by Liz Lovelock
“I’ll be there as soon as I can.” I disconnect and look at Parker.
“What’s happened?” He studies me as the tears fall.
“Take me to the hospital, please. My sister’s there…” The words catch in my tightened throat. “She’s been in an accident.”
Parker says nothing but backs out of the park and heads in the direction of the hospital. His hand takes hold of mine. It’s small comfort.
The last things I said to Ella weren’t nice. She needs to pull through. Whatever’s happened means nothing. She’s my blood. My sister. She needs me, and I’ll be there.
“She’ll be all right,” Parker whispers, assuring me.
I’m so glad he’s with me tonight.
“I hope so,” I breathe.
I race through the emergency room doors with Parker not far behind me. I stop at the desk. A young nurse looks up at me and says, “Can I help you?”
“Yes, I’m looking for my sister. Ella James.” The words are rushed, and my heart’s racing at a million miles an hour. The nurse taps some keys on her computer.
“She came in twenty minutes ago, and she’s up in ICU. Only family is allowed in there.” She eyes Parker.
“He’s my fiancé. So he’s coming with me.” I don’t care if I’m lying. I need to get to my sister and Mom.
The nurse eyes me skeptically. “She’s on the third floor, bed 301.”
Without another word, we rush to the elevator. Arriving on the floor, we step off and scan the area, looking for a sign pointing us in the right direction. Parker takes my hand and guides me to where we need to go. For a moment I forgot that his mom works here.
We finally arrive at the room. The scene before me causes me to crumple like a piece of paper. Parker pulls me against him, steadying me. Ella’s face is colored with bruises, and a bandage is stretched tight across her forehead. Parker guides me into the room. Mom looks up as we step closer.
A sob escapes her lips and tears a hole in my chest. “Oh, Addison. I’m so glad you’re here.” She pulls me from Parker’s arms and into her own, holding me tightly. I cling to her like my life depends on it. I miss Parker’s comfort. I release one arm from my mom and seek out Parker’s touch. He takes my hand and holds it tightly.
“What happened?” I ask, eyeing Ella over her shoulder. It’s daunting, seeing her in this fragile state. Mom releases me and goes back to Ella’s bedside. I step back and know Parker’s there to catch me. His arm wraps around my waist.
“Umm… she was in a car accident.” My mother runs her trembling fingers through her messy hair, which hangs down her back.
“How did it happen?” I ask. I can’t bring myself to step near the bed. Those hurtful words I’d said last time I saw her keep me grounded to the spot.
“I’m not sure… There was a drunk driver and he T-boned her through an intersection.” She shrugs, and I can see she’s more than a little frazzled.
Parker gently guides me to the bed. “I’m going to go find my mom. She’s working tonight,” he whispers. I want to scream at him not to leave me, but if it means we can get some answers and it’ll help, then he should go. I nod.
Mom’s head shoots up. “Your mom works here?”
Parker nods. “Yes. She’s doing nights this week. She’s a doctor.”
“Oh, thank you.” My mother goes and wraps her arms around his neck. Parker leaves, and Mom and I stand over Ella’s bed. It’s as if I can hear my mother’s pleas, begging for Ella to wake up even though she is perfectly still and quiet standing there.
“Have any of the doctors told you anything?” I ask as I sit on the edge of Ella’s bed.
Mom shrugs. “They haven’t given me too much information. Just that she’s in an induced coma as she has some swelling on the brain. If it goes down, that’s a good sign. If not…” another sob rips from her chest.
Oh, my goodness. Ella, you need to wake up. I don’t care about anything that’s happened between us. We need you to wake up. I’m sorry for everything I said. I’m sorry for the fighting. You need to wake up and be the sister Devon and I need.
Wake the hell up!
“Excuse me, Mrs. James?” A familiar voice catches my attention.
Spinning around, I see Parker standing there with his mother. She gives me a sad smile. Parker comes right to me, wrapping his arm around me again. It’s like a security blanket, keeping away all the terrible thoughts that want to invade my mind and take over my very being.
