Crash & Burn_A Crashing Series Standalone
Page 6
“Get some rest, baby. I will be right here when you wake up.” I scooted my chair closer, propping my feet up on the end of her bed to settle in for a little nap myself.
“Promise?” she asked as her eyes fluttered shut, the medicine starting to take over again.
“Promise, promise.” I grabbed her hand and made myself as comfortable as I could in the plastic chair at her bedside.
Chapter 12
Mitch
Six Months Later
Bryn’s recovery was grueling, but she was a trooper. It was by her side for every graft, every second of physical therapy that I could be. I hated that she wanted to get right back to work, but she was stubborn.
After disclosing our relationship like we were supposed to and being reminded that we would never be on the same shifts, we tried to get back to a normal life as much as possible. It wasn’t an easy pill to swallow, but Bryn decided to continue to live with Camden. It was her choice and I need to respect her wishes as much as possible.
Rolling over, I felt for Bryn but her side of the bed was empty. I glanced over the side of the mattress to see that the bathroom light was on. The shower was running.
Groggily, I made my way into the small room, “Babe? Everything all right?”
“Ugh. I feel like hell.” Bryn was sitting on the floor of the shower, head in her hands.
Climbing in behind her, I pulled her small body into mine. “What can I do?”
She shook her head while shrugging. “I don’t want you to get this bug.”
I rolled my fingers over the scar on her thigh, sighing. “After everything we have been through, I think I can handle your damn germs. Do you want me to call in for you? I don’t know if you should go in if you’re sick.”
“No fucking way, it’s my first shift back and I am not missing it to save my damn life.”
“God, I love how stubborn you are and your passion for the job is commendable. But, fuck, it’s so damn infuriating somethings.”
“Just love me through it and get my some Pepto.”
“That’s the plan.”
“You need to get to the station right now.” Otis barked into the phone without so much as a hello.
“What’s going on?” I asked, already throwing jeans on and grabbing my keys.
“Bryn just collapsed. She’s refusing to go see a doctor.”
“On my way.”
I drove like hell, even hopping a few curbs on the way to the stationhouse.
“Where is she?” I growled at a guy I didn’t know and he just pointed to the kitchen.
“Babe, I swear I am fine.” Bryn was holding a towel to her forehead as Camden rested his hand on her shoulder.
“Bryn, you need to be checked out.” For once, I agreed with Cam.
I knelt in front of my girl. “He’s right. I am taking you to the hospital right now.”
She shook her head rapidly. “I just got a little light headed. It’s nothing.”
“You puked in the middle of the night and now you’re passing out. I am not taking as chances with this one.”
After a few more minutes of protesting, Bryn realized that she was not going to win the battle. I waited next to head bedside for the doctor to come back in with her blood test results.
Finally, a young female doctor came into the room all smiles. “Well, I can tell you that you’re not sick at all.”
“Then what in the fuck is going on with me?” Bryn barked at the doctor.
“You’re pregnant.” Her words whisked into my ears, took a few second to register and I couldn’t help the happy tears that came on without warning.
“We’re going to be parents?” It came out as a question, but that wasn’t my intention.
Bryn just sat in the hospital bed, wide eyed. “Excuse me?”
“From the blood work, I’d say you’re about two months along. Congratulations.”
Bryn locked eyes with me. “Mitch?”
I hopped into bed with her. “I have never loved you more than in this very moment.”
“How could this happen?” Bryn muttered. “I am always so careful.”
“Things happen and this is nothing short of a miracle.”
“How are you so excited and so calm right now? We don’t even live together. Never even talked about marriage, family, all that shit. We’re still in the honeymoon bubble.”
“News flash, babe. We just got ripped out of it and I couldn’t be happier.”
Bryn wrapped her arms around my neck. “We’re going to have a baby.”
She started crying and kissing me.
“Move in with me.” I spit out.
“I guess that’s kind of a given now, isn’t it?”
Chapter 13
Bryn
Within weeks of finding out that I was pregnant, I was moved into Mitch’s apartment. He finally decided to give up the minimalist bachelor lifestyle, finally buying furniture and finish decorating his place.
It was my first night alone in the place since I had moved in. mitch was working his shift and I was eating cookie dough ice cream on the couch when the doorbell rang.
I opened the door to find two dozen long stem roses in a vase with a card. Happily, I brought the bouquet inside and read the note.
Bryn,
I love you. You’re going to be a wonderful mother and I cannot wait to spend the rest of my life with you.
Love you,
Mitch
P.S. Open the door.
I ran to the front door again, ripping it open. Mitch was standing in a tux holding a single rose, down on one knee.
