“We’ll figure something out.”
“Is Isabel, still in surgery? When can we see her?” Ryder asks from beside me.
“She’s still in there, they didn’t think it would take too much longer. I’ll be able to go in to see her in about another hour I guess.”
“I’m family, so I’m coming in too.”
I don’t hear mom’s response. I’m on my feet. “I just need a few minutes.” I tell them.
I head towards the hallways where I saw a few doctors enter. I follow someone through and pretend like I know what I’m doing, though a large man in a suit tends to stick out.
I find a white board with ’E Roberts” printed on it and a room number. I search for the room and slip inside when I find it. There are wires on Elaina that are hooked to multiple machines. I rush towards her and pull a chair up to her bed and grab the hand without the IV.
“I’m so sorry, Elaina. I promised to protect you and I failed. I should have known that you would be followed. I should have stopped it. Please, baby, just wake up. I know that you were upset before, but I promise that we will make it through this, you just need to wake up and be okay. Please.”
I put my head down on the bed and begin to cry again.
“What are you doing in here?” I look up to see a not-so-happy nurse standing in the doorway.
“Please,” I beg, “I can’t let her be alone. I’ll let her rest and I won’t be in the way. I’m all she has. She has no family.” I don’t mention the fact that Karen and Jackson are on their way.
She take a look at my face and sighs. “I never saw you. You can stay as long as you don’t interfere with her treatment.”
“Thank you,” I say sincerely.
**********
Karen and Jackson arrived this morning and were allowed in to see Elaina, but this is the only time that I’ve left her side. My mom keeps trying to make me get some rest, but I can’t, knowing that she might wake up.
Mom took Karen and Jackson down to the cafeteria to get some lunch while I sit with Elaina.
“I thought I might find you in here,” Dad says as he enters the room.
“I couldn’t let her be alone.”
“You really love her, don’t you?”
“I do, Dad. I tried to fight it for you and Ryder, but I couldn’t do it. She’s truly like no one I’ve ever met. She’s good to the core. I had no chance of fighting it.”
“I just wish you would have told me, we could have tried to avoid this mess we’re in now. Everyone knows about your relationship. Ellie is now the girl that broke Ryder’s heart and you’re the one that helped her.”
“That isn’t a bad thing for Ryder. It shows that he had a heart to break. He wasn’t the one that was caught.”
“I guess, but is this really what you want? You want to give up everything that you have worked for the last few years to follow this girl that you just met?”
“Dad, can we not talk about this right now?” I can’t handle this.”
“Sure, I’m going to check on Isabel. She seemed pretty upset the last time I was in to see her. Actually, she‘s been upset for a few weeks.”
“Please, let me know how she’s doing.”
Dad walks out the door and leaves me alone with Elaina. “Please, Elaina. Just wake up. I will do anything.”
I put my hand in hers again and I feel her smaller hand squeeze mine.
Chapter 37
Elaina
My head is killing me and I keep hearing a beeping noise, but I can’t open my eyes to see what it is.
“I just wish you would have told me, we could have tried to avoid this mess we are in now. Everyone knows about your relationship. Ellie is now the girl that broke Ryder’s heart and you’re the one that helped her.” I can hear Mitch’s voice. Why is he here in my dream?
“That isn’t a bad thing for Ryder. It shows that he had a heart to break. He wasn’t the one that was caught.” Cam is speaking now. Maybe they are really here.
“I guess, but is this really what you want? You want to give up everything that you have worked for the last few years to follow this girl that you just met?”
“Dad, can we not talk about this right now?” I can’t handle this.”
“Sure, I’m going to check on Isabel. She seemed pretty upset the last time I was in to see her. Actually, she‘s been upset for a few weeks.” Oh my god, Isabel. The accident. Is she okay? Am I okay?
“Please, let me know how she’s doing.”
I hear a door shut. “Please, Elaina. Just wake up. I will do anything.” The agony in his voice is hard to hear. I want to tell him of course I’ll wake up for you, but have no strength to speak.
Cam grabs my hand and all I can manage is a small squeeze.
“Elaina, can you hear me?”
I nod a little, or at least I think I do. He seems to see it because he keeps talking.
“Please baby, open your eyes for me.”
I fight my eyelids urging them to open. I can’t stand the thought of Cam being so upset. I manage a few flutters before I can pry them open.
“Too bright,” I manage to croak out.
I hear Cam flip the switch. “Oh, thank god baby. You came back. Let me get a nurse.” I feel a kiss on my forehead and Cam must have pushed the call button because I hear Cam asking for a nurse and telling someone that I’m awake.
The door opens and I see a young, nurse in cat scrubs at the side of my bed. “I’m glad to see you’re awake. This one,” she points at Cam, “won’t leave you side.”
“What happened? I was with Isabel. Where is she?”
“When you left the concert, you were followed. Isabel stopped at a red light and a car rear-ended you, pushing you out into on-coming traffic. A car struck your side. Isabel had some internal bleeding, but is going to be just fine,” Cam assures me.
