by Jerry Cole
“That’s how people like that work. Don’t listen to a word of it. I love you,” I told him, reaching across the table to cover his hand with mine. “I love you so much.”
“I think his words hurt because I love you so much. It just gave me doubts.” Peter smiled weakly at me. He reached for a small piece of fish, chewing and swallowing it quietly.
“Babe, you’re the best man I’ve ever been with. Handsome, talented, and so kind to those around you. Your ex didn’t know a thing about you.” I raised a brow, watching as he caught my gaze.
We hit up the new theater after dinner, reclining in seats as the old film played in front of us. I held his hand, needing him to know how much he meant to me. Apart from my family, Peter was my everything.
I wanted him to move into my apartment permanently. I wanted to marry him with my family surrounding us as we pledged our love to one another. That thought caught me off guard, and I felt him pull his hand away. “Babe? Are you okay?” Peter asked as I blinked for a moment.
“Yeah, I’m fine. I think that I’m too comfortable in these seats,” I joked, wondering what I did to him. “It’s tempting to fall asleep, but our night isn’t over yet.”
“What else is there?” Peter reached into the small bucket for a handful of popcorn, chewing it as he gazed at me.
“You’ll see.” I had a bottle of wine in the fridge and planned a romantic evening. Rosa told me that she was going out with coworkers after their long shift, so I’d have the place to myself. “Finish the movie. There’s a quiz when it’s over.”
We did finish the movie that we both knew well, walking hand-in-hand back to the car. I drove him home and glanced at the apartment windows as I parked the car. The lights were on, and I frowned, wondering what the hell went wrong. I didn’t let him see my irritation as we headed upstairs, unlocking the door to see Rosa on the couch. She was talking on the phone and didn’t even pick up on the fact that we were there.
When she looked up, I raised a brow. She smiled tersely at me and continued talking. When she ended the call, Rosa took a deep breath. “Your parents were in a car accident. That was Taryn. They’re okay, but in the hospital for observation for the night.
“Fuck. I need to go, but I have that camp tomorrow.” I began to pace as Peter sat down beside Rosa. “Fuck!”
“She’s with them. Taryn says that they're going to be fine. She just wanted to call and let us know what was happening.” Rosa stared at me as I paced, her eyes wide with fear.
“If I were still there, I could be with them. Damn it!” I yelled, closing my eyes. I tried to think about what to do, reaching for my phone in my pocket to scan the contacts. I dialed a number, blowing out in relief when Nathan answered. “Hey, buddy. It’s Owen. I need a big favor.” I explained what was going on with my parents and how I’d like to spend some time with them. He asked what we were going over in camp, and seemed comfortable to take over for a few days. “Thanks so much. I just can’t think knowing they’re in the hospital.”
“You’re going tonight?” Peter asked as I nodded slowly. What else would I do?
“I told Taryn that I wanted to be there, but we have a huge project right now.” Rosa’s shoulders slumped, and Peter slipped an arm around her.
“I can go if you want. I can work from anywhere.” Peter’s voice was loud and clear, giving me strength as I met his eyes.
“I’d like that. Let’s pack a bag and head out.” I nodded, and we walked back to the bedroom. “I did have more planned for tonight. I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay. Mom and Dad need us right now. Taryn shouldn’t be alone.” There were some aunts and uncles in the family, but all of them lived in other states. They connected on holidays, and it was up to the twins to support each other.
“You’re right.” I kissed him quickly before we tossed clothes into my duffel bags. Once we were ready, we strode to the living room to see Rosa waiting with her suitcase. “What?”
“I called my boss. I’m going with you.” She hugged Peter and I at the same time, making me smile. These two people were such a big part of my life now. We checked to make sure that everything was off since we’d be gone a few days, locking the door and hurrying to my car when we were done. I started the engine, looking around at the dark skies for a moment.
“This isn’t my ideal drive, but it’ll have to do. I’m going to go fast. That cool with you?” I asked, glancing at them.
“Do it.” Peter smiled at me from the passenger seat. I backed out of our spot, pulling out to the road so I could reach the freeway as quickly as possible.
