After all of the needles are out and papers are signed, I am finally ready to get out of here. Callie has stayed with me this whole time and told me I can stay with her as long as I need. Brody still hasn’t shown up, but I am trying really hard not to think about that. I really don’t want to start crying again. I can’t believe he gave up on us so easily, without even talking to me.
“Do you know what room Josh is in? I need to talk to him,” I ask Callie. She shakes her head at me and doesn’t say a word. “Okay, I’ll find him.” I go to the nurse’s desk to get his room number and head straight to his room. I walk in and he is still asleep in his hospital bed. I have no idea what I am going to say to him, so I sit in the seat beside his bed and stare at him for what feels like forever.
“Are you going to talk or just stare at me all day?” He opens his eyes and tries to smile, but I can tell he is in some serious pain.
“I’m really glad you are okay,” I say. “I’m so sorry for everything.” I cannot stop the flood of tears that are falling down my face right now.
“Hey, I’m okay. Come here,” he says, grabbing my hand and pulling me to him. I know I shouldn’t go, but I can’t seem to stop my body from moving toward him right now. I sit down on the bed beside him and hear his intake of breath. I try to get up, but he holds me down. “Please don’t leave yet.” I nod my head and lean into him.
“You shouldn’t have stayed with her for me. I would have been okay,” I whisper.
“I know,” he says surprising me. “I think I just thought if I stayed with her you would eventually come home and I could win you back. You never came home.”
“It was too hard seeing the two of you together. Even at the funeral, I can’t begin to tell you how heartbroken I was. I was so in love with you and to come home and find you two together almost killed me,” I say quietly.
“I know, but Leighton. Tonight proved how dangerous she was. I loved you enough that I had to do everything in my power to keep you safe.”
“By giving up your own life? Josh, you shouldn’t have had to make that choice. All of this has been my fault. I am so so sorry,” I cry. He squeezes me tighter and I can feel his tears hitting my arm now.
“I didn’t want to live a life without you in it. I really thought if I stayed, I could win you back somehow. Now, I know that’s not true. But Leighton, I would do it all again if I knew it would keep you safe.”
“Please don’t say that. You deserve to be happy. You deserve a family and a woman who is head over heels in love with you. I can’t be that girl, not anymore,” I say, standing up. “I will never be able to thank you enough for what you did for me, but I can’t do this, not with you.”
“I know. I may be your past, but now I know I am definitely not your future. I’m glad you found someone who is head over heels in love with you. All I have ever wanted is for you to be happy.”
“I want the same thing for you,” I say, leaning down to kiss him on the cheek. “I really hope you can find your happily ever after.” I turn around with tears running down my face once again. I once thought this man was my forever, but now I know there is only one place I want to be right now. I just hope I’m not too late.
“Leighton,” Josh says, making turn around. “I really am sorry for not being honest with you seven years ago. I will regret that decision for as long as I live.”
I walk out of his room to find Callie waiting for me at the end of the hallway on her phone. “I promise I am telling the truth,” she says quickly. “I gotta go, see you in a few minutes.” She quickly cuts her phone off and stuffs it into her purse.
“Are you ready?” she asks smiling. I nod my head at her, before a new set of tears start again. “It’s going to be okay, I promise,” she says, linking her arm in my mine and leading me outside. She already has her car pulled up at the door waiting so I don’t have to walk far.
“I promise I’ll be out of your way soon,” I say quietly.
“You’re not in my way Leighton. I want you to stay here as long as you want. I’m sorry all of this happened to you, but I’m really glad to have you here now. You will always be family to me,” she says sweetly.
“Thank you.” I don’t ask about Brody again. I still can’t believe he didn’t even come to the hospital with me. Does he really not realize what he means to me?
After a very quiet ride back to town, Callie takes me straight to the hotel I stayed in last year.
“Why are we not going to your house?” I ask quietly. I really don’t want to be locked in a hotel room by myself today. How could she do this to me?
“My house is still a crime scene. I need to go check on the girls and then I will come back and check on you. I promise you will be okay,” she says, leaning over to give me a hug. I nod my head at her and open the car door to get out. I don’t even have any luggage with me. Maybe I should go running back to Josh. At least he would make sure I was taken care of.
“Mrs. Barbara at the front desk has your key. I have already called and told her you were coming. You get the same room we had before. I’ll see you soon,” she says, with an excited grin. How can she possibly be happy right now?
I decide to go inside and get the key to the room. I have nothing with me, not even my purse, but I have to figure out a way to get out of this town. There is no way I can stand to be here much longer without Brody.
Brody
Callie finally texted me she was finally here. I would finally get to see Leighton in a few minutes and this has to be the most nervous I have ever been in my life. The last time I saw her before she was kidnapped, she walked out the door on me. I was convinced she was she still in love with her ex, until Callie called and quickly filled me in on what she heard outside his hospital room when Leighton went to see him. I know I should have been at the hospital when she woke up, but seeing her tied up the way I did, made me realize really quick how much she means to me. I really hope Callie is right about all of this and Leighton isn’t going to go running from me the moment she walks in the door.
