So . . . That Happened
Page 27
He doesn’t look too happy about our display of affection, but that could be the beer talking.
“That’s what I was trying to get him to do,” Amelia says.
Jesse eyes her for a second longer than I think he should then finds the keg and fills up his cup. Again, that could be the beer talking.
My phone vibrates in my pocket again. Holy balls, whoever is calling me needs to knock it off.
“So my sister texted me to find out where the party’s at.”
“She’s not going to bring that pregnant bitch, is she?” Amelia says.
An ugly beast rears its head inside me. I got her pregnant and my girlfriend is ragging on her. It makes me want to punch something.
“I don’t know, Amelia. I guess you’ll find out when she gets here,” Jesse says.
“I need to piss,” I say before I can hit either one of them or a wall.
I walk out of the kitchen in search of the bathroom.
My phone vibrates in my pocket. I’m so tired of everything I pull it out of my pocket to throw it away when I notice the caller is Leah. My stomach clenches.
“Hello?” I answer then.
“Greyson, what the fuck?” Leah says.
I can barely hear her. I look around the room and head for the front door.
I step out of the house and see Leah running up the lawn. I hit end on the call and wait for her. The closer she gets the further my heart crawls up into my throat. Her face is tear streaked and stricken.
As soon as she’s a step away from me she takes a swing and hits me in the face. I whirl back from the pain and the shock that Leah just punched me in the face.
“Damnit, Greyson. Answer your phone when someone calls you fifty times.” She’s breathing heavily and starts to cry.
“What is it?” I ask, the beers I drank making my brain fuzzy.
“Lux is in the hospital.”
If it were possible to sober up instantly, I just did it.
“What do you mean she’s in the hospital?” I ask, panic tearing through me.
“We were hanging out and she had this awful pain and she screamed and I was so scared. I drove her to the hospital. She passed out when they took her away.”
“Is she okay? Is the baby okay?” I ask in a rush.
My face tightens. My heart slams into my ribs.
What if they aren’t okay? I can’t lose them.
“I don’t know. I came to find you. Why couldn’t you answer your phone?”
Leah takes another swing at me. I see this one coming and am able to dodge it. I catch her before she can fall. I may deserve it but I don’t want to get hit again.
Leah starts sobbing. I take her hand and lead her away from the house.
“I can’t lose her,” she says through the sobs racking her body.
I reel on her and grasp her arms in my hands. “We’re not going to lose them. Do you hear me?”
Leah’s chin quivers but she nods.
“Where’s your car? I won’t be able to get mine out.”
“By the road,” she says then hands me her keys.
We get in her car and I drive away from the party. I have no idea how I’m going to explain my leaving to Amelia or Jesse. At this point I’m not sure I even care. The girl I love is lying in a hospital bed and I’m not there for her.
I drive to the hospital faster than I’ve ever driven. It’s a miracle I don’t get pulled over, but I wouldn’t stop if I did get caught. I don’t know if I’m more worried about Lux or the baby. It kills me that either one of them is in pain. When I get to the hospital I park haphazardly and run into the building.
When I get to the front desk a nurse smiles up at me and asks, “Can I help you?”
“I’m looking for Lux Treelore. Where is she?”
“What is your relationship to the patient?” she asks me.
I have no time for this but say, “I am the father of her baby.”
“Lux is on the third floor, room 312.”
I don’t even bother saying thank you and run to the elevator. By now Leah has caught up to me and we ride to the third floor together, silently. When I reach the third floor I see Lux’s parents coming out of a room. I rush to them and say, “Are they okay?” almost on the verge of tears.
Lux’s mom says, “Greyson, I’m surprised you are here.”
I look deeply between them both and say, “I don’t care what happened between us. I love your daughter and our baby and I’m not going to leave them.”
“We know Greyson,” Lux’s father says.
“Are they okay?” I repeat.