A few cups of coffee, and two hours later, we pulled into the hospital parking lot. I parked, taking a moment to get out and stretch as the other two hopped out of the car. We’d been on the phone with my sister throughout the drive, and I saw an exhausted Taryn walking out to greet us. Her eyes were red and swollen, and I felt her drop into my arms. “Thank you. I know this wasn’t easy for any of you.”
“We’ll always be here for you, Tar. Have you been alone this entire time?” I asked as she shook her head.
“Alice was with me before her shift at the diner. I didn’t call Matt.” I frowned, knowing that he’d be here for her. “He’s dating someone else. Some break! I guess the proposal wasn’t sincere like we all suspected all along.”
“Who needs him?” Rosa walked forward to hug Taryn. “You have us.”
The four of us made our way into the hospital, and I spoke to the doctor. Mom took the brunt of the impact, suffering a mild concussion and a broken arm. She was awake and resting. Dad tweaked his back badly from the way he moved in the accident, and he was sleeping on pain meds. They were together in one room, and we slipped inside, seeing Taryn’s makeshift bed in the window seat.
Mom blinked at us in the dim light, and I rushed to her side. “Hi, Owen. What are you doing here? You have that camp.”
“I need to be with you and Dad. We’re all here.” I smiled back at Peter and Rosa, and they stepped forward.
“Oh, my God. We’re fine. You didn’t need to do this.” She blushed, and I took her hand. “Your dad is sleeping. It looks like a lot of chiropractic and physical therapy for him with his back. Poor man.” She smiled lovingly in the direction of the sleeping man beside her.
“What happened?” I asked in a gentle voice as she stared thoughtfully at the ceiling.
“We were just driving through the intersection at Main and Carpenter. Our light was green, but someone hit us on my side, going fast. They said it was a young driver texting on their phone.” Mom shook her head, wincing.
“Stay still, Mom. Is the driver here?” I asked, and she gave me a stern look.
“Now, you leave that poor child alone. I’m certain they’re in all kinds of trouble as it is. We’re going to be all right. This could have been so much worse.” Her tone was soft yet firm, and I shrugged weakly. “Are you all okay to be here?”
“I asked Nathan to cover the camp, Peter is remote, and Rosa got some time off. It’s all legit, Mom.” I winked at her, making her laugh weakly. “We’re here to take care of you.”
I stepped back to let the others greet her, walking over to my father. He was frowning in his sleep, his head tilted at an angle. That looked like it hurt, and I nibbled on my lip.
Stupid fucking teens, or whatever the other driver was. They were lucky that I didn’t know who they were.
The nurse told us that Mom had to rest, but visiting hours were at eight the following morning. We walked to our cars and headed to the house to stay the night. Taryn and Rosa took her old room, and Peter led me to ours.
We stripped and slid under the covers. Peter wrapped his arms around me, holding me as I felt my heart begin to pound. “They’re going to be okay.”
“That could’ve been so much worse.” I shook as I spoke, feeling tears in my eyes.
“It isn’t, though. We’re going to get some sleep and go back to see them in the morning.” His words were gentle and melodic
as I sucked in breaths of air.
“I need you. Will you make love to me?” I asked, feeling his lips on my shoulder.
Chapter Fourteen
Peter
It was a restless night for Owen, and I finally slipped out of bed when the room was just beginning to lighten up. I made coffee, taking my cup outside to watch the world come to life.
This was like night and day compared to the city, with birds chirping and just the sound of the wind. Did Owen mean what he said last night about wanting to be here? Did he not want to live in New York?
It plagued me from the moment he said it. I reasoned with myself and silently chanted that he was just upset. His family was important to him. He was just acting out in the heat of the moment.
I sighed and relaxed into the lounge chair, seeing small waves on the surface of the lake. Could I live here if he wanted to? It certainly was different, but Rosa was my only real tie to New York apart from Owen. I worked remotely. Owen could coach here and do everything he did back in the city. Why did he stay there?