“Yes?” Mom turns on the spot, eyeing Jules.
“I’m Dr. Kent.” She grips a folder under her arm, then pulls it out and opens it. “I’m so sorry this has happened. If there’s anything I can do, please let me know.”
Mom nods. “Thank you,” my mother croaks out.
Jules nods, not releasing my mother’s grip. My mother’s sadness seeps into my body. I want to take Ella’s pain away. No one should ever have to go through what she’s going through right now.
Jules stays with Mom for a short time.
After some time, I ask, “Mom, where’s Devon and Dad?”
Mom doesn’t look away from Ella, she replies. “Dad and I thought it best that Devon not witness Ella in this state. It could set off a reaction.”
I’d hate for Devon to witness Ella like this. Parker and I go in search of some coffee and a snacks.
“How are you coping?” Parker asks as we stop at a coffee machine.
Pulling some money from my pocket, I buy some snacks from the machine beside the coffee device. “I’m pretty numb, actually. I keep thinking of all the bad things that have been said between us, and how we need to move on. I’m not even sure why she dislikes me so much. I only hope she’ll pull through this so we can talk about it all.”
Parker pulls me into his chest, placing a kiss on my forehead. “She will pull through, and I’m sure you both will sort your relationship out.”
I stay in his arms, not wanting to leave them. “Sorry about tonight.”
“Don’t be sorry. This is much more important. We’ve got plenty of time to go on another date. I don’t plan on leaving you anytime soon.”
His words make my chest swell. Could this, our relationship, be the real deal? Is there such a thing as a soul mate, and is Parker mine?
What a time to be thinking all this.
“Come on, let’s get back,” Parker says.
With an armful of snacks, sodas, and coffee, we make our way back to Ella’s room.
At midnight, Mom tells me to leave. Jules promises to check in on Mom as much as she can. I don’t want to leave, but I can hardly keep my eyes open.
Parker drives me back to the basketball house. I don’t care; I don’t want to leave him. I need his comfort like I need to breathe.
“Come on, little mouse, let’s get you to bed.” He jumps from his car and comes around to open my door.
“Mmm… bed does sound good.” Although, I may be hoping for a different kind of activity than sleep.
Parker pulls me against him. “Oh, little mouse, don’t tempt me,” he growls.
I hop on my tiptoes and press my lips to his. His tongue slides right in. Desire pulses within me. I want him so bad.
“Let’s take this off the street, shall we?” I whisper against his mouth.
“Gladly.” He releases me, taking my hand and guiding me into the house and up the stairs. His bedroom is the last door at the end of the hallway. The house is surprisingly quiet for a Saturday night.
“Where is everyone? I thought there would be a party here again?”
“Not tonight. They’ve taken it to another place. After the clean-up we had to endure today, they didn’t want to do it again tomorrow, or should I say, today.”
I laugh. “Yeah, that would stop me as well.”
“Coach does inspections to make sure we’re law-abiding basketball players. Not many coaches do that, but ours likes to make sure his players are doing the right thing.”
“Sounds like a good man.”
Parker turns the doorknob to his room, and once we’re inside, he slams the door and pounces on me. He rakes his hands through my loose hair, pulling my lips to his. My fingers roam under his shirt, gliding along his smooth skin. He steps back and strips off his shirt. He’s gorgeous. His hungry eyes watch me. Slowly, I grasp the bottom of my top and pull it over my head.
I hear Parker hiss. “You’re beautiful.”
He scoops me up in his arms. My legs wrap around his waist. He carries me to the bed, slowly laying me down on my back. His fingers slide up my belly, cupping one breast in his hand and massaging it. I ache for his touch in other places.
Piece by piece, our clothes come off. With each lick, nip, and groan, pure ecstasy pours through my body. He’s my heaven on earth, and in those hellish moments, I know he’ll be there to pull me out.
This is what love is.
I’m in love with Parker. Oh. My. Goodness. With every single touch, he ignites a fire within me. I need his touch, his presence, his everything.