“Lux’s blood pressure was too high and it caused her to go into premature labor. Dr. Coughlin managed to get it stopped but she will have to go on bed rest till the end of her pregnancy.”
“But she’s okay? And the baby?”
“They are both fine. Resting comfortably,” Lux’s mom says.
“Can I go see her?” I ask.
“Don’t upset her,” her father warns.
“I won’t. I promise,” I answer them and walk into Lux’s room.
Lux is asleep. She looks so tiny in the long bed. She looks so fragile and vulnerable. I want so badly to protect her and again I have failed at it. I pull a chair over to the side of Lux’s bed. I sit and watch her sleep until I no longer can stand not touching her. I lightly plant a kiss on her forehead, caress her hair, take her hand in mine, and kiss her fingers one by one.
There are several machines hooked up to Lux. I can hear both Lux’s and the baby’s heartbeat. When Leah told me that Lux was in the hospital I was worried for Lux, but when I thought something might be wrong with the baby, it nearly broke my heart. I know that another couple will be raising my baby, but that doesn’t mean I don’t love her and want her to be safe. From the moment Lux told me she was pregnant, I realized what that meant. I knew she had a child somewhere in her abdomen, but when I watched the ultrasound tape and could see the baby, she became mine. The tiny body on the screen became part of me. She because part of my soul and attached to my heart.
I watch Lux sleep for a moment more. Then I place my hands over her belly and kiss it. My baby is in there. She has been through a traumatic event tonight and I want her to know she is safe and loved.
“Hello, my baby. It’s daddy. I’m here baby girl. I’m here for you and I love you so much.
“Greyson?” Lux says tiredly. “What are you doing here?”
“I came to see you. Make sure you and the baby are okay. I’m not leaving you again, Lux,” I tell her.
“I don’t want you here,” Lux says.
“I don’t care. I love you and I’m not going anywhere. I’m having a say in this.”
“Greyson, please,” Lux says, getting frustrated.
Her parents told me not to upset her, if I do now, they won’t let me come back. “Fine. I’ll leave. But I’m coming back,” I tell her. When I walk into the hallway, Leah and Lux’s parents are waiting.
Lux’s parents go back into her room and Leah and I are left alone. “She hates me, Leah,” I say, defeated.
“No she doesn’t. She’s just upset. She’ll get over it. And I know a way for you to get back on her good side,” Leah smiles at me.
“How?”
“Get her brother to forgive her,” Leah says this as though it is the most obvious thing in the world.
It kind of is. I can’t believe I didn’t think of it. “Why are you helping me?’
Leah looks at me confidently. “Because, I believe you two belong together. Even if you are completely different and infuriate each other.”
“Thank you.”
I start to run away from her but then remember something.
“I’m going to need to borrow your car,” I tell her.
“Fill the gas tank,” she says with a smile.
I drive away from the hospital on a mission. I’m going to find Wren and I’m going to get my girl.
Chapter Sixteen
Twenty Five
Weeks
Greyson
I can’t think of much else besides finding Wren and the way Lux looked in that hospital bed, so small and fragile. I can’t help but think that I put her in that bed. It’s times like these I wish I had someone to talk to about all this. I wish I had the balls to tell my friends about all this so I had someone to talk to. I wish I could tell my parents.
The sky is dark, void of stars or the moon. It’s almost midnight. Soon fireworks will light the sky to ring in the New Year. For a moment I wonder what Amelia will do when midnight hits and she can’t find me. The moment passes when I realize she will simply find another set of lips to touch hers to. I wouldn’t be surprised if those lips were Jesse’s. I have suspected for a while now that they have been sleeping together behind my back. I can’t really get mad because I spend most of my time with Lux or thinking about her. If I were the old Greyson I would get pissed and ruin our friendship even if I didn’t care. But I am no longer the old Greyson. I know Jesse loves her. I wish he didn’t. Not for selfish reasons, but because Jesse is my best friend and Amelia is no good for him. She will break his heart again.
