Chapter 23
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
“Kade,” I say, trying to work through the sleep fog in my brain and my voice being dry. “Kade, your phone,” I croak.
I can feel his big body pressed against mine, and it hits me that we must have fallen asleep last night after Elijah went to bed. We really should have been more careful, but after the week without him—I was feeling a little clingy.
I can’t believe I almost lost him because of my own insecurities and fears.
Elijah is a really big part of that too though.
I wasn’t lying when I said I don’t want him to have to keep our secrets.
I’m terrified of losing my job—or rather being forced out of my job—but at the end of the day, I know this is where I belong.
With Kade by my side, I’m more willing to fight it if they do try anything.
Which means I’m going to have to get okay with facing the town knowing I’m gay. Because I’m not making him do that. And I’m not losing Kade—that is if Elijah is okay with us being together and if Kade wants that, of course. But I’m all-in.
“Kade.” I sit up straight and look over at him, seeing his head is leaning back against the back of the couch, and he’s slightly snoring.
It’s not fair for someone to look so beautiful that deep in sleep, but he does.
I shake his shoulder slightly, and he startles, his eyes immediately going to me and then his mouth curving into a sexy, sleepy grin.
“Good morning.”
“Good morning. I should go before your son wakes up.” I can’t believe I fell asleep, and I’m shocked Elijah hasn’t been up yet. But looking out the window, it must still be pretty early because the sun hasn’t quite come up. “Your phone was ringing.” It’s stopped but starts again just when I say it.
“Oh.” Kade pulls his phone out of his pocket. When I see the stark fear on his face, my entire body reacts to it. He answers it quickly, “Will?”
I hold my breath as he talks on the phone, his worry apparent.
“Okay, I’ll be right there.” He hangs up the phone, looking deathly pale. “Bowen was hurt in a fire. I have to get to the hospital.”
I cover my mouth, trying to hide my worry. But I’m terrified for Bowen and Kade in this moment and don’t hide it well at all. “Is it bad?”
He moves slowly as he looks at me. “Will said he hit his head pretty hard and is unconscious. But he’s alive.”
“Jesus,” I breathe.
“I have to get Elijah.” He looks like he’s lost—uncertain what he should do. “Right? Fuck.” He pushes his hand through his hair and his eyes meet mine. “When I had my accident, he spent all day thinking I was dead. I need him to see that Bowen is alive. But what if it fucks him up more?”
He stands up slowly, and I follow. “Kade.” He stops and turns to look at me.
“You’re Elijah’s father. You know what’s best for him.
You aren’t a babysitter, and you know that kid.
If you think he needs to go and see his uncle, then you’re probably right.
But I’m going with you, and if he needs to stay outside of the room, or needs a break, I’ll be there too. ”
He looks about two seconds from breaking down, and I know then, it isn’t even a question.
I’m going with him, and I’m going to help him get through this.
I don’t really know if I can help lessen the trauma this will undoubtedly have on Elijah, but I think he’s right.
Elijah is a smart kid—but he’s very visual and literal.
If he sees his uncle alive and breathing for himself, I think it will help him process everything better.
“I’m going,” I say firmer this time.
He looks relieved, and it breaks my heart because I know he was questioning it. I know he thought there was a chance I wouldn’t go with him for fear of someone seeing me and knowing that we’re together, and that’s just plain unacceptable to me.
The man I love needs to know without any doubt that I’ll be there for him.
“Wake Elijah. Get ready, and I’m going to go start the car to warm it up for you both.” He nods his head solemnly, but before I can walk away, he grabs my arm and pulls me to him, pressing a soft kiss against my lips.
“Thank you.”
I smile and kiss his nose before he releases me, and I go out to the car.
I don’t even think about anything else but getting Kade and Elijah to see Bowen.
Soon, Kade is walking what looks like a very tired Elijah out to the car.
He looks sad and a shell of himself in the moment—much like his father.
Elijah climbs in the back, and Kade gets in front before I start driving toward the hospital in Olathe, which is an hour drive. Both the Mitchell boys are quiet, Kade looking out the window silently as his son does the same.
It breaks my heart because I know Elijah has been through this before and was only just starting to recover from it.
I want to reassure him that his uncle is okay, but I’m not sure it’s my place. I want to comfort Kade, but I don’t really know what to say. I reach for his hand carefully, giving him plenty of time to pull away in case he doesn’t want his son to see.
But he instantly curls his fingers between mine and grips it hard, holding our joined hands over his thigh but not looking at me.
“He’s going to be okay,” I say softly and notice Elijah is looking at me in the rearview mirror, so I repeat it. If it’s wrong—then I’ll deal with that, but I need to say something. “He’s going to be okay. Bowen is strong.”
“He could die though,” Elijah says, his voice sounding so young and frail. Six is far too young to deal with these things.
“I don’t think he will. I think he’s too stubborn for that,” I say, and that actually pulls a little smile from Elijah.
“He is stubborn. Dad says he was always in trouble growing up because he never listened to anyone. Not even Aunt Tori, and she’s bossy.”
Kade snickers and looks back at Elijah. “Don’t tell her that.
” Elijah chuckles lightly, but it seems to wake Kade up a little.
He releases my hand gently but leaves it on his thigh and reaches his hand back to pat Elijah on the leg.
“Uncle Bowen is fine. Spencer’s right. He’s way too stubborn to die. ”
I’m relieved when I see Elijah nodding his head in agreement. Kade brings his hand back to mine and then entangles our fingers again for the rest of the drive to the hospital.
I can’t believe Elijah didn’t question why I was still there this morning, but I’m assuming he’s in shock. I don’t know how Kade wants to play this when he does ask, but I’ll follow his lead, and I hope he knows that.
We walk into the hospital, Elijah holding onto Kade for dear life. And when we get up to the room Bowen is in, I immediately see an older woman I just know is Bowen and Kade’s mother.
I haven’t seen her for a long time, but she’s a very pretty woman with dark hair only starting to gray at the roots. Her eyes zone-in instantly on Kade and then fall to Elijah—but she holds back. I can see Bowen on the bed, his eyes closed and tubes everywhere.
Will looks wrecked—completely distraught when he sees us. He goes to Kade, and they embrace, hugging hard. “I should have stopped him.”
“Stopped him from what?” Kade asks as he releases him. “Doing his job?”
Will shakes his head, still wearing his gear from the fire.
He’s dirty, his hair matted with soot and sweat.
“Stubborn asshole. I told him to wait for Briggs to get the ladder, but he climbed up instead. The wood was so fucking rotted.” Will looks over at Elijah, who’s crept closer to me and grabbed my hand. “Sorry.”
Kade doesn’t even acknowledge it, I’m sure more worried about Will and Bowen than Elijah hearing a couple of curse words. “Where was the fire?”
“An old barn outside of town. Some teenagers thought it would be a good idea to start a fire in the barrel up in the loft. Whole thing caught on fire, and one of them was trapped. Bowen didn’t want to wait to go after him.”
Kade doesn’t look surprised at all by that. “It’s probably what I’d have done.”
Will laughs humorlessly at that. “I know.”
“You would have too.”
He smirks. “I know. I’m pissed he beat me to it.”
They both have a quick laugh, but neither looks relieved. Their eyes drift over to Bowen, who’s lying still in the bed.
Kade’s eyes go to mine—a silent vulnerability there—but he seems to have needed to know I was still there, by his side.
And in that moment, I know I absolutely made the right call to come here with him.