Every millisecond played out in front of my eyes. The sounds of the glass shattering and metal against metal. Maggie and Ally’s screams. Watching Ally’s SUV move along the highway before rolling over at least three times, landing on its roof. Maggie’s red hair dangled in front of me, scaring the shit out of me. Neither girl was moving.
“I didn’t see you. I swear I didn’t see.” A teenager was standing outside of the SUV, grabbing at his hair, panic written across his face.
“Call 911.” I hollered, before feeling around for my seatbelt. I unbuckled and braced for impact as gravity forced me downward.
“Maggie?”
“I’m okay.” She gasped. “I’m okay.”
“I’m going to unbuckle you, okay.”
“Okay.” Her voice was weak.
“Hold on to me, so you don’t fall too hard.”
“Okay.” She didn’t sound confident, but I could feel her hands braced against my shoulders. Reaching around her, I managed to unfasten her buckle. As expected, her body jolted with the release, but I was able to stop her from hitting her head.
“Can you open the door?” I hadn’t tried the back doors. Getting the girls out was my only concern.
Maggie struggled to find the handle. “It’s not opening. I think it’s locked.”
“Try again.” She pulled the handle a second time and the door opened. Maggie climbed out. One down, one to go. It was only then, when I knew Maggie was safe, that I realized Ally hadn’t said anything. Not a peep.
“Ally?”
Nothing.
“Alyse Lawson, you better wake the fuck up. Tim will never forgive me if something happens to you and my life just started to get good.” I pushed her hair out of her face, checking for a sign of life.
“He’s going to kill me first.” Ally responded, her eyes staring straight ahead.
“No, he’s not. He’ll be happy as hell you’re alive and breathing. Now let’s get you out of here.” I moved to reach around her for the seatbelt, ready to tell her to brace against me, just as Maggie had.
“Don’t.” Her hand reached to stop me.
“I need to get you out of here.” I tried again. “Just put your hands on my shoulders and get ready to press against me when I unbuckle it.”
“I’d rather just wait for the ambulance.” Ally stopped me a second time.
“Ally, I can’t just leave you like this. What if the car explodes? We need to get out. Now. Please.”
“The baby.” Ally burst into tears. “I’m cramping, Justin. I don’t think…”
“It’s going to be okay. The baby is going to be fine. Let me get you out of here, Ally. Please just trust me.” I pleaded. It took her a few seconds before she relented, and I released her seatbelt and helped her out Maggie’s open door.
“Are you okay?” Maggie rushed to Ally as we walked away from the SUV.
“I don’t know.” Ally cried. “I think I’m bleeding. It feels like I’m bleeding.” The panic was clear in her voice. “I think something’s wrong with the baby.”
“Let’s find a place for her to sit until the ambulance gets here.” I suggested, scanning the area to find a spot far enough away from the totaled vehicle and the highway. Maggie nodded and helped me move her to a safe place.
It wasn’t long after we sat Ally on the grass before the lights and sirens of a fire truck and a police car pulled up to the scene. Not long enough for me to call Tim or Ian and let them know what was going on. Ally was loaded into an ambulance in minutes and Maggie was loaded into a second one upon my insistence. After what we’d been through, over my dead body would she be going without medical attention.
In the waiting room at the hospital, I finally had a chance to make the worst phone call of my life. Maggie was only a few rooms away and Ally had been whisked away for an ultrasound. My stomach churned as the phone rang.
“What’s up?” Tim answered on the third ring.
“Can you leave the kids with Sarah? Ian needs to bring you to the hospital. Now.” How the hell was I supposed to tell my best friend that I didn’t know if his unborn child was okay? I wasn’t even sure if Ally was okay.
“What the hell? Is Ally okay?” His voice cracked with emotion. “Sarah, can you watch the girls? Ian, can you drive me to the hospital?”
“We were in an accident on the way back to the house. Ally’s okay, just in shock. But I don’t know about the baby, Tim. They have her in for an ultrasound now. God, Tim. I’m so sorry.”