Rolling over, Parker lays beside me with his eyes closed. The sun is peeking through his curtains, and while it’s shining on him, I drink in his features. His perfectly aligned jaw. His sculpted chest. Everything is faultless, in my eyes anyway.
“What are you staring at, little mouse?” Parker asks, his eyes still closed.
“How do you know I’m staring?” I reach out, running my hand through his messy bed hair.
“Oh I know all,” he moans. He grabs me and pulls my body on top of him. His shining blue eyes stare hungrily back into mine. His fingers trace up and down my back. “You’re so beautiful, Addison.”
My stomach flips. “You’re not so bad yourself,” I tease.
In one swift movement, Parker has me on my back, his body crushing mine. His mouth claiming every part of me. I pull him harder to my body. I know we can’t get any closer than what we already are. My need and want for him is so powerful, so overwhelming. He presses against me, and I quiver with excitement.
“I love you, Addison,” he breathes against my mouth.
My heart stops.
Did he really say that?
I freeze. I look into Parker’s eyes.
“What?” he asks.
Giving my head a slight shake, I answer, “You did just tell me you loved me, right?” I need to be sure. Perhaps it was a mistake, and he didn’t mean to say it.
Parker beams back at me, his smile wide. “I said it, and I meant it. I’ve loved you since I first locked lips with you all that time ago. Those times I was a jerk, like when I didn’t message and said I would, and bringing someone into the café to tease you. I wanted your attention, I was willing to let you think I was the jerk.”
The wind is knocked right out of my chest. I feel the wetness in my eyes, and I quickly blink the tears away.
“I love you, too,” I choke out, the lump in my throat making it hard for me to speak. A surge of desire bolts through me like an electrical current. I don’t get to say anything else before Parker’s intoxicating lips are on mine, and the current pulsating between us is nothing like I’ve ever experienced before. My body throbs with want and begs for Parker’s touch everywhere.
I love Parker.
Never did I think love was even possible for me. I’ve also never felt like this before. It’s as though I’m floating on a cloud.
Everything’s somewhat perfect. If only Ella wasn’t injured.
Parker and I finally emerge from his bed a little before nine. I’d better ring Mom to see how Ella’s recuperating. I claim my cell from my bag and hit her number.
Mom’s phone rings twice before she answers, “Hey, honey.”
“How is she today?” I’ve gotten right to the point because I need to know if my sister’s going to pull through.
“I’ve just arrived home. Dad’s there now. Her swelling has come down significantly overnight. In the next few hours, they’ll bring her out of the induced coma.”
My heart leaps with joy. Tears fill my eyes. “Oh, Mom, I’m so glad. How’s Dev taking all that’s happened?”
Mom’s silent for a moment. “He’s a little out of sorts. He keeps telling Dad, and now me that he has a game of basketball tomorrow with Parker. I hope Parker can still do it, because I think it’s the only thing he’s focusing on right now.”
“I’ll check with Parker, and I’ll let you know. I’ll come to the hospital in about an hour. I want to be there when they wake her up.”
Parker comes back in from using the shower. He looks delicious with the water drops falling from his wet hair and his bare chest on display. I want to climb on him again and lavish him.
“All right, honey. Do you think you could ask Parker to hang with Dev while we go to the hospital? I normally wouldn’t ask, but I don’t want to stress Devon out any more than he already is.”
“I’ll ask him and send you a message.” I’m not sure how Mom will take the news that I’m here with him. I’m sure she knows I’ve played around with guys before but I don’t want to go into details with her at the moment.
“Thanks, honey. I’ll see you in a little while.”
We say our goodbyes.
Looking up, I watch as Parker gets dressed. He turns and catches me. “Like what you see?”
I bite my bottom lip, nodding. My smile’s wide. He strides over, placing a kiss on my wanting lips.
“I always like what I see with you.” I grin.
“I’m taking you to breakfast,” he announces as he finishes pulling his shirt over his head.