I jumped slightly as I heard the door slide open. “It’s me,” Rosa said in her sweet voice, and I relaxed as she slipped into the chair beside me. “Did you sleep?”
“Not well. You?” I glanced at her to see that she was holding a coffee cup. Her eyes had dark circles underneath them, and she shook her head.
“Taryn was a mess. I’m assuming that Owen is as well?” Rosa asked, and I sipped my drink.
“In his way, yes. He was so restless all night that I’m surprised he slept at all.” I heard her sigh. “Do you think he wants to live here again?”
“Because of what he said last night?” Rosa confirmed as I nodded. “No. He was stressed, worried. Owen made it clear that he loved living in New York. I’d expect him to be here a while, though.” She sipped her coffee. “Taryn is one hundred percent staying here.”
“After Matt, that’s not a surprise, is it?” I asked before something in her voice made me look at her. “Wait…are you bothered by that?”
“No, I knew. She’s just so upset, and I’m worried about both of them.” Her answer seemed too quick, but I let it drop.
We waited for the twins to wake up for about thirty minutes. They looked awful, sitting together at the table with coffee as they talked. I knew that visiting hours started, and we’d likely be staying at the hospital all day. Owen had some stubble growing in that looked good, and Taryn had her hair in a top knot on her head, falling in pieces.
Did I just say that he looked good? Well, he did. I enjoyed making him feel better last night in bed, doing what I could for him. Owen was sexual when he was stressed, and this was no secret. I would do whatever it took to keep him moving forward through this.
“We’re going to get ready to go to the hospital.” I looked over at Owen. He smiled weakly at me. “If you want to stay here, you both can. I know this is rough on all of us.”
“I didn’t come here to stay at the house. I came to be with you.” Rosa almost sounded mad, and Taryn looked at her with shimmering eyes. “I’d like a quick shower.”
“We all would. We’ll leave in an hour.” We finished our coffee, and Rosa and I washed the cups while they showered. Once they finished, I stepped under the hot water for a few minutes to bring myself to life.
I dressed in jeans and a thick long-sleeve shirt since the hospital was on the chilly side last night. Owen was dressed much the same, and he kissed me before we met the girls in the living room.
They were both wearing jeans with sweaters, talking intimately on the couch. “Ready?” Owen asked in a tired voice, making them both jump. What was going on here?
“Yep. I’ll drive today if you want.” Taryn jumped up, and Rosa followed, her eyes on the ground. He agreed, and we walked outside to his car, slipping inside. Rosa sat beside her as I took the back seat with Owen, glancing at him. Did he notice what was going on?
The hospital was twenty minutes away. Taryn parked in the garage this time, and Owen walked ahead with her. They talked, and I looked at my best friend. “Did you guys fight or something? You’re usually attached at the hip.”
“They’re both stressed. I think that’s all it is,” her voice was weak as I searched her face. “I don’t know how to act right now. We don’t have close families. What can I do to make this better?”
“Everyone has their form of comfort. That’s what I usually go with.” I wrapped an arm around her shoulders, and we followed the siblings inside. “Do you guys want anything from the cafeteria? Coffee?” I asked as Owen looked at me.
“That would be great, babe. Thank you.” I hoped he’d ask for food of some kind, but it was a start.
“We know where they are. We’ll see you in a bit.” Rosa called out, watching as Owen caught up to his sister. We found directions to the cafeteria, taking one elevator down to wander through and see what they had to offer. It was actually enough to get a person through the long days there. We got the coffee, paying for it, and finding an elevator to take to the room.
Both of them were awake today, and Owen was sitting with his dad while Taryn rested her head on her mom’s bed. “Good morning,” Amber said, and everyone looked at us.
“How are you feeling?” Rosa asked, stepping toward Taryn with the cup. “We didn’t bring you guys any. Sorry.”
“This hospital has a sorry excuse for coffee. We’re fine.” Mel spoke weakly, and I realized that he was right once Owen had his cup, and I tasted mine.
“I’m sore as hell, but we’re going to be discharged today. I’m supposed to see a few doctors on my own,” Mel told us as we locked onto every word. “Thank you all for coming here. I hope that work isn’t affected negatively in any way?”