The road to Lincoln is long and quiet. Any travelers on the road tonight are more than likely already at their destination. I want to speed to get to Wren as quickly as possible, but the occasional cop car alongside the road keeps me from doing so.
When I get into town I head straight for Wren’s dorm room. The whole floor is loud with the noise of people who decided not to go home for the holidays but wanted to celebrate them. I pound on the door, mostly because I want him to hear me, but also out of frustration. I wait and hear nothing. I wait and no one comes to the door. I pound on the door again in case they didn’t hear me. I wait. Nothing.
I run through the contacts on my phone to see if Wren is among them. Nothing.
I knock on other dorm residents’ doors. No one has seen him tonight or know where he is.
I ignore and scroll past new text messages from Amelia and Jesse. I’m going to have a whole lot of awkward explaining to do tomorrow, but tonight I have more important things to do. I find Leah’s number then hit send.
“Yeah?” she says by way of answer.
“I can’t find him, Leah. No one knows where he is. I’m sure anyone who does is with him. I don’t know how to find him.”
“Calm down, Greyson. Lux isn’t going anywhere for a while. You will find Wren. And you will win back your girl.”
“How? I told you she hates me. I can’t blame her after what my parents said. I need her, Leah. I love her. I love that baby.”
“Greyson! It’s going to be okay. I promise. Give me a couple minutes. I’ll try to track down Wren. And if I can’t, I’ll strong arm Lux’s parents into telling me where he is.”
I breathe heavily for moments before I can answer. “Thank you, Leah. I really mean that.”
“I know. Now hang up so I can do some detective work.”
I hang up the phone, lean against the wall, and wait. Minutes pass in loud silence. When my legs begin to shake I slide down the wall until I’m sitting on the floor. My heart begins to slow to a steady rhythm. My head pounds from the alcohol and stress of the night. I could fall asleep but I don’t want to miss Leah’s call.
I close my eyes to relieve some of the pressure in my skull when my phone rings.
“I found him,” Leah says when I answer the phone. “He’s at a party right off campus. I’ll text you the address.”
“You may have just replaced your brother as my best friend,” I tell her.
“Thanks, Greyson, but my best friend duties are currently full.”
I chuckle and wonder how we got to the place we are. Leah and I have always been cordial because of Jesse, but we’ve never been close. I think that’s about to change.
I drive to the address from Leah’s text and walk into a large party. The walls shake from the music and thumping bodies. I move from room to room to find Wren. I find him in the kitchen, holding a beer, and talking to a group of people.
I approach with my hands in my pockets, suddenly nervous.
I nod the common guy greeting to Wren when he spots me.
“Greyson, what’s up man? What are you doing here?”
I wait till he’s a foot away from me before I tell him, “I actually came to see you. Do you have a minute?”
Wren looks around like he’s not sure about the situation. But then he claps me on the arm and says, “Sure, let’s go outside.”
There are a few people outside the house talking in pairs. We move away from them then face each other.
Wren’s eyebrows narrow. He says, “What’s this about?”
I have to swallow my tongue before I can speak. I open my mouth three times to tell him why I’m here but can’t seem to know where to start.
I have to tell myself to grow a pair before I can say, “Lux.”
“What about her?” he says, crossing his arms.
“She’s in the hospital,” I tell him.
“I’ve been informed. There was no need for you to come tell me.”
I suck on my teeth trying to decide whether or not to be angry with his nonchalance.
“Why exactly are you here telling me about this?” he asks, cocking his head to the side. “I didn’t know you even knew my sister, let alone worried about her wellbeing.”
Crap.
Time for my first confession to someone besides Leah and Lux.
“I’m her baby’s father.”
I should have seen it coming. I should have braced myself.
But when Wren’s fist connects with my jaw it sends me crumpling to the ground and struggling to get my mouth to work properly.
Never have I been punched twice in the same night. I can’t say I’m a fan.