“Sounds good. Can we stop at the campus so I can change my clothes?” I’m still in the outfit I had on for our date last night, which never happened. I’ve had a shower and gotten back into them, but I feel a little dirty.
“Sure, no worries. How’s Ella?”
“Yeah, good actually. She’s going to be woken up in the next few hours. Also, Mom wants to know if you could hang with Devon while my parents and I are at the hospital? He’s not coping too well with what’s happened. He keeps talking about the game between you and him tomorrow night,” I say.
Without any hesitation, Parker replies, “Yes. I’d love to hang with him. I’ll prepare him for our little game. So, I’ll take you to campus to change and then we can grab some breakfast. Then I’ll drop you at the hospital and go get him.” He takes my hand and leads me out the bedroom door.
Dane sits at the breakfast bar, placing a spoonful of cereal in his mouth, and when he spots us, he freezes momentarily. Food sits in his mouth.
“You okay, Dane?” I ask cautiously.
He nods, not saying anything.
“You coming to play tomorrow with Devon at the school?”
He nods again.
Parker doesn’t wait for a verbal response before saying, “I’ll see you later.”
I glance over my shoulder, waving to Dane. That was really weird. I know he’s not much of a talker, but he seemed more bizarre than usual.
“Is he okay?” I ask as Parker opens the door of his car for me.
“Who? Dane?”
“Yeah. Who else would I be talking about?” I giggle.
Parker walks around to his door, jumping in. “He chooses not to say much. It’s just who he is.”
We head back to campus, and I quickly race up to my dorm to get changed. Parker waits for me out in the parking lot. Opening the door, I find Elsie, Willow, and Jane all sitting on the sofa. Their heads turn to me, and all faces light up with smiles as screams fill the room.
“You did it, didn’t you?” Willow asks. I turn to Elsie, who’s shaking her head. I know she didn’t tell them about my first time with Parker. Now they know because I didn’t come home from my date last night.
“Ahh… well, what do you think?” The grin can’t be wiped off my face. I’m sure they can tell from that. More screams. “Come on, girls. I’ve got to get dressed. He’s taking me to breakfast.”
“I’m so happy for you,” Jane says as she hugs me. Her v
oice is soft and filled with delight.
“Thanks, Jane.”
I should tell them about Ella before I leave. I race and get dressed, and when I emerge, I look at them. They’re back on the sofa, talking about Jane’s upcoming exams. “So girls, I should tell you before you hear it from the gossip queens around the campus…” I pause, and all their attention is now on me. “Ella was in a car accident last night.”
Gasps fill the room followed by a million questions. I hold my hands up to stop them.
“She had swelling on her brain. It’s come down overnight, and they’re going to wake her up today. She should survive.”
Elsie is up from her seat, giving me a hug. “I’m glad she’ll be okay. I’m here if you need anything.”
I swallow the lump that’s lodged itself in my throat. “Thanks so much,” I breathe against her neck. All the other girls give me hugs, and I tell them I’d better get going, or Parker might drive off without me.
“He’d never do that,” Elsie shouts as I’m about to close the door. Those girls keep my spirits high.
I hop back in the car.
“I wondered if you were coming back,” he says, a little smile on his face. “I thought I might have scared you off.”
Nothing could scare me away from this guy.
He’s my man.
Parker’s taken me to a small café a few blocks from the hospital. It’s a beautiful morning, and I’m with the best company in the world. After we order our meals, I take a sip of my orange juice. Parker simply watches me.
“What are you thinking?” I ask with a smile.
Parker relaxes back into his chair, crossing his arms over his chest. “I’m simply admiring you.”
“Aren’t you cute?”
He shrugs. I decide to ask a question that I’ve been thinking about for a while. “So I’m wondering, do you see your dad at all?”
Parker stares at me. What is he thinking? He leans forward, resting his elbows on the table. “I saw him about three years ago. He tried to make himself present in mine and Paislee’s lives. I didn’t want any part of it. I don’t think Paislee was too fazed. She was going through her ‘I hate everything’ stage. Mom eventually told him we didn’t want to see him anymore, and that was that.”