Always You, Always Us

by Savannah Carey

  I swallow hard, biting my lower lip. Uh-oh.

  “She’s-s gorgeous-s,” he slurs.

  I stifle a gasp, and my eyes dart to his now-closed ones.

  Nurse Gina turns back around and smiles at me. “He didn’t stop talking about you the whole time we were working on him. He seems to be pretty smitten with his all-star cheerleader girlfriend.”

  “Liv?”

  My jaw, which is on the floor right now, snaps shut when I spin around to find Cindy, Hunter’s stepmother, in the doorway. Darn, she got here fast. There are not nearly enough traffic lights in this town. “Mrs. McKinnon,” I whisper.

  She walks into the room and gathers me in a quick perfumed embrace before walking over to Hunter. “One of the nurses gave me an update and let me through.” Cindy bends over Hunter and drops a kiss on his forehead. Her eyes hold a very big question in them, and it’s not about Hunter’s prognosis. Her eyes dart from me to the nurse.

  Nurse Gina, who has no clue about the curiosity she just raised with her last statement, flashes a warm smile at Cindy and explains Hunter’s condition and his treatment. “He’ll be asleep for the next couple of hours because of the meds, and once he wakes up, we’ll check him out again, and he can be on his way.”

  “S-so, he doesn’t need to stay the night or anything?” I already knew this, but I needed to fill the air with something.

  “Nope.” Nurse Gina winks at me. “He’ll be all yours again very soon.”

  Cindy’s brow furrows, but she remains silent. She drops her handbag into a chair. “Thank you, Nurse. I’ll just wait here for him to wake up. His dad is on his way home from the office, and he’ll be here in about an hour.”

  Nurse Gina grabs the chart and heads out the door, pulling it closed behind her.

  I force a bright smile. “It’s so good to see you!”

  She returns the smile, and I can almost hear the internal battle waging in her mind. She is dying to ask, but instead, she maintains her cool and ignores the big fat elephant in the room. “Thank goodness for your quick thinking, Liv. I don’t know what we would have done if he’d been by himself.”

  I nod, my eyes flicking back at Hunter snoozing. It’s a quick look, one not meant to arouse any suspicion, but I suspect the damage has already been done. I chomp the inside of my cheek, debating my next move. If Cindy tells Hunter what she overheard about the girlfriend thing, he’ll think I said or did something to make them all believe it. And that will be freaking weird.

  I’ve had enough weirdness today. The good thing is, with all of the craziness, I’ve all but forgotten about my foot. The pain finally dissipated, and now I can focus on this awkwardness. So, yay.

  I twist my ponytail around my fingers. “How are the kids? I can’t wait to see them.”

  “They’re great. My mom came to stay with the girls so I could leave them home. I’m so sorry we can’t make it to the party tomorrow night. Mom is off to Vegas with her friends.” Cindy chuckles. “The woman has a more active social life than we do.”

  I force out a giggle. “You know, Hunter and I were talking about babysitting the girls tonight so you guys could get a night out. But I don’t really know how that will work now.”

  “That’s so sweet, Liv.” She rubs my arm. “You’re such a doll for offering. Why don’t you take Hunter’s car home and come to the house later when we’re back? I’m sure your family is anxious to see you, and you heard the nurse. He’ll be out for a while, anyway.”

  “Okay.” I fumble in my pocket for the keys and pull them out. “Just have him text me when he’s awake?”

  “Absolutely.” She flashes a grin and settles into the chair next to the bed. “See you later, sweetie.”

  I wave and back away from the bed, heart thudding against my ribcage. With the way my pulse is racing, I feel like I’ve just been given a shot of epinephrine. I pull open the door and race down the hallway, sidestepping orderlies, wheelchairs, and gurneys, trying my best to escape that oh so uncomfortable situation without taking anyone out.

  Cindy is definitely going to probe him about this. It’s not a shock, considering that she’s been angling for us to get together for years, and that she thinks she’s being slick about it. But, and this thought makes me stop short on my path toward the car, what exactly did Hunter say about me? Did he tell the nurse I was his girlfriend? What kind of meds would make him that loopy? I hug my arms around myself. Drugs are like alcohol. When you’re under the influence, the truth comes out, right? I wouldn’t really know from personal experience, since I don’t do either, but that’s what I’ve seen and heard.

