Heart of Dixon

by Danielle Jamie

  The crazy thing is that I’ll still get to say it but, unless she wakes up today, she won’t be saying it back.

  With my hands full of coffees and the only edible food the hospital had, I head back to Kayden’s room just as my cell goes off this time vibrating against my butt. I find a side table decorated with a vase of flowers and plop everything on to it and fish my phone out of my back pocket.

  Reagan:

  We r here. Cab dropped us off at doors closest to ICU…

  I type back a reply letting him I’ll be waiting for him. Since I’m already near the entrance that’s closest to the ICU, I collect all the food and coffee and walk over to the wall of glass windows and automatic doors.

  I immediately spot Reagan. He looks like hell. I imagine he and Rebecca sat at the airport all night until their flight boarded. He’s wearing khakis and a peacoat with Chuck Taylors. His fauxhawk is now flat to his head, hanging off to the right. He keeps running his hands through it nervously as he drags his luggage behind him. I notice Rebecca beside him wearing sweats and a hoodie, looking nothing like the fashionista from Envy. But comfort over style is the way to go when flying, especially after a night of heavy drinking like we all had last night. Thankfully, I’m feeling pretty good for the amount I drank last night. Everything with Savannah sobered me up pretty quickly.

  The second they step through the doors and spot me, small smiles grace their lips and mine. I feel instantly better having them here. We’re one another’s rock whenever any of us are in trouble. Reagan, Savannah and I are the three musketeers always having each other’s backs. Rebecca fits into our small circle perfectly whenever she’s around.

  I bounce on the balls of my feet, “I’m so glad you guys are here.”

  Wrapping me in a hug, taking extra care not to spill the coffees, I’m gasping as Reagan holds me for a few beats as we stand in the corridor of the hospital, relishing in the silent support we’re giving one another.

  Releasing me, Reagan grabs the paper plate full of bagels and cream cheese containers.

  “How is she?” He finally asks after following me through the double doors with the words ICU on them.

  I glance over my shoulder back at Rebecca and him, trying my best to appear optimistic. We need everyone to remain positive. Positive vibes will help bring Savannah back to us. I just know it. “She’s the same as she was when I talked to you last night. But the way we look at it, is no change is good change because it could get worse before it gets better. But we all know Savannah’s a fighter. She’ll wake up in no time. She’s just being stubborn and getting extra beauty sleep thanks to all the cuts and bruises she got from the accident.”

  Rebecca giggles behind me and it makes my chest flutter with what feels like maybe hope? “That is definitely what she’s doing.”

  “Here’s her room.” I say, tilting my head to the left, before entering it.

  Kayden has yet to move. He’s still exactly where I left him twenty minutes earlier. “Hey, Kayden. I ran into these two on my way back.” He turns his head, finally acknowledging we have entered the room. His eyes are dark, and he looks exhausted. I wonder if he even slept at all last night.

  Finally unfolding himself from the chair, he runs his hands down his thighs and smoothes out his wrinkled jeans before approaching us with his hand out to Reagan.

  Reagan sets the plate of food down on the rollaway stand before taking Kayden’s hand and shaking it.

  “Thanks for coming you guys. I appreciate it and I know Savannah does too. Her parents should be here any moment also. I just received a text from them letting me know they’re at baggage claim and then will be on their way over.”

  “That’s good to hear. I’m glad her parents were able to find flights on such short notice too. We wouldn’t be anywhere else. Savannah means the world to us so we want to help any way we can. If that means just hanging out around here keeping her company, then so be it.”

  Surprisingly I get Kayden to nibble a few bites of his bagel. He downed his cup of coffee in no time, revealing to me what I thought all along: he’s running on fumes right now. He has dark circles under his eyes and his hair is disheveled from running his hands through it probably a good thousand times or so.

  Not long after we all were situated in the room, Paisley and Maverick arrived to the hospital. By lunch time, we were all looking like zombies walking around with our eyes drooping and no one really speaking. We all kind of laid around in the chairs all staring blankly at the television watching the countdown on CMT of the top songs of 2012. We all got a kick out of seeing Maverick and Paisley on the countdown and their interview they’d taped the week earlier with the host of the show.