“I deserved that,” I say, slowly getting to my feet.
“And a lot more, asswipe,” Wren says, his chest heaving. “Are you fucking serious? Do you have to sleep with the entire female population?”
“I resent that. I haven’t been with that many girls.” I shake my head and say, “Look we’re getting off topic. I need you to come to the hospital with me to see your sister.”
“I’m not going to see her,” he says, crossing his arms again.
“What?” I ask following him in. “Why?”
“Because, Gresyon. I can’t. She let me down.”
“This isn’t her fault. It’s mine. If it weren’t for me she would be a normal teenager.”
“It takes two to tango.”
“She is your sister. Were you even concerned that she might not be okay today? Were you concerned that your niece might die?”
“Niece?” Wren asks and I see his eyes go soft. What is it about a girl that makes everyone go mushy?
“Yeah. It’s a girl.”
“I was terrified. Okay,” Wren says. “Fine I’ll go.”
Wren and I leave Lincoln on the way to Lux. For perhaps the first time in my life, I feel good about myself and something I’ve done. I left for Lincoln for myself, I wanted to get Lux back. But as Wren and I drive back to Lincoln and he tells me stories about their childhood, my heart aches. I decide that even if she won’t have anything to do with me, I’ll be happy because I brought her brother back into her life. Who knew doing a good thing could feel so rewarding?
Lux
Being pregnant is exhausting, especially when you go into labor early, the doctors stop the labor, but the baby kicks like crazy, and the baby’s father and your almost boyfriend won’t leave you alone. Thankfully he left and I got to take a nap. As I wake up, I see a male form in the chair next to my bed. I think it is Greyson and am about to tell him to leave when I notice that the male form is not Greyson, but a face I have not seen in over five months. My big brother, Wren.
When I see him, I am so surprised and happy that I lean up too quickly and it is almost as if my baby does a nervous flip in my belly.
“Wren,” I gasp and tears instantly spring to my eyes.
“You’re here.” I almost can’t believe it that I have to say it.
“I’m here,” Wren says and smiles at me.
“But why? Why now? Not that I’m not entirely so extremely happy that you are here.”
“Greyson came to Lincoln to yell at me and make me feel like a terrible brother and uncle. That is, after I punched him in the face.”
Greyson left to go get Wren. He went all the way to Lincoln to mend my relationship with my brother. It is almost too good to be true.
“Greyson came to get you?” I ask, not sure if he is telling the truth.
“Yup, he’s got the black eye to prove it. But seriously, he was right. I should have had your back, protected you, but instead I fed you to the wolves. I’m so sorry, B.”
I don’t even care how mad I’ve been at him for so long. I don’t care that he left me, he’s here.
“No,” I say, because I can’t stand the look on his face. “I let you down. I disappointed you. It’s my fault.”
“It’s not your fault. This is on me,” Wren says, wringing his hands together. His eyebrows furrow before he lowers his head. I can sense more than just guilt over leaving me for so long.
“What is it, Wren?”
“I need to tell you something. You’re going to hate me, but I need to explain myself.”
“I could never hate you,” I tell him. He’s scaring me.
“You will,” Wren says, running his hands through his hair. He sucks in a deep breath then exhales as if he is doing so with nails in his chest. “When I was sixteen I was dating Jenny Farris. You remember?”
“Yes,” I say, not sure why this has anything to do with why he was mad enough at me not to speak to me for nearly six months. “You broke up after Homecoming. You were pretty torn up about it.”
Wren’s eyes glisten as he goes on. “Jenny got pregnant. I wanted to keep the baby. I told her we could make it work. I wanted to have the perfect little family with Jenny and the baby. But Jenny said her parents would kill her and that she didn’t want to keep the baby with me. She got an abortion then broke up with me. I thought it was going to kill me. So when I heard you tell mom and dad you were pregnant all those feelings came rushing back. I was so afraid history was going to repeat itself I couldn’t stick around and watch it.”