“We’re on our way. Which hospital?” I listed off the name.
I sat in the corner of the waiting room, hiding my face in my hands. No way was I leaving the girls, but it wouldn’t be long until people clued-in to who I was and then shit would hit the fan.
“J?” Maggie’s voice came from above. “I’m all clear.” She sat in the chair next to me. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.” I croaked. “Thank God you’re okay. I just hope Ally and the baby are. I told her the baby would be okay, but I don’t know. She was bleeding. There was definitely blood.
“I know.” Maggie leaned her head against my shoulder. “Everything happened so fast, J. One minute our world was perfect and then the next, we’re sitting in the hospital waiting room again.”
“We’ve been here before.”
“No closet hook-ups this time around.” Maggie tried to laugh but failed.
“No. No closet hook-ups because when you need support, when you need someone to lean on, I’m here. You’re never alone. You’ll never have to face life alone again. I love you Maggie.”
“You love me?” Her eyes were glossy, the events from the day catching up.
“We just saw how fast life can change. I’m not waiting for some hypothetical timeline. I love you.”
“I don’t think we’re a hypothetical couple and I know we’ll never follow a timeline. I love you too.” Maggie leaned over to kiss me.
“Where’s Ally?” Tim rushed over to us, drawing attention from the room.
“I just know that they took her for an ultrasound. I haven’t heard anything other than that.” I stood from my seat. “I’ll go tell them that you’re here.” Tim followed as I went to talk to the receptionist. They whisked Tim away, leaving Maggie and me alone in a room full of curious eyes.
Maggie and I holed up in our corner, blocking out the stares. If people weren’t already snapping pictures with their phones, they would be soon. Ian walked into the room with a ball cap worn low on his head. He tossed one to Justin.
“Figured you might need this.”
“Could have used a change of clothes too.” I countered, pushing back my hair before tugging on the hat.
“You’ll manage.” Ian leaned over to hug Maggie. “I’m glad you two are okay. What a shitty twenty-four hours.” Not all the twenty-four hours had been shitty, but given where we were, I wasn’t going to mention that.
“Did anyone recognize you on the way in?” I knew we’d drawn attention, but if Ian and Tim had as well, the crowd in the waiting room would grow. Staying in a bubble of ignorance wasn’t the best place for us to be. Forgetting who we are and the attention we attract has gotten us in trouble before.
“I think so. I called security on the way here though, so we have a couple of them on the other side of this room. It won’t stop the story from getting out though. There are already photos of the accident online. You’re pretty recognizable in them. Ally’s SUV though, thank god Tim didn’t see anything before we got here. I don’t know how you two are sitting here, without a mark.”
Maggie stood from her seat and pulled up her tank top, revealing a mark from the seatbelt. Her skin had been cut and the bruises were already dark. “They x-rayed my ribs and one has a tiny fracture, but they said it should heal well.”
“Why didn’t you tell me this when you came out?” My fingers went to trace the bruise.
“It’s pretty minor compared to what Ally’s going through right now. I’m fine. This will heal.”
<
br /> “We share everything, okay. Everything. I don’t care how minor you think it is, it’s important to me.” I lifted her chin to drive my point home. “You are important to me.”
“Ah, so this is finally happening?” Ian asked, pointing between the two of us. “It’s about time.”
Tim came back into the waiting room. “The baby’s okay. Ally’s okay. They are both going to be fine.”
“Seriously?” Maggie asked, standing a bit too quickly for her bruised chest. She grimaced and I frowned. She was likely the one most injured one of us and wasn’t letting anyone take care of her.
“Yes.”
“But the bleeding?” There had been blood. I hadn’t imagined it.
“The doctor said it was normal with trauma to the abdomen. But the baby is healthy and doesn’t seem affected.” You could see the relief on Tim’s face.
“Thank God.” Maggie cried, tears forming in the corners of her eyes. “I was so worried. I’d never forgive myself if she lost the baby because of my drama.”