  It’s crazy to think how swiftly life can change. You go from one moment living on the high we call life and the next you find yourself free falling through the clouds praying to God you don’t end up splattered all over the concrete below. Some of us get lucky and sprout wings—while others meet their fate down below. All we can hope for is that Savannah sprouts big, beautiful, fluttering wings.

  Chapter Four

  The last twenty-four hours have been hell. Poor Paisley has been a wreck over all of this. Maverick, like always, has been the rock for us all to lean on. I know Kayden appreciates them being here with Savannah and him. It’s been so hard sitting around the hospital room waiting to see if she’ll wake up. The hospital food is awful, so we were all extremely grateful when Braxton and Mya showed up with bags full of food from his restaurant.

  With everything going on, we’ve all seemed to have lost our appetites and running on almost no sleep and lots of coffee. But we all managed to eat pretty much everything they brought us.

  I’ve been showering at the hospital and using the clothes I packed when I flew back to Houston with Dixon, but I was in serious need of a shower with conditioner that didn’t make my hair feel like straw. So I finally gave in and headed to Knox’s penthouse at Knox Hotel with Rebecca and Reagan. We even managed to convince Kayden to come too because he’s been in the same clothes since the night of the accident. The first thing we did though was stop by the coffee shop Kayden introduced Savannah and me to two weeks ago. It’s called Dunn Bros., and their coffee is seriously orgasmic. It has been the only highlight of my day so far.

  Kayden, not wanting to stay away, took the fastest shower ever. I think he may have broken a record or something. He threw on some clothes and tore out, driving back to the hospital in his truck. He left us the Audi since Jax is still in Australia. He won’t be back until the 6th from visiting his family. He tried to return as soon as he heard about Savannah, but Kayden insisted he stay and see his family since there is nothing he can do here for right now.

  There’s still no update on Zak, which totally baffles me. How does a guy disappear without a trace? Especially after being in a serious car accident. We can only hope he’s caught soon because all of our nerves are shot from stressing over where he is and what he may do next. All we can do is hope and pray that Savannah wakes up, and Zak is caught and punished for what he’s done.

  We’re just finishing up now and getting ready to head back to the hospital. I’ve had this awful feeling ever since we left that I shouldn’t have left the hospital because I keep feeling like the minute I walk out the door, Savannah will wake up.

  I try to push my worries into the back of my mind and finish getting ready. I slip into a pair of skinny jeans, pumps and an oversized sweater because it’s only in the high fifties today outside and breezy. I blow dry my hair and throw it up into a messy bun on top of my head. I plan on lying around a hospital room again all afternoon so don’t bother doing anything with it and just go with the low-maintenance look.

  “You guys ready to go?” I yell across the suite as I drape my purse onto my shoulder and make my way towards the front foyer. Rebecca is already all dressed and sitting on the couch when I enter the living room and stands as soon as she spots me coming into the room.

  Grabbing her phone o
ff of the coffee table, she tosses it into her purse and smiles weakly at me, “I’m all set.” Turning her head towards the room Reagan’s getting ready in, she shouts for me this time, “Reagan are you ready to go? I swear, sometimes you’re worse than a girl.”

  We both roll our eyes as we finally hear the bedroom door swing open. “You two are usually the last ones ready. Just because you decided not to spend two hours doing your hair, don’t bust my balls just because for the first time ever you’re ready before me.”

  “Whatever. Let’s go. I hate being away from the hospital. At least Paisley and Maverick are there, and Kayden should be getting there at any moment.”

  I fish my phone out of my purse and dial the front desk to have the valet bring the Audi around before following Rebecca and Reagan out of the suite. I’m leaning against the elevator wall watching the numbers count down as it descends when my phone starts going off. I’m so on edge with everything going on that the second my phone goes off,

  I jump practically out of my skin. At the same time, the elevator doors ding and slide open.