  My mouth drops open, and I let the question linger in my mind before I pull open the driver’s side door. What if he really did tell her—?

  No, not going there. I won’t even finish the question because it’s ridiculous. He was probably confused, thinking about someone else when the nurse asked about me, some other girl he’s been eying back at school. Yes, that has to be it.

  By the time I pull into my parents’ driveway, I’ve managed to convince myself of that. And the knot in my stomach tightens even more. I inhale one last time before stepping out of the car, taking in as much of his heady scent as I possibly can while rubbing the gear shift with a longing that is more than a little disturbing. I remember the day he bought this car…it was the same day he was named MVP of the basketball championship game last year. He’d been saving for so long, and his future was so bright, until the accident that destroyed his basketball career.

  Hunter always lands on his feet, though. Nothing ever holds him back, and he turned his change of fate into an opportunity with Rising Star. He never took time out to lament his losses. They only fueled his desire for success. I think that’s one of the reasons why he’ll run this car into the ground. It reminds him of how much he can accomplish by working his butt off, even when things don’t turn out as planned. There was still a pot of gold at the end of his rainbow, even if he had to take a different path to find it.

  I run my hand along the leather grain of the bucket seat. Black. He loves the look of it, even though I warned him it would singe his bare skin in the hot southern California sun. And it does, but he never complains; at least, not when I’m riding with him. He grins and bears it, just like he does with any other annoyances.

  I’m not anything like him, but I think that’s why we work so well together…why I fell so hard for him. He lights me up; always has. And when I finally realized it, I craved that light. I wanted it to shine solely for me.

  But we don’t always get what we wish for, and sometimes, hard work won’t get you the prize.

  I push open the door and pop the trunk to grab my bag. Hoisting it over my shoulder, I head up the brick path toward the front door. My sister Elle must have been waiting since the door swings open before I finish the climb to the top of the stairs. She launches herself at me, and I wrap my arms tight around her.

  “Liv! Oh my God, I’ve missed you so much!”

  I squeeze Elle with all my might. “I’ve missed you, too!”

  After our little love fest, she pulls away. “Where’s Hunter? I thought he was dropping you off.”

  I walk into the house and drop my duffel on the polished hardwood floor. “Yeah, well he got as close as Pop’s.”

  She pulls me into the kitchen and points to a counter stool. “Sit. And speak.”

  I look around. “Where are Mom and Dad?”

  “Dad is at work, and Mom is on her way home from the supermarket. She wanted to get some fresh strawberries for you.”

  My mom knows me too well, and she knows I can’t get the big, juicy ones I love so much at the school cafeteria, especially if I’m eating with Hunter.

  Elle cocks an eyebrow. “So…”

  “He got stung by a wasp.”

  She scoffs. “You rolled up in his ride. He really made you drop him off at home first? Jesus, what a pansy.”

  “It turns out he’s deathly allergic to wasp stings. He went in
to shock, I had to give him an Epi Pen, and then we went to the emergency room. That’s where he is now, with Cindy.”

  “Oh wow!” Elle clamps a hand over her mouth. “Wasps and strawberries. He’s kind of a delicate one, huh?”

  I giggle for a second and then my shoulders deflate because, as delicate as he may be, he’s still not mine. Not now, not ever. I’m going to have to accept that and move on because watching him cozy up to every empty-headed, big-boobed twit on campus is getting old fast.

  “And how’s cheer going? Are you ready to blow everyone away next month?”

  I give a little half-shrug. “It’s going well. I’m on the mat every day.”

  “Just be careful. Don’t hurt yourself again.” Elle’s face darkens. “I know how hard you drive yourself. It’s not worth an injury.”

  I nod. “Yeah, of course. What’s the deal with Brandon? When does he get here?”

  The smile that curls her lips upward lights up the room. I could literally turn off the overheads and you’d never know the difference. “He’s driving in from Ohio with his cousin Randy, and his immediate family flies in tonight.”

