2. Nikki
2
NIKKI
T he last week Ethan has made sure we haven’t been alone again, and I know exactly why. For whatever reason, he’s holding on to the idea that we should wait until marriage, and I can’t be upset about it. Sexually frustrated for sure, but not mad.
I open my phone and read the text again that he sent me this morning. I love you, Nicole Watson and I can’t wait for you to be my wife. I feel like I’ve waited for you my whole life and finally all my dreams are coming true. I promise to love you forever. I’ll see you tonight at the rehearsal. Xo, Ethan
I let out a loud sigh and put my phone back into my pocket. I’m ready for tomorrow. Heck, I’m more than ready. I have everything in boxes, and the movers are going to move all of my things to his house while we’re on our honeymoon.
I’m ready for the rehearsal dinner already, even though Ethan’s not supposed to be here for another hour. I’ve wanted this for so long, and I can’t believe that tomorrow I’m going to be Mrs. Ethan Cannon.
As I tape up the very last box, the doorbell rings. I smile instantly, wondering if it’s Ethan arriving early. I practically run down the stairs and swing the front door open with a huge smile on my face. It drops a little when I find Ethan’s brother on the other side instead of him.
“Bobby. What are you doing here?”
He wipes his hand across his face and sucks in a deep breath. “Nicole...” he starts, and there’s so much emotion in his voice, but he stops talking, his face scrunched up in pain.
Something’s not right.
I grab on to the edge of the door. “What is it? What’s wrong? Where’s Ethan?”
I get louder the more I look at him, trying to figure out why he’s staring at me the way he is. I stomp my foot and move toward him. “Bobby! What is it?”
He reaches for me, and I back up. It’s bad. I know it’s bad, and I’m scared to death at what’s going to come out of his mouth right now. “What. Is. It?” I ask him through gritted teeth.
“It’s Ethan. It’s bad, honey. I’m going to take you to the hospital.”
I clench my eyes closed and open them. “What happened? Is he okay?”
When Bobby doesn’t answer me right away, I ask him again with my feet firmly planted where I’m standing. “Is. He. Alive?”
He lifts his shoulders in a shrug. I can’t stand seeing the look on his face. “Yes, Nicole. He’s alive, but...”
I shake my head and all but push him out the door. “He’s alive. That’s all I need to know. Let’s go.”
My mom is at work, so I shut the door behind me and run to Bobby’s car parked in the driveway. We’re silent on the way to the hospital. I have a thousand questions, but I don’t ask any of them. All that matters to me is that Ethan’s alive, and I know we can deal with whatever else.
When we get to the hospital emergency room, I ask to see Ethan Cannon. I’ve learned that when you mention the Cannon name, people take notice. I’m sure it has to do with the wealth of the family, but that’s never mattered to me before now. Damn, I hope his family’s name is getting him the best treatment possible.
The nurse looks at me and then Bobby. “I’m sorry, but until we get him settled, he’s unable to see visitors.”
I’m about to go across the small desk when I hear Ethan’s father call my name from behind me. I run to him, and when he opens his arms, I step into them, and he wraps me up in a hug. He’s holding me so tightly, but I don’t care. The man has never been one to show a lot of emotion, so he obviously needs this as much as I do.
“Ethan’s been saying your name ever since I got here.”
I pull back. “Take me to him.”
He winces and looks over my head at Bobby. “Did you tell her?”
I pull out of Mr. Cannon’s arms. “Tell me what?”
When Bobby shakes his head, Mr. Cannon shoves his hand through his hair, making it go every which way. I’ve never seen him not put together, and the sight has me even more on edge. If he’s worried, then it’s bad. He grabs on to my upper arms. “He was at one of the developments across town. I’d asked him to check it out. He’s been pacing all day, excited about tomorrow, and I thought I’d give him something to pass the time.”
He stops talking, and I don’t dare move because I want him to continue. “And?”
He chokes on the words as he says it. “And there was a fire at one of the units. A kid was trapped, and Ethan went in after him.”
I search his face, and he’s holding back something. “And he got hurt? Smoke inhalation? What happened?”
His grip tightens on my arms. “He was burned pretty badly... on his face and the left side of his body.”