  The text is from Paisley, and immediately my heart hammers rapidly against my chest. I swipe the screen opening the text and scream out so loud that everyone in the lobby turns and stares at us as Rebecca grabs my arm and yanks me out of the elevator and into the corridor.

  My body is shaking as I read the text one more time and bring my eyes up to my two friends who are staring at me with a look of horror in their eyes. Tears pool my eyes, and a smile spreads across my lips as I blurt out, “She’s awake! Savannah just woke up!”

  “Oh my God! I can’t believe it! We need to hurry up and get back over there.” Rebecca says as she grabs my wrist and starts dragging me through the hotel.

  “Did Paisley say how she’s doing?” Reagan asks as he nervously runs his fingers through his hair and begins texting so fast I’m surprised smoke isn’t pouring off of his fingers.

  I shake my head 'no' as I drop my phone back into my bag, “No. It just said Savannah’s awake, alert and talking. Nothing else.”

  We push through the doors leading out to the street and spot the car. “I can’t believe she’s finally awake.” Is all I can say as we pull out of the hotel, and head towards the hospital.

  It was the longest three days of my life, but she’s awake. Today is New Year’s Day. When we rang in 2013 last night, I was depressed thinking Savannah would possibly be in a coma for weeks, maybe even months. But she’s awake now. I can only pray she’s okay and that the police find that P.O.S. Zak so that she can focus on healing and not worrying about him.

  I hate leaving the hospital, but I think if I refused one more time, Savannah was going to have Kayden physically drag my ass back to Knox hotel along with Rebecca’s. I tried to insist on staying with her since her parents are flying back to New York tomorrow, and Reagan had to fly back to Los Angeles tonight for a shoot he couldn’t reschedule.

  Kayden is going to return to work tomorrow. Since he has extra clothes and a shower at the Beaumont Building, he plans on braving the hospital’s awful beds to be with Savannah. I let her know Rebecca and I would be back tomorrow to spend the day with her until Kayden got off work. Mya and Braxton came by with food earlier for everyone, so Rebecca and I decide to head to the hotel bar and get a glass of wine to unwind before calling it a night.

  I won’t be able to get my Jeep until tomorrow morning, so I’m still driving the Audi. I pull up to Knox Hotel and have the Valet park the car for us before heading inside. It’s another cool night, so we shuffle into the building. We're holding our arms and trying to shield ourselves from the cold all the while trying to not trip in our heels.

  “So, I haven’t seen Dixon around. Have you heard from him since he pulled the disappearing acting on New Year’s Eve?”

  I assumed it wouldn’t be long until Rebecca grilled me on Dixon. I knew she was probably waiting for Reagan to head back to L.A. so we could have our girl talk time. No one would’ve ever known Dixon had flown out to L.A. to see me had Savannah not been in her accident.

  Shaking my head 'no,' I push open the frosted glass door leading into the hotel bar, “Nope. I sent him a quick text yesterday asking why he left so quickly. He just text back a short reply saying he had to go into the office.” We let the hostess know we want to sit at the bar and then make our way through maneuvering around tables full of people dining in the dimly lit room.

  The bar is attached to a restaurant with the room being divided by large pillars to separate the bar from the dining area. During the day, it’s bright and welcoming. At night, takes on a darker romantic feel with dimmed lights and soft music playing. Since it's dinner time, the place is packed to near full capacity, but we spot two bar stools open near the end and slide up onto them.

  “Well, I suppose with everything going on, and the security system being hacked that there was a whole lot to be done there. With Kayden being at the hospital, Dixon probably had a bigger workload to shoulder. I wouldn’t be surprised if you started getting booty calls from McDouble O. every night now that things are looking up with Savannah coming out of her coma. Plus you are staying here. Dixon lives just down the hall, making a booty call even easier. It’s a no hassle lay. That’s the best kind.”

  I bite down on my manicured nail, eyeing the bartender and wishing I had some kind of magical power to telecommunicate so I could get his ass down here a little faster and put a damn drink in my hand. All this Dixon talk is only winding me up tighter.