  “Why didn’t he fly?”

  “I think he just wanted time to catch up with his cousin since he’d been away in Paris for so long. It’s cute. A road trip. And his cousin is hot.” She fans herself with her hand. “Wait until you see him.”

  Great, another hot guy for me to tease and kick to the curb because my ability to commit beyond foreplay is nil. “What are his parents like? Are they crazy and controlling? Is your future mother-in-law going to turn into a raging lunatic if you don’t do everything she says? Is Brandon king of the castle?”

  Elle laughs. “He’s definitely got clout, that’s for sure. But his family is great. Really sweet, not crazy. Not yet, anyway.”

  I watch Elle’s eyes sparkle as she talks about Brandon, and I can hear the excitement in her voice. It’s clear she knows that she met her soul mate, albeit on another continent. She may be young, but it doesn’t matter. She believes they are perfect for each other and isn’t willing to let naysayers convince her otherwise. Elle has always been pretty headstrong, and once she sets her mind on something, anybody would be hard-pressed to change it.

  “I’m really happy for you.” I give my sister a quick hug and hop off the kitchen stool. “It’ll be great to meet his family and get to know him better. Any word on dates for the wedding?”

  “Not yet. We’re actually going to look at places while he’s here. Maybe you should come.”

  I fill a glass with water and take a long sip. The last thing I want is to watch some gooey-chewy love fest, but I don’t want to hurt my sister’s feelings. “Hunter needs to get back on Sunday afternoon, so it’ll have to be early in the day.”

  “Who’s he cozying up to when you guys get back? He must have someone lined up if he’s rushing back like that.” Elle snickers and pages through a bridal magazine on the counter.

  God, would I love it to be me. “He didn’t mention. Just broke it off with some dim-witted tart before we left school, so I don’t know if he’s slotted anyone in yet. Although with Hunter, I wouldn’t be surprised.”

  Elle looks up from the magazine, eyes narrowed. “Bitter, much?”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “You sound a little, I don’t know, jealous, maybe?”

  “What? You’re crazy!” Crazy right! “His love life isn’t my concern.”

  “Uh-huh.” She winks at me. “How’s Thomas?”

  I let out a deep sigh. “He turned out to be a loser, just like the rest of them.”

  Elle makes a funny sound with her mouth and folds down a page in the magazine.

  “What’s that supposed to mean? That I’m insane to save myself for something that’s never going to be as perfect in reality as it is in my dreams?”

  She looks up with a smile. “Liv, I’m the last person who is going to tell you not to follow your heart. I mean, I’m marrying a guy I’ve known for four months. I just know he’s the one. I haven’t known him my whole life, and he doesn’t know everything about me, but he loves me for who I am. We have a connection so intense, I can’t even put it into words. That’s my reality. It’s different for everyone, so no, to answer your question, I don’t think you’re insane at all. At least, not about the sex stuff.”

  I snicker. “Gee, thanks. That makes me feel so much better.”

  “So, let’s get back to Thomas. He’s over?”

  “Yeah. Totally.”

  “Too bad. He was hot. Tall, too. I bet he would’ve driven you into orbit.”

  “Nah.” A tiny giggle escapes my lips and I hold my thumb and index fingers about an inch apart. “And this is to scale.”

  “Shut up!” Elle holds her sides from laughing so hard. “Well, at least your gag reflex wouldn’t have been a problem.”

  “Silver lining.” I join in the laughter, but my earlier words echo in my ears. Saving myself…could that be…oh my God…

  I’m not a prude. I’ve dated a lot of guys, done my fair share of messing around, but I’ve had an excuse for cutting each and every one of them loose before they could get too close, figuratively speaking. None have scaled the walls of Virginity Castle. They’ve all ended up crashing and burning before they could clear the moat.

  Oh jeez. I’m not some chastity-belted damsel in distress who is waiting for her prince to rescue her from the tower.

  I’m just a girl who’s fallen in love with her best friend.

  The realization smacks me in the face like a wet glove. It’s because of Hunter. He’s the reason why I push guys away. He is my heart, always has been.