“No. It worked out, Dad. Of course, we’d be here.” Owen gazed at him with a strength I know zapped his last bit of energy.
“How about you, Mom?” I asked as she held her daughter’s hand.
“Just a little sore. Everything will heal,” she assured me with a smile. Amber was the rock in the family, I sensed. “The doctor said we might be able to leave later today.” That led to a discussion about bringing another car to get them home, and Taryn and Owen left to make that happen after lunch.
We sat in chairs beside Amber, since Mel was sleeping again. “Thank you for being here. It means the world to all of us.” She patted our hands, meeting our gazes. “I know the kids are a bit of a mess right now, but they appreciate you.”
“This is a different thing for us. We’re not close to our families, and I don’t know if we’d even go there if anything like this happened. I kind of don’t know what to do,” Rosa admitted, as Amber laughed softly.
“Just being here is enough.” She winced again, making rage flood me at the driver that did this. “I expect that Owen will want to stay and hover over us for a while. Did you bring a car?”
“We took his, but I think we can both stay. I’ll work from here and keep things afloat,” I told her as she smiled again.
“You love him.” I nodded, blushing a bit.
“I do.”
“You’re a wonderful friend to Taryn. It seems as though you are more of a sister to her. I love that.” Amber directed her words at Rosa, who also blushed. “We can get you home if need be.”
“I have a great boss. It’ll work out.” Rosa was quick to reassure her, and Amber nodded. Her eyes settled on Rosa for a moment before moving to me.
“I love you both so much. I did from the first moment that I met you.” I felt tears in my eyes, and Rosa reached for my hand. “You’re not a burden to us right now. Okay? You’re a blessing.”
When Taryn and Owen returned, they brought food for us. There were no food restrictions for their parents, so we all enjoyed burgers and fries until the doctor showed up to look them over. He told Mel to see the chiropractor and do whatever he was told, and stressed that they both get some rest.
Owen drove them in Taryn’s car while she took us in his larger vehicle. She was quiet a
s she drove, fiddling with the radio as I watched from the back seat. “Is it your parents, Tar? I can tell that you’re off right now, and it’s understandable if it is.”
“Yes. No. I don’t know.” She sighed. “This is crazy. I want them home and safe. I want to lock them inside and never let this happen again.”
“But you can’t keep them prisoner,” Rosa finished as Taryn nodded. “They’ll make it through this, Taryn.”
“I know, but what about the next time? What would I do without my parents?” Taryn asked and started to cry. “The phone call nearly destroyed me, and I had to deal with it. I called you as soon as I was settled, and Alice came to help me, but I felt so alone.”
“You’re not alone. We’re here for you and Owen, and your parents. We’re going to get through this.” I told her, needing to calm her down.
“I know. I’m just freaking out. My parents are so invincible, or at least they were.”
“They are okay. Let’s work through healing them up.” Rosa suggested as Taryn looked at her.
We arrived at the house in time to help them inside. It worked out well that it was a single story, and we got them to the couch. Taryn ran back out to grab their bag while we made them some coffee.
“I think I might be sleeping in this,” Mel said, leaning back in the recliner. “It feels good on the back.”
“I’ll be right beside you,” Amber told him, sending him a loving smile.
We made an easy dinner of soup and sandwiches since Amber was down an arm. We ate it in the living room on TV trays with a movie playing, chatting as if everything was normal.
I stepped outside to watch the sunset over the water, needing fresh air. If this were my family and they got injured, there’s a good chance I wouldn’t go home. If it was Rosa…that was a different story. I’d feel the same way that Taryn did right now.
“You too?” Rosa asked as she stepped into the vibrant rays.
“This is a lot. Was Taryn like that last night?” I asked, and she went quiet.
“A little bit. She was kind of all over the place.” Rosa seemed to consider something for a moment. “She…she kissed me, Peter. Like full on kissing on the mouth. It was during a bit of a breakdown, but she seemed to be aware of what was happening.”