Immediately the hormones got the better of me and I burst into tears.
“Bryn,” Mitch smiled up at me, grabbing my hand in his. “I love you.”
“I love you, too.” I sobbed.
“I know that we had a few false starts. I know that our relationship is nothing but conventional and we have done everything pretty bunch backwards. But one thing I do know, is that I am going to spend the rest of my life doing everything right for you and our family. Please, marry me and make me that happiest man in the world.”
I pulled Mitch to his feet, nodding like an idiot.
“Is that a yes?” He asked as he hugged me.
“Yes, of course. Mitchell Rebel Katz, I will marry you.”
He slipped a gold band with a solitary diamond onto my finger. “You just made me so incredibly happy.”
“You make me happy every day,” I responded, gripping him to me.
The End.
Character Crossovers for the Crashing Series and The Hysterics Series:
Crashing Back Down & Falling Back Together:
Genre: Military, New Adult, Contemporary
Main Characters: Mags & Walker
Secondary Characters: Mitch & Cali
Cameos: Maverick, Dane, Colt, Rodney & Fallon from The Hysterics Series
Crashing: The Wedding:
Genre: Erotic Rom Com
Main Character: Cali
Secondary Characters: Mags & Walker
Cameo: Quinn (roadie for The Hysterics)
The Hysterics:
Genre: Rockstar, Contemporary
Main Characters: Dane & Fallon
Secondary Characters: Maverick, Colt, Rodney & Serena
Colt & Serena:
Genre: Rockstar, Erotic Rom Com
Main Characters: Colt & Serena
Secondary Characters: Maverick, Rodney, Dane & Fallon
Becoming Hysteric:
Genre: Rockstar, YA
Main Characters: Maverick & Leilani
Secondary Characters: Dane, Rodney & Colt
Steele:
Genre: Rockstar, Contemporary
Main Characters: Maverick & Cali
Secondary Characters: Rodney, Dane, Fallon, Colt, Serena
Crash & Burn:
Genre: Firefighter, Rom Com
Main Characters: Mitch & Bryn
The Hysterics also have cameo appearances in: Un
acceptable, Off Duty, and Rough & Tumble
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About the Author
Bestselling author, Kristen Hope Mazzola, is a Florida native that has found herself loving a North Carolina life. She writes contemporary romance ranging from steamy romantic comedy, sexy erotica, angsty new adult, all the way to sports romance – with dirty bikers, hot military men, and swoon-worthy rockstars in between. A portion of her royalties is donated to the Marcie Mazzola Foundation.
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All books by Kristen Hope Mazzola
The Crashing Series:
Crashing: The Wedding
Crashing Back Down
Falling Back Together
Crash & Burn
The Unacceptables MC Standalone Series:
Unacceptable
Unspeakable
Unbreakable
Untouchable
Unbearable
Undeniable
Uncut
Unscarred
The Hysterics Standalone Series:
The Hysterics
Colt & Serena
Becoming Hysteric
Steele
Shots On Goal Standalone Series:
Hat Trick
Cross Checked
Cherry Picked
Low Blow
Playoff Beard
Off Duty
Standalones:
Stupid Hearts
Rough & Tumble
Donut Be Easy
Boxsets:
The Crashing Series
Lust & Love
The Shots on Goal Series Box Set
The Unacceptables Series Box Set
The Huntress Series (co-written with Dawn Robertson):
The Huntress (Book 1)
The Hopeless (Book 2)
The Nameless (Book 3)
Charity Compilations:
30 Dirty Martinis
Word Search For Warriors: Authors For A Cause (Volume 1)
The 69 Series:
(multi-author collaborations for charity)
Hook & Ladder 69
Bleed Blue 69
Acknowledgments
This has been one hell of a ride. The Crashing Series started for me in 2013 and finally, Mitch got his HEA. I have no idea where I would be without these characters. The Crashing Series started it all for me…Mags, Walker, Cali and Mitch changed my life and I am truly grateful for them. Yes, I know that they are fictional characters but to me, they are so much more than that. They have healed me, shown me what it truly is to love and have brought me into the book world.
To Kelly: Thank you for being more than just a friend, but a mentor and supporter ever since day one. Even with me showing up at the Ritz-Carlton in cut offs, a very revealing bodysuit and an American flag fanny pack, you’ve been truly amazing to me and I love you to the moon.
To Timbo: The dedication says it all, but holy hell-you’re just the best pseudo big brother a chick could ever ask for. Thank you for helping with so much of this story and pushing me to write about a firefighter.