“Would you stop taking the blame for things? You weren’t the dumbass teenager who didn’t look when he changed lanes. This accident is on him. Not you.” And Tim better agree with me. Besides, it was his wife that wasn’t looking at the road. Not that it would’ve mattered. We still would have been rammed.
“Ally told me what happened. This isn’t your fault Maggie. It was an accident. Everyone is okay.” Tim walked over to hug Maggie, who squirmed in pain from the pressure.
“Tim, stop. She’s bruised.” I explained, as he caught her reaction and pulled away.
“Shit. Sorry, Maggie. I didn’t even think.”
“It’s okay.” Maggie bowed her head away from the attention.
“Are you okay, Just? I was so panicked when I got here, I didn’t even think to ask how you two were.”
“I’m good.” I shrugged. Nothing felt out of place. Might be sore tomorrow, but I’d live.
“You guys can head back to the house. They’re going to keep Ally for a couple of hours, but we should be home later today.” Tim waved us away.
“I don’t want to go.” Maggie protested.
“Mags, it makes sense for us to leave. We’ll just draw more attention if we stay.” It wouldn’t be long before our fame caught up to us.
“But…”
“No buts, babe. We’re going back to the house to wait.” I stood up and extended my hand to her, leaving no room for argument. “Lead the way, Ian.”
“Tell Al, I love her and that I’ll be at the house when she gets home.” Maggie grabbed my hand and the three of us left Tim behind.
Chapter 21
Catch
Maggie
“She’ll be home soon.” Sarah did her best to calm my nerves. Since arriving at the house, Justin, Ian, and Sarah had reminded me a dozen times that the accident wasn’t my fault, but it didn’t stop the guilt. If Ally hadn’t come to make sure I was okay, it wouldn’t have happened.
“I know. I can’t help it.” How easily the night before had melted away, no longer seeming as dramatic or important.
“Ian and I are going to put the girls to bed.” Sarah picked up Adeline and called for Kenzie, who was playing with her dollhouse in the corner.
“I can help.” I offered, anxious to do something productive.
“I don’t think you’re the calm they need right now.” Justin laughed. “Just stay down here with me.”
He had a good point. I wasn’t in the right headspace for the girls.
“Come sit with me, Mags.” He patted the space next to him on the couch. I relented and sat, cuddling into him. “That’s better already.” Justin commented, kissing the top of my head.
“It is.” I titled my chin and kissed his lips. “This is much better.”
“You missed your flight, didn’t you?”
“I wasn’t planning on going anywhere today, anyway. Not after last night. I want more time with you before I go back home.” I hadn’t even thought about my flight home. When I woke up today, the only thing on my mind was Justin.
“When do you have to go back to work?” Justin played with a strand of my messy hair. I hadn’t even showered since the day before. It would have to wait until after Ally was back and all was right in our world again.
“Monday, but I can probably take a couple of days off. I haven’t used much of my vacation lately. I was too busy avoiding a certain someone to use it.” How ironic. I’d saved vacation by avoiding Justin only to have tons of it available to spending time with Justin.
“You didn’t have to stop coming around because of me. They’re your friends too. It’s not like I didn’t want you there. I did.”
“Are you sure about that?” I teased. “When I got here yesterday, you wouldn’t even look at me.”
“Doesn’t mean I didn’t want you here.”
“I’m glad we’re both here. As much of a mess as this whole thing has been, I’m happy we figured us out. Well, at least the fact that there is an us.” I guess we hadn’t really figured anything else out, but I’d watched Ally and Sarah balance their relationships, and the guys had always made it work. I wasn’t worried. We’d figure that out too.
“What do you mean?”
“Just that we know we’re together and that the how, when, and where will all come with time.” I clarified.
“Meh, I’ll just follow you around. Pussy whipped after years of being a player.”
“Justin.” I swatted his chest.
“I want a picture.” Justin stated, lifting his body enough to grab his phone from his pocket.