  I slide my gaze back to Rebecca and let out a deep sigh, “One. McDouble O. is hilarious. Two. Things with Dixon and me are confusing and extremely complicated. When we first met, I thought he couldn’t stand me. Then the next thing I knew, he had his tongue down my throat at a backyard shindig. To top that off, he says it was a one night thing then continues to text me off and on before showing up on my doorstep. He makes my head hurt. I don’t like it. I like feeling in control of my life, and with Dixon, I’m everything but. The way I look at it is maybe he did us both a favor by slipping out before I woke up and avoiding the hospital. It prevents things from getting weird between us.”

  Finally, Mr. Bartender makes his way towards our end of the bar saving me from this conversation. I want to drink and talk about anything but Dixon freaking Beaumont.

  The second the bartender sets our wine glasses down in front of us, I gulp down half the glass. Screw sipping it. After the last few days, I may need the whole damn bottle before I even feel the smallest bit relaxed. There's a group of men in business suits sitting across from us on the other end of the bar and Rebecca, and I have noticed them eyeing us a few times.

  We’re both dressed pretty casual in skinny jeans, heels, and sweaters. I’m barely wearing any makeup. I only tossed my hair into a messy bun and applied mascara and lip-gloss.

  Rebecca’s smile widens as the bartender returns and tells us that all of our drinks for the evening are on the group of gentlemen at the bar. Normally I’d be all for flirting the night away, and drinking the best free wine until I was ready to end the evening with one of them in my bed or me in theirs. But tonight I have zero desire to do any of that. I blame it on Savannah and everything going on with her, but I can’t help but feel deep down in the pit of my stomach that it has everything to do with Dixon.

  “Thanks for the wine!” Rebecca shouts across the bar and waves her glass around in the air with a smile that reaches her ears. Her eyes are twinkling with excitement as the guys stand and make their way towards us. I have to admit they all are looking pretty freaking good. Especially in their suits. Sure some look a little better than others, but overall, it’s a bunch of good looking men. I glance at their hands and notice one’s wearing a wedding ring. Others aren’t but that ain’t to say they didn’t just slip it off before they came through the door.

  Leaning toward Rebecca, I bring my mouth next to her ear, “Have fun girly. I’ll see you when you come up to the suite. I’m exhausted and going to call it a night.”


  She pouts at me as I toss back the full glass of wine the bartender poured for me not two seconds ago. Two glasses of wine and my head is already feeling fuzzy. I can definitely tell I’m tired. Normally it takes a full bottle before I’m tipsy.

  Jumping down from the bar, I flash a sincere smile at the group of guys, “Thank you fellas for the wine. After the weekend I’ve had, I needed it. But sadly I’m calling it a night though my friend here plans on hanging out a bit longer.”

  One of the guys gives me a knowing look, “Ahh...rough New Year’s?”

  Patting his chest, I tell him, “You could say that.” Before glancing back over my shoulder at Rebecca. “See ya later, Rebecca.” I wink at her, causing her cheeks to flush pink. Every guy is already swarming around her finding seats at the bar around her. Poor fellas...all of them and only one of her. Rebecca isn’t one to spread her legs for just anyone. But she’ll have some nice wine to pass the time. Guys are a sucker for a gorgeous Asian girl. I swear it’s genetically wired inside of them. The minute they’re around a girl like Rebecca, they fall all over themselves trying to impress her. I truly don’t get why that girl is single.

  Maybe she’s like me and doesn’t have the time. Who knows?

  As I head towards the elevator with my heels smashing fiercely off the marble tiles, I begin to think about Dixon and if he’s in his room right now. Or if he’s out chasing tail and pretending I don’t exist.

  I wish Jax or Xander were here right about now. I need someone I know can distract me from these crazy ass thoughts of Dixon that are consuming me every second of every freaking day. I hate this. It’s going to affect me professionally if I don’t get myself under control. I need to be able to focus on my lines and not have my mind drifting off to thoughts of Dixon Beaumont every five seconds.