personal items the police put together,” my dad replies matter-of-factly.

“Which is where?” I ask.

“In the cupboard.” Mom answers.

“Can you get it?”

“Ask her nicely, Son,” my dad says sternly.

“Please, Mom.”

I know I’m back to being grumpy, but I’m mad at myself.

“Sure.” She stands, giving me a smile.

She heads to the cupboard and pulls out a plastic bag. The room door opens, and I turn my head, hoping it’s a doctor who will allow me to see Nova. But I see my family. Oliver, Harvey, Evan, and lastly, Grams.

They say hi to Mom and Dad before coming to me at the bed.

“Don’t you look happy,” Oliver teases.

“Shut up, dickbag.”

“Good to see your mouth still works,” he replies.

“Excuse me! Did you forget I was in the room? In the hospital or not, no swearing,” Grams says.

I wince and the tension causes pain in my ribs.

“Sorry, Grams.” I grunt through the pain.

“Do you need me to call the nurse?” Evan asks. His face contorted.

I shake my head. “No, I”ll be alright.”

“No prizes for not taking your pills,” Harvey argues.

“I’m not trying to claim a prize, I’m trying not to rely on them.”

“You’re not going to become addicted. You’re in a controlled environment here,” Evan adds.

“I want to be alert in case a doctor comes in and allows me to see Nova.”

No one speaks after I say her name, which means they all know she’s not well.

Why aren’t they angry at me?

I don’t deserve their love and support.

A thought comes to me. I can’t be there in person, but I can do something that will let her know I’m thinking of her and I’m there with her in spirit.

“Evan?”

“Yeah.” He calls out standing beside Mom who’s putting away my stuff.

Mom’s clearly taking it all home to wash. I don’t care what she does with it. She puts the phone on my tray table.

“Come here.”

He comes closer. We have an audience.

So when he’s close, I whisper, “I need you to go to the florist shop and get red roses for Nova. The biggest bouquet they can make and deliver it to her room, please.”

“When?”

“Now.”

“Anything else?”

I want to say all the things running through my mind, but they have to come from me when she wakes because she is going to wake up from this nightmare. I can’t have her leave me now; I only just found her.

“Sure.” He answers by squeezing my shoulder. “I’m glad you’re okay.”

I dip my chin. And watch him leave my room.

“I need a moment alone with Remy. Can you all go grab me a tea from downstairs and give me some time with him?” Grams requests.

No one argues with Grams. So they all begin to rise from their chairs or walk straight to the door, telling us they will be back. As soon as they leave, she takes a seat on my hospital bed and reaches out to squeeze my cheek.

“How’s my handsome grandson doing?”

“Okay.”

“No, tell me, really. No lying to me.” She leans in a little.

“Better than I deserve,” I answer honestly.

“You’re paying a price for your mistakes. You’re human. It’s okay to make mistakes, it’s what you do after that’s important.”

I let her words sit with me for a few moments before I pour my heart out to her. The person other than Nova I feel I can be vulnerable with.

“Grams, I can’t lose her.”

She holds my hand and looks me dead in the eye.

I know I’m about to get my ass handed to me by just that one look. “If you’re adamant that she’s the one then you need to show her. So far, you’re doing a good job at pushing her away.”

“I don’t mea—”

She puts up her hand and looks to the side. My mouth closes.

“I’m not done speaking. You need the hard truth. You work too much. You’re thirty-eight. Unmarried and without children. Do you want things to stay this way, or are you ready to get your girl?”

If you had asked me this before I met Nova, I would have said no. But now, I want everything with Nova.

“Yes.”

“Then quit working so much. Focus on what matters to you. There’s no point in having money if you”re lonely. It won’t fill the void. This was a wakeup call. Use it wisely. I”d hate to see you let that sweet girl go because you”re a damn workaholic.”

“I don’t know how to quit working so much.”

She pats my hand. “I’m not a fool Remy and neither are you. Figure it out. You were always good at challenges and this one is your biggest yet.”

“I love her.”

“I know you do. So prove it to her. She’s got a long recovery ahead of her. And I’d hate to make you feel worse than you do, but you did this to her. You better be there as she heals. She needs you.”

The door swings open again, and I expect my family has come back, but it’s the kitchen bringing in my food. Grams lets go of my hand and takes the seat beside my bed. Having her here makes me feel settled. I eat the sandwich, juice and crackers. It doesn’t fill me up, but it at least gives me something.

My eyes feel heavy, and I’m suddenly tired. Grams stands.

“Don’t keep yourself awake. I’m going to go down and tell them all to leave. You need to rest.”

“Thanks, Grams.”

“Also, can you go back to the nice Remy. I don’t like this grumpy version.”

I chuckle. “Is that so?”

“Yeah, your parents said you’re back to the days before Nova.”

“I’ll try but no guarantees.”

She rests her hand on my cheek. “That’s all we can ask for.”

She turns with her walker and leaves my room. I don’t even remember hearing the door click before I’m fast asleep, yet the same horrors fill my dreams. Nova in the passenger seat covered in blood and unresponsive. I wish it was a dream, but it’s not, it’s my reality.