I wanted today to be a fresh start for us. After I knew she was going to be okay, I left the hospital to take care of a lot of business. I hope Leighton will forgive me for not being there when she walks in the hotel room to see what I have done. I have emptied every florist in this town of roses and have them sitting all over the room. I went shopping to get Leighton some clothes, definitely a first for me. After that, I ran by my house really quick to grab the most important thing I needed today. I already had her purse and phone in my truck from when we found it in the bedroom. I know today has been the worst day of her life, so I am really hoping I can make it better. I know I am taking a huge chance here, but she is definitely worth it.
My heart is beating in my chest and I can feel the sweat breaking out on my forehead. I am usually very calm and in control, but this girl brings out the nerves in me. I have never wanted anybody or anything the way I want her, no need her and I really hope she doesn’t walk out that door on me.
I hear the key in the door and take a deep breath. Slowly the door opens and Leighton steps inside scanning the room. Her eyes grow wider as she looks around the room until her eyes meet mine. I swallow hard while I stare in her eyes. I’m not sure what I was expecting, but she just looks blank and empty in this moment, and the fear I have lost her starts getting bigger.
“Hi sweetheart,” I say quietly, watching her face closely. She starts shaking her head at me and I can see the tears start falling down her face. I am to her in seconds and finally have my arms around her. She finally wraps her arms around me and sobs into my chest.
“I needed you. Where were you?” she whispers, breaking my heart. I pick her up and carry her to the bed. I lay down with her beside me keeping my arms around her. I kiss her hair and rub her back and let her continue to cry. I start thinking long and hard about what I need to tell her. When her sobs start to ease up, she looks up at me with the saddest expression I have ever seen.
“I am s
o sorry I wasn’t there. I have absolutely no excuse for not being there for you when you needed me the most. I just didn’t want to make you feel like you have to be with me. I only want you happy,” I say. “If he’s what makes you happy, I can step back if it’s what you want.”
Leighton lays her head back down on my chest snuggling into me and takes a deep breath. “When I went home that Christmas and found him with my sister, he broke my heart,” she says quietly. I start rubbing her back again, not knowing what to say.
She raises back up and turns where she is face to face with me. “When I was tied up and Manna was telling me things about the two of you, it hurt. When she told me how you took her to the beach to tell her you loved her the first time, it broke my heart,” she says with a tear falling down her bruised cheek. I can’t believe Sam would tell her that. I can’t believe I had forgotten that either. I wipe the tear away from her cheek, being careful not to hurt her.
“The good thing about broken hearts is they can be repaired,” she says quietly. “The difference between you and Josh is if I lost you, it would shatter my heart and that cannot be repaired. I need you Brody. It’s like I can’t breathe without you.”
I grab her face gently with my hands and bring her lips to mine. “I love you baby, so much,” I whisper, leaning my forehead against hers. “I have something for you,” I say, letting go of her face.
“You mean all of these roses aren’t for me,” she says, with a small laugh. “They are beautiful.”
“I’m glad you like them, but no, they are not your only surprise,” I say feeling very nervous all of a sudden. I reach into my pocket to grab the ring when she interrupts again.
“I hope you have some clothes and soap and shampoo for me. I kind of stink,” she says, looking around the room. I take a deep breath before grabbing her hand and bringing it to my lips.
“I have all of those things and I have this,” I say, opening my hand up to show her the ring. I watch her eyes widen and a new set of tears come to her eyes.
“Leighton Lancaster, I have realized a lot in the past twenty four hours. I thought I lost you at least twice and I never want to have that feeling again. I love you more than I ever imagined could be possible and there is no one in this world I would rather have by my side than you. Will you please marry me?” I say, looking into her eyes.
“Are you sure?” she asks, looking ready to run.
“I have never been surer of anything in my life. You should know that I probably don’t have a job anymore because I didn’t show up to my new one this morning, but as long as I have you by my side, I don’t really care what I’m doing,” I say, still waiting on her to say yes.
“Oh my gosh, your job. I am so sorry. It’s all my fault,” she whispers.
“Leighton, I’m still waiting for an answer.” She looks at me and the biggest smile spreads across her face.
“Yes, I will definitely marry you,” she says, crashing her lips to mine once more. “Can I have my ring now?”
I grab her hand and slide the ring on finger. I don’t know what I did to ever deserve this girl, especially after living through the last twenty four hours, but I will definitely spend the rest of my life making sure she is happy.
Epilogue
I can’t believe after all that has happened the past week, I am finally going to be spending the rest of my life with my one true love. After getting cleaned up that day, we went to see Brody’s parents and tell them the news. Of course they already knew about it. They all seemed really happy for the both of us except of course Jaxon, who seems to hate the idea of marriage. That Maya girl really messed him up. It is so exciting to think I am going to be a part of a real family again.
