Chapter Twenty-Four
Colson
The nurse came and kicked me out of Lucy’s room around five in the morning before shift change.
Nurse Mary was kind enough to let me sneak in there during the night, and I didn’t want to repay her by getting her in trouble.
Lucy was still asleep, so I placed a kiss on the top of her head before quietly unwrapping our limbs and leaving.
Walking out to my truck, I pull my phone from my pocket and dial the only person I know that’s most likely up at this hour.
“Hello?” a sleepy voice says on the other end.
“Shit, Chief, didn’t mean to wake you. I figured you'd already be moving around for the day.” I let out a chuckle as I slide into the driver's seat.
“It’s alright, man. It was a rough night here, and I don’t remember falling asleep.” His voice is quiet, and I hear someone mumbling in the background.
“Chief, is someone there? That why you had a rough night?” The surprise in my voice is evident. I’ve never seen or heard of Lawson dating anyone, let alone sleeping with anyone, since his high school girlfriend.
“No.” He is unconvincing, and I let out a laugh while I hear him leave his bed. “Fuck off, Colson. What’re you calling me at this time for, anyway?”
“I was going to ask you for your help with something, but if you’re busy—”
Letting out an annoyed sigh, he asks, “What do you need help with?”
“Can you meet me at the Winslow place in half an hour?” I hold my breath waiting for him to answer.
“Why aren’t you asking Nash or Ren?” I hear the curiosity in his tone.
“Cuz I’m asking you.”
“Yeah man. Let me shower, throw some clothes on and I’ll meet you there. Bring coffee though. You owe me at least that much.” He hangs up, and I grin.
Turning on the truck, I head to the Two Brews coffee stand to grab Lawson and myself drinks. I bob my head along to the music coming from the speakers the whole way there, even belting out a few lyrics.
It’s a good day.
Lawson shows up twenty minutes late, hair messy with an embarrassed look on his face.
“Don’t say a fucking word.” He points at me and then grabs his cup from my hand. “Now, what are we doing here?” He takes a sip, and his shoulders relax.
“Follow me.” I drain my coffee and throw the cup in the back of my truck before leading him through the house, into the spare room upstairs.
“Is this—”
I cut him off before he can continue. “Yeah. We were going to throw it all out, but—” I shake my head. “I tried to save as much as I could, but cleaning it all up by myself is taking too long.”
I feel Lawson’s gaze on me as I look at the items on the floor.
“You actually like her.” It’s a statement rather than a question.
“Are you going to help me or not?” I ask, feeling annoyed everyone keeps telling me about my own feelings towards Lucy.
Letting out a laugh, he agrees, and we get to work.
“She’s going to love this,” he says with a smile after we sit down.
“I hope so,” is all I can say as I pick up the brush from the floor.
I really hope so.
Lucy
I slowly move my hand over to the other side of my bed and open my eyes when I feel the cool sheets. Flashbacks from last night play in my mind like a movie, but I’m alone.
Did I dream the whole thing?
I pull the blanket up to my face, and the soft smell of cinnamon and pine invades my nose. I close my eyes and inhale, letting the smell into my lungs.
“You called me Cole.”
“Say it again.”
I grin to myself and replay his smile in my head until the door to my room opens and Ember steps in.
She looks like she didn’t sleep at all last night. “Girl, you doing okay?”
Letting out a breath, Ember sits in the chair next to the bed. Her face is flushed, and her normally straight silver hair is knotted into a bun on the top of her head as she settles down, handing me one of the coffees she brought in.
“Don’t say a word. I didn’t sleep at all last night and then I was woken up—” she stops herself and shakes her head. “I’m supposed to be asking you how you are. So, how are you feeling today?”
I look at her for a few more seconds before responding, “I’m feeling alright. My head isn’t as foggy today, but my ribs are still sore.” I pause again. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
“I’m fine, Lucy. Any idea of when you’re getting out of here?” Em takes a big drink out of her cup.
I don’t get a chance to answer before Dr. Rose walks into the room, looking the same as she always does.
“Morning, Lucy.” She nods to Ember, who lifts her cup up in acknowledgment. “How are you feeling today?” She starts tapping her screen as I repeat what I had said to Ember. “How would you feel about getting out of here this evening?” She looks up at me and smiles.
“Really?” Excitement and relief flood my body.
“As long as your pain levels stay low, I don’t see why you can’t finish healing at home, in your own bed.”
“Thank you, Dr. Rose.” She turns and leaves the room.
“I need to call the guys,” I say, turning to Ember.
“Already texted them.” She holds her phone up for me to see the chat.
“Can you ask them to bring my phone?”
She types quickly. “Done.”
I let out a sigh of relief and lean back in bed.
It isn’t long after when Ren and Nash show up with my favorite breakfast sandwich from the diner. Ren passes me my phone halfway through eating.
“I plugged it in for you, so you just have to turn it on, but you should think about getting a new one,” he says, mouth full of eggs.
“Manners, Ren.” Ember shoots a look of disappointment at him.
Ren swallows and mutters a quiet, “sorry.”
I giggle before looking down, seeing the cracks across the screen.
I hold down the power button, and my phone comes to life.
Waiting for the flurry of texts I’m expecting from my aunt and uncle berating me to come in, I’m pleasantly surprised and shocked when not a single message from them pops up. My brows furrow in confusion.
“What’s wrong, Darlin’? Is your phone not working?” Nash asks, worry sneaking through his tone.
I shake my head. “It’s working fine. I got a message from Ember but—” I stop and look at them all. “I usually get a message daily from my aunt or uncle about giving them something, but there’s none. Not a single message.”
Ren reaches for my phone, and I hand it over. After a few quiet moments, he looks up at me, anger swimming in his eyes. “What is this, Lucy?” He holds up the phone showing the message I got from the unknown number.
“What is it?” Nash and Ember ask at the same time. Ren swings his arm towards them, showing them the message.
“What the fuck?”
“Who is that from, Darlin’?”
Voices overlap, throwing questions at me left and right. I close my eyes, raising my hand and my voice. “Stop.”
The voices quiet and I reopen my eyes. “How am I supposed to say anything when you guys keep asking a million questions?” Looking between them, not a single one looks me in the eye, knowing I’m right.
I continue talking. “I received that message as I was getting in my car to head back to your place that day. I had planned on showing you guys the message when I got there. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen.
I don’t know who sent it. I assumed it was from my aunt or uncle. ”
“You think they got a burner phone or something to threaten you?” Ember asks, sitting back in the chair.
“I have no idea. All I know is that I get at least one message a day from them hassling me about Nana’s stuff.
There’s something they want, but I don’t know what it is.
” I look down at my food, and the thought of finishing my sandwich makes me sick.
I put it back in the container and set it on the table next to my bed.
Silence surrounds us as we sit here, all lost in our own thoughts.
One of the nurses comes in to check on me, which breaks the silent spell, and Nash changes the subject to something lighter. We spend the rest of my time chatting and laughing until I’m ready for discharge. Excitement thrums through my body as I’m wheeled through the front doors of the hospital.
“You ready to go, Love?” Ren reaches his arm down to me. I grab it and pull myself up to walk.
“Absolutely.” I give him a big smile, and we all head to the truck, leaving this hospital stay behind us.