“What happened with the media? What are people saying?” One of the beeping monitors is going crazy now. “Baby, calm down. Breath,’ Cam says looking into my eyes. I try to match his breaths with my own. “You don’t need to worry about that right now. Dad has it all under control. Just worry about healing and getting out of here.”
**********
I’m going home today. The doctors finally gave me the okay to leave. Karen and Jackson flew in to see me and I’m going to go home with them. I’m dying inside at the thought of leaving Cam, but he has a tour to be on in a week. It isn’t like he can take care of me. I need my family close.
I’m going to miss him and his family so much. I’ll even miss the band; I’ve grown to love those crazy guys. I promised myself that I will keep in contact with Isabel and Beverly, as long as they want to after what I’m about to do.
Chapter 38
Camden
After searching several stores, I finally found the specific kind of chocolate that Elaina wanted. I told her this morning, I would sneak her whatever she wanted. I’m excited to get back to her and tell her about everything that she has missed while she was out and the good news.
The elevator arrives on her floor and I exit, I hurry down the hallway, anxious to get back to her, though I know Jackson and Karen are with her. I open the door to her room and there’s nothing but an empty bed. I check the room number again, to make sure. I’m in the right spot. Elaina is gone. I check the little cabinet, her bags are gone as well. I turn back to the bed, hoping this is all a mistake and that’s when I see it. A note address to me.
I sit on the bed to read it because I don’t think my legs can hold me any longer.
Cam,
I’m sorry that I have to do it like this, I just can’t imagine having to look into your eyes as I say goodbye. The last two months have been the best of my life. I’m so grateful for meeting you and for the time that we have spent together. I know that I’m not what’s best for you. You need to focus on your career. I can’t stand in the way of that. I’m going back home with Karen and Jackson. I hope that you’ll be able to forgive me for leaving lik
e this, I’m a coward. Please tell everyone goodbye for me, especially your mom and sister. Please tell Isabel to let me know how she’s doing.
I’ll never forget the time we spent together and will always think of you with love. I love you
Elaina
She left to go back to Chicago without saying goodbye because she thinks that that’s what’s best? She doesn’t think she’s right for me? I didn’t even get to tell her that I’m not going on the tour. I wanted her here with me, so I could protect her and take care of her.
I throw my phone across the room and it shatters when it hits the wall.
“Cam? Where’s Ellie? I wanted to talk to her.”
I look up and Isabel is standing in the doorway.
“She’s gone. She thinks she’s doing me a favor by leaving.”
She comes to sit next to me on the bed. I glace over at her and can tell that she’s been crying.
“You okay?” I ask her.
She nods, “Yeah, wanted to come find Ellie and talk to her.”
“You can talk to me,” I offer. Maybe her problems will be a distraction while I try to figure out what to do about my own.
She shakes her head, “No it’s a girl thing. You wouldn’t understand.”
“She wanted me to tell you bye,” I held up the now crumpled letter, “I think she will stay in touch with you. You could always call her.”
“I guess.”
“You could also mention the fact that she should come back.” I hang my head and let a few tears escape
“I knew about you two, you know.”
She did? “How?”
“Cam, when I came to visit it was obvious. I’m actually surprised that none of the guys noticed. I guess guys are unobservant when it comes to that stuff. Ellie confirmed it. I was so happy for you two.”
“I’m going to convince her that she’s what’s best for me.”
“What are you going to do?”
“I don’t have that part figured out yet.”
Chapter 39
Elaina
The past few months have been agony. Cam has called me every day, I haven’t answered because I can’t face him yet. I kept seeing him at the bar, only to be disappointed when I realized it wasn’t him.
I dream of Cam every night. On the plus side, the nightmares about my family have stopped. I think Cam was right, my family wouldn’t want me to live with this guilt; they would want me to be happy. So I’ve decided that I feel strong enough to go back to Iowa and start over. I think it may make me feel closer to them somehow.
I immediately started looking for teaching positions in Iowa. I knew it was late, but I was hoping for a miracle. I couldn’t be in Chicago anymore and now that Karen’s bills are paid off, I don’t feel so guilty about leaving.
A month ago, I got a call that a teacher at a small school in Iowa, where I had applied, decided to elope and move to Texas with her husband, so they had an open teaching position. I got the job and moved the next weekend. Karen was sad to see me go, but she told me that she was proud that I was following my dream. When in reality I was being a coward by escaping.
I’m living in a small apartment in town close to the school and I’ve made friends with a few of the teachers. I love my job, it gives me an escape from missing Cam. The nights are long and give me time to think, that’s when I can’t escape the depression of missing him.
It’s Saturday and surprisingly warm for late September. I should be happy to go out and run some errands, but I just want to stay inside and mope some more. I hear my phone ping look down at the screen. Isabel. We’ve been texting every day.