I saw Josh again a few days after the engagement. We had to meet and try to figure out what to do with Manna’s body. I know Brody still blames himself for the entire situation, but I don’t blame him. I don’t think it’s a crime to look at someone. I wish Josh had gotten Manna the help she needed, but I’m sure he really thinks he was doing the right thing for me. I know he still thinks he is in love with me, and a little part of me might always love him, but he is my past and Brody is my future. I really hope Josh finds his someone soon.
Brody offered to sell the house and buy a new one since the barn area was going to hold so many bad memories. I actually love the house and don’t want another one, so he is building a new barn in a different location on the property.
After he called Destin and explained what happened, he was able to transfer back to Nashville for good and I couldn’t be happier. Callie and I will finally be in the same town again…..for good.
“I am starving. This place will have to do today. I really wish someone would put in another restaurant in this town. I am really starting to get tired of the two we have,” Callie says pulling into the parking lot.
“I am so happy right now that I don’t even care that I will only have two places to eat for the rest of my life. I am just glad I am getting to finally live in the same town with my best friend again and her two very adorable baby girls that will legally be my nieces very soon. I can’t believe they are getting so big,” I say, looking in the backseat at the two little sleeping angels.
“I know, I can’t believe they are already almost two months old. Time definitely flies. I’m just glad Jaxon wanted to have a boy’s day at his place. Ash is so protective of these girls, I was beginning to think he would never let me out of the house alone with them,” she says. We both get out of the car and grab a baby carrier from the backseat and head inside. The place is crowded, but thankfully a big table in the corner is available, so we sit down.
“Here are my two favorite customers,” Ms. Betty says, coming over to see the babies. “They are absolutely adorable. You two aren’t bad either,” she says, grabbing my hand and looking on my finger. “Nice ring, congratulations. You definitely hooked a good one.”
“I think so,” I say, smiling.
“Do you girls want the special?”
“That sounds great, thank you,” Callie says. “I am so excited I get to help you plan your wedding. Sometimes I really regret not having a big wedding, but I think we did the best thing for us. I am so excited for the both of you.”
“Thank you, I am really excited too. I just realized the boys are probably planning a bachelor party, aren’t they?” I ask. Callie just looks at me and smiles.
“If they do, we will just crash it,” she says.
“Are those babies the same?” I turn around to see a little girl standing beside our table looking at Ella and Annie.
“They are twins, if that’s what you mean,” Callie says, smiling at her.
“I am so sorry. I was ordering and didn’t realize she walked off. She loves babies,” a very pretty lady says, walking over to the little girl.
“It’s okay,” Callie says.
“Come on sweetie, we are going to have to eat in the car. There are no tables in here,” she says to the little girl.
“You are welcome to eat with us. We have two extra chairs,” I say.
“Umm, okay, thank you,” she says, before looking around uncomfortably. “That’s really sweet. I’m sorry for ruining your lunch. We will try to hurry.”
“What are their names?” the little girl asks pointing at the girls.
“Their names are Ella and Annie. What is your name?” Callie asks.
“My name is Ava Rose Taylor and my mommy is Maya,” she says.
“Your name is Maya Taylor?” Callie asks, with shocked eyes, looking from the little girl to her mother, who also has shocked wide eyes………
The End
Acknowledgements
Thank you to my incredible husband, Jarrod. I couldn’t begin to list all the things you have done to make this dream a reality for me. Without all of your help with the kids and housework during my crazy schedule, I would not have been able to finish this story.
Thank you to my amazing daughters for all of your support and understan
ding. They are definitely my biggest cheerleaders through all of this even when I’m saying “I can’t, I have to finish one more chapter.”
Last but definitely not least, thank you to all of my amazing readers. Without your support, this would never have been a reality for me. I can’t tell you enough how much all of your messages, texts and e-mails mean to me. I promise I read every one of them and they always make my day so much better.
About the Author
Brittany Bromley is the debut author of The Switched Series. After growing up in both the states of Tennessee and Mississippi, she now calls the wonderful state of Tennessee home. She can be found there with her amazing husband and three beautiful daughters usually watching entirely too much reality television. She has an unhealthy addiction to Mountain Dew, unless of course she is lucky enough to find a Ski lying around. You can find her at www.brittanybromely.com, twitter @brittbromley and on Facebook.
Books by Brittany Bromley
The Switched Series
Finding You – now available on amazon
Trusting You – now available on amazon
Forgiving You – coming soon
Meeting You – coming soon
Saving You – coming soon
Finding You - Chapter One
Why am I hearing constant ringing? Who in their right mind would be calling me at midnight? I finally fall asleep with the help of my nightly ritual of sleeping pills, to keep the ever so real nightmares away and now this constant annoying ringtone won’t stop. I am going to have to change that tone if I ever find my phone. Where did I leave my phone?
Trusting You: The Switched Series book two Page 13