  But I’m not his. And now that I’ve admitted the truth to myself, I need to bury it with my feelings and move on because I want to find my prince. Whoever he is.

  After the laughter dies down and we can both breathe again, Elle hops off of the stool and gives me a tight hug. “It’s going to happen for you, Liv. Just keep your eyes and heart open. And I know exactly what we can do to jump start the process. Come out with me and Brandon tonight. Randy will be with us. Drop off Hunter’s car, hang there for a while, and then we’ll pick you up.”

  “I don’t know. I told Hunter I’d hang out there tonight.”

  “Oh, come on!” Elle throws up her hands. “You spend all your time with him at school, and I never get to see you! We have this weekend, and who knows when we’ll get together again with your crazy competition schedule?”

  I bite my lower lip. I know I need to do this for myself. I need to meet someone new, someone who actually might be interested in me as more than just a friend. Someone I may be able to give my heart to. I stifle a groan. Okay, enough of the Hallmark channel.

  Please?” Elle wrings her hands together. “You need this! And who knows what will happen? Oh my God, how perfect would that be if you guys got together?”

  I snicker. “Easy, killer. But you are right. I do need to get out there and take some chances. You never know what can happen, right?” I take a deep breath. “So, tell me about this Randy.”

  Hunter

  A wasp. Why couldn’t it have been a pitbull that attacked me instead? At least I’d have felt more like a man fighting it off instead of being brought to my knees by a stinger, of all things. I waste so much time in the gym, lifting weights, getting stronger, and yet I can’t even face-off with a stupid little wasp. None of it matters. One sting can have me toeing the line between life and death, no matter how much weight I can bench. Jesus, this allergy crap is really too much.

  I shake out another handful of M&Ms from the bag Cindy bought me on the way home from the hospital. She made sure all of my favorites were stocked in the kitchen. I sometimes think about what a jerk I was to her back when she first appeared on the scene. You know when you’re watching a movie or a show and you just know something is going to happen to make you cringe? Yeah, well that’s how I feel when I think about those early days. I wonder how much convincing she
had to do to herself to stick around. My dad is a great guy, yeah, but the pain in the neck son? Let someone else deal with him. That would have been my thought. And I’m talking about myself, too, so you know it must have been pretty bad for her.

  A burst of chocolate explodes in my mouth, and I smile. God, these things are the bomb.

  Speaking of bombs, Nurse Gina tossed one at me on my way out of the hospital. Said something about my girlfriend Libby, and how sweet and attentive she was, and how lucky I am to have her.

  I don’t have to tell you that this raised a ton of questions from Cindy on the car ride home, questions I somehow managed to deflect. But I know it’s only a matter of time before she comes at me again for answers; answers I don’t actually have.

  “Hey, buddy. How are you feeling?” My dad walks into the room, and I’m happy to squelch thoughts of whatever I was spewing at the hospital because I was too drugged up to know better.

  I lean my head back against the couch. “I’m good. Better now that I had some of Cindy’s banana bread.”

  “She knows you love it, so she made it this morning, before she got the call that you went into anaphylactic shock and thought you might not get a chance to sample it.”

  I snicker. “You guys can’t get rid of me that easily.”

  “Good to hear.” Dad sinks onto the couch next to me. “So, you had a meeting today, huh? How’d that go?”

  “Great, we signed contracts for some summer clinics. Looks like I’ll be pretty busy for a couple of months up here before we head east.”

  “And your team will continue handling the clinics down the coast?”

  “Yeah. I have another team in Arizona, and the camps in Phoenix and Tucson are selling out like crazy.”

  “Cindy always jokes about wanting to sign up for one of your clinics.”

  “She’s not alone. All of the moms do. That’s the idea. Keeps ‘em signing up their kids.” I snicker and chew a few more M&Ms.

  Dad smiles. “You know, you really have a great sense for business. I always felt bad that you lost your basketball scholarship, but I know you’re on to something so much more promising with Rising Star. And you never would’ve started it if not for the accident. I hated to see you hurt, but now? I couldn’t be prouder.”