Isabel: Girl, you leaving the house today?
Me: Yes. You’re a nag you know?
Isabel: Pot calling the kettle black there.
Me: Have you done what I told you to do yet?
Isabel: Can’t talk, gotta go. TTYL
I’m running dangerously low on food, so I scrape up enough energy to at least go to the grocery store. I grab my keys and purse and head out the door. I turn to lock up.
“Funny running into you here.”
I freeze at the all too familiar voice. I close my eyes and try to find enough courage to turn around. When I do, I’m struck again at just how handsome Cam is. He’s standing with his hands in his pockets, wearing dark blue jeans and a light blue V-neck t-shirt that accentuates his muscles very nicely.
“Cam, how did you…”
“I’ve missed you.”
“How did you know I was here?”
“Isabel.”
“Oh,” is all I can think to say in response. That little traitor.
“Come for a ride with me.”
I nod and he leads me to the car.
“Where are we going?” I ask after a minute of silence. He’s traveling slowly through the streets of the town.
“I want to show you something.”
He pulls up to a new-looking house at the edge of town. I hadn’t even noticed this house before.
“Who lives here?”
“You’ll see.”
We get out of the car and walk up to the house and I’m struck by how much it looks like my parent’s old house. It’s a two-story white house with a large porch and a porch swing.
“Come with me.” Cam takes my hand and leads me to the front door. He walks right inside without knocking. I gasp. Inside there are hardwood floors and beautiful crown molding.
“Cam, it’s just like the house I grew up in. What are we doing here?”
“I wanted to show you your new house.”
“What?” I sputter.
“I thought that you might like a home exactly like the one that you grew up in. I found the house and got the new owners to invite me and a construction crew in. I had them build an exact replica. They worked around the clock to finish it.”
Tears are streaming down my face. “It’s the most amazing thing Cam, but I can’t accept it.”
“Okay, if you don’t want to live in it now, I can live here by myself for a while. It isn‘t that far of a commute.”
“I thought you’d still be on tour,” I say, confused.
“Oh, did I forget to tell you that part? I quit.”
“You did what?”
“The day that we had lunch at my parents’ house, I took my dad into the study and asked for some time off, I wanted to spend it with you. When Dad lectured me on the importance of the job, I told him right then and there that I resign. I didn’t have a chance to tell you before you left.”
“Oh my god, what will you do now?”
“Now, I’m enrolled in college. I’m an education major. I plan to become a history teacher and coach high school football.”
“That’s amazing. Is that what you really want? I can‘t ask you to do this for me.”
“I feel like I’m doing something for myself for the first time in a long time.”
“You’re in Iowa. Why?”
“This is where my college is silly.”
“You live here now?”
“Yes”
“Why?”
“You’re here. I know that you only left because you thought we couldn’t make it work and you would get in the way of my career, but I couldn’t let my career get in the way of you. I love you, Elaina. I can’t be away from you any longer.”
“Cam,” I wrap my arms around him and sob into his shirt, “I missed you so much. It was agony being away from you. I kept seeing you everywhere. I’m sorry I left, I thought I was doing the right thing for you. I heard you and your dad talking about the importance of the job and didn’t want to cause tension in your family over me. Is your dad still mad about us?”
“He’s mad that I didn’t tell him and the media found out about it. Luckily, the press feels bad for Ryder after his ‘heartbreak’. I don’t know if you’ve been paying attention, but they’ve mostly forgiven us too. Ryder explained that you two weren’t too serious and it was a mutual decision to end it. Not everyone believes
it, but everyone has moved on to other scandals. I think Dad has come to accept my decision and I think my mother couldn‘t be happier for us. She was sad when you left.” I frown at the thought of upsetting Beverly.
“What about Ryder? Is he mad?”
“He understands that we didn’t mean to do this to him. I think he was only so upset because deep down he cares what people think about him and we risked that. My sister is now working for him. Their world tour is almost over, so I’m sure she will want to visit when she gets back.”
“I can’t believe that she didn’t tell me that. I’ve talked to her every day. Are you really here with me? You are actually living here?”
“Yes, I can’t be without you.”
“But to move 2,000 miles away from home for me?”
“Come with me.” He grabs my hand and leads me out into the backyard. It’s kind of strange knowing my way around a house that I’ve never actually been in before.
Outside, there are woods to the right and a cornfield directly behind the house. Cam directs my attention up. I look up and see a tree house, just like my old one in a large tree at the edge of the property.
“You painted a wonderful picture, I can see myself here, getting to know our neighbors, lying under the stars talking about everything and nothing and playing football back here with the kids. I want this life with you.”
“You are the most amazing man that I’ve ever met.” I reach up and kiss his lips softly and he kisses me back.
“I’m just trying to be the man that you deserve.”
“And you really want me to live here with you?”
“I don’t want you to be anywhere, but right by my side forever.”
“Forever,” I agreed.
The end
For Now (Forever Book 1) Page 15