“Now?” My make-up had worn off, my hair was a rat’s nest, and I was wearing the same outfit that Ally had brought which was dirty from the accident. I was not in photo shape.
“Yes, now. Our first picture as a couple. Now smile.” He took the selfie and pulled his phone away.
“Can I see it?” I questioned, trying to look at his phone. He was busy typing on the screen.
“Just a sec.” I waited until he finished typing before reaching for his phone as mine chimed.
“Did you send it to me?” I asked curiously, getting off the couch to get my phone from my purse in the hallway.
“Sort of.”
“What do you mean sort of?” I unlocked my home screen to find the social media notification. Swiping open the app Justin and I’s image filled the screen. It wasn’t a terrible picture, Justin’s chin propped on top of my bright red hair. My eyes were bright green, even without eye make-up. He somehow managed a perfect first picture. “Did you tag me in this?”
Justin had posted the photo to his social media account with the caption ‘when the world brings you perfection, never ever let go’.
“Everyone is going to see this.” I exclaimed, shocked that he had outed us so quickly.
“That’s the point. Like I said, Mags, I’m in this one hundred percent. I’m not holding back.”
“We’re home.” Tim exclaimed as he and Ally walked through the door.
“Ohmygod! Are you okay?” I rushed to Ally, examining my thankfully still pregnant best friend from head to toe.
“I’m fine. A little sore, but not too bad. I heard you have more battle wounds than I do. I should be asking you if you’re okay.”
“Why? I’m good. I’m just glad everything is okay with the baby. That was the scariest moment of my life.” Even scarier than the last time she was in the hospital.
“Mine too.” Ally confided. “All I could think about was the baby but she’s doing really well. She’s healthy and everything looks normal. They’ll do some follow up, but nothing major.”
“She?” It was hard not to pick up on the distinct use of a gender.
“Three girls? Come on, Tim, can’t shoot one Y chromosome up there?” Justin joked, coming over to fist bump Tim and hug Ally.
“I’m going to be out-numbered for the rest of my life.” Tim sighed a happy sigh. No complaints from him about another daughter.
“As much as I would love to stay up and talk, today has drained me. I’m going to go kiss the girls and head to bed.” Ally hugged me gently, seeming to be aware of my bruising, and started toward the stairs.
“I’m assuming you’re staying downstairs with Justin, tonight?” Tim asked, watching his wife walk away.
“Uh, yeah, I guess so.” I hadn’t even thought about our sleeping arrangements, but I didn’t want to sleep without him.
“Do you want me to bring down your stuff?” Tim offered.
“I can get it.” Justin stated. “I’ll get it now so that you and Ally can rest without us making any noise.” He took off on his mission, leaving me alone with Tim.
“You have a good one there, Maggie. He might be hard to crack, but he’s worth the work. Don’t hurt him.” It was a warning as much as it was a plea.
“I won’t.”
Justin was back downstairs with my suitcase in a matter of minutes. It wasn’t late, not even eight o’clock, but the house was quiet. Ryan had left early that morning, Sarah and Ian went outside after putting the girls to bed, and with Ally and Tim upstairs, it was just Justin and me on our own.
“Do you mind if we go to bed?” I hated to waste the evening, but I was tired and with Ally back, the adrenaline from the day was wearing off.
“Not at all. I’m ready to hold you in my arms all night.” I followed Justin and my suitcase to the basement, stripped naked, and climbed between the sheets. My eyes closed the instant my head hit the pillow.
It was weird laying in bed with Justin under Ally and Tim’s roof. Weird in a good way. I’d been in his room before, so it wasn’t completely foreign, but I never stayed in there long. We no longer needed to rush. We no longer needed to hide. It would take a while to adjust to our couple status.
“Magdalen, huh?”
“What made you think of that?” It had been more than forty-eight hours since the drama with my mother and Justin hadn’t mentioned my full name at all.
“It didn’t seem important to bring it up earlier given everything else, but now I’m curious.”
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