“But he’ll live?” I insist.
Mr. Cannon nods. “Yes, he’ll live. He’ll be in pain for a while, and they will have to do some skin grafts.”
I feel as if a weight has been lifted from my shoulders. He’s going to live. I know Bobby said it, but now that his dad is reiterating it then I’m finally coming to terms with it. “Are they giving him anything for the pain?”
He nods. “Yes. He’s pretty out of it, but he’s still saying your name.”
I grab on to the lapel of Mr. Cannon’s jacket. “Please get me back there with him. Please?”
He nods and grabs my hand, walking through the double doors to the back of the hospital. He strides past the nurses and doctors. They all watch us, but none of them say a thing to him. I’m sure Mr. Cannon donated a wing of the hospital or money for some big machine or something at some point, so not many people are going to stand in his way.
He stops outside a room and looks down at me. “It’s bad, Nicole. Really bad. He doesn’t look?—"
I shake my head and step out of his grip. “I don’t care how he looks, Mr. Cannon. All I care about is that he’s going to be okay. The rest of it doesn’t matter to me.”
His shoulders slump as if he’s been carrying some big huge weight, and it’s been magically lifted from his shoulders. I reach for the door handle and turn the knob. I thought I was ready, but when I look in the room and see Ethan lying on the bed, I suck in a breath. He’s hooked up to numerous machines and IVs. There’s gauze covering a lot of his body, but a lot is uncovered, and the charred skin along his neck and side of his face has me wrapping my arms around myself. I can’t imagine the pain he must be feeling.
Mr. Cannon leans down and whispers to me, “He’s on a lot of pain medication, and the doctor said he’s had some nerve damage, so he’s not feeling all the effects of the burn.”
I nod and take a step forward, but Mr. Cannon puts his hand on my shoulder and holds me back. “Honey, there’s too much risk of infection. We can’t go any closer.”
It’s then I take in the surroundings and notice the bubble surrounding him. I’m this close to falling apart, and I need Ethan to know I’m here. “Ethan.”
I say his name loudly across the room. His eyes slowly open, and he says my name.
I smile at him, wanting to reassure him. “I’m here, honey. I’m here. You’re going to be okay.”
He opens his mouth, and I can’t make out what he’s saying. I shake my head to let him know, and he’s louder this time. “Leave. Leave now, Nikki.”
My mouth falls open. Is he telling me to leave?
Before I can respond, alarms start going off on all the machines. Doctors and nurses barrel through the door, and Mr. Cannon and I are pushed to the side so they can get to Ethan.
Mr. Cannon holds on to me because it’s instinct for me to go to Ethan, and he’s keeping me from doing that. He helps me out the door and blocks the entrance. I pace back and forth. “Did he tell me to leave? Is that what you heard?”
Mr. Cannon looks as if he’s aged ten years in the last ten minutes. “Yeah, honey, that’s what I heard.”
I stop pacing when one of the doctors comes out of the room. He won’t look at me and instead addresses Mr. Cannon. “Sir, for the safety and the well-being of your son, we’re going to have to ask her to leave.”
I walk over in front of him so he has to look at me. “Ask me to leave? That’s my fiancé in there. We’re getting married...”
My voice trails off when I realize that the wedding for tomorrow is not happening. Who knows when it will happen now?
The doctor gives me a curt nod before looking at Mr. Cannon. “Sir, your son has asked that she not be allowed back in.”
“What?” I ask, astounded.
Mr. Cannon puts his hands on my shoulders. “Okay, I understand,” he tells the doctor as they exchange a look, and the doctor goes back into the room.
“Nicole, my son is hurting, and he probably thinks he’s protecting you. Give him some time. Bobby and I will keep you up to date on everything, and I’m sure Ethan will change his mind about this.”
Anguish overcomes me. My chest hurts, my head hurts, everything hurts. “Sir, how can I just walk away? How do I just leave him? I can’t.”
He shakes his head. “That’s what he needs from you right now. He needs to focus on himself. I promise, I’ll keep you updated, and I’ll talk to him.”
He lets go of me and steps back. I know he wants to go back in and see his son, but he can’t do that with me standing here.
I nod my head and walk away, leaving a big part of my heart behind.