Unexpected Series: Box Set Read online

  “WHAT?!” He roars. My sentiments exactly man, “Did you call the cops?”

  “No asshole, I’m just letting her chill. Yes, I called. What the fuck, dude?” That comes out more harshly than I intend. But considering the situation I really don’t think he’s going to be mad.

  “I was just asking man, what hospital is she going to? Find that out and I’ll meet you guys there.” He acts like he wants to ask something else, so I just spill.

  “She doesn’t look good. She’s still breathing on her own so that’s a good thing. But she’s pretty busted up. I almost didn’t recognize her. I kept my hands on her belly, trying to feel Josh kick and he did. I got to feel my baby kick, and his mother was unconscious.” A sob tears out of me.

  “Jayden, she will be fine. That girl is a fucking fighter. She knows what she has to live for now, bro. She’ll pull through. Have some faith in her. She’ll surprise you. That I can promise you. Just find out what hospital and text me.” He says very boldly and we get off the phone.

  I have to remember that Jonah has been hanging out with her practically the whole time I’ve been deployed. I try to stomp down the intense jealousy I feel at my brother knowing more about Annie than I do. I stand up to go check out what they’re doing and to find out the hospital.

  I go to the nearest paramedic and ask, “How is she?”

  “She has multiple contusions, a lot of bruising, and most likely a concussion. We’re going to be taking her to the local community hospital fifteen minutes up the road. Are you going to ride with us or drive separately?”

  “I’ll drive separately. That way I have a vehicle there for when she’s released.”

  He nods and walks away. I text Jonah and tell him where to meet us. They pull her out of the car and strap her to the stretcher. I watch as they load her into the ambulance and speed off. I risk a glance back towards the cop, who told me he’d come find me tomorrow for an official statement. Knowing that I was going to the hospital and no one was going to stop me.

  Running to my Jeep I get in and speed off and catch up with the ambulance. We get to the hospital in less than fifteen minutes. They unload her and rush her into the ER while I park and run after them. I get to the front desk and panic knowing they won’t tell me anything because I’m not family. So I take a chance and tell them she’s my fiancé. They scrutinize me to try to see if I’m lying. So I spit out that she’s pregnant and it’s my fucking child and if they try to withhold information about my fiancé and baby they will have a lawsuit shoved so far down their throats.

  Saying that got me my way. I don’t think the poor ladies knew what to say to me after my outburst, but they handed me a bunch of paperwork to fill out. So I decide to wait on Jonah to see if he can help me get through all that shit. I know she works at a doctor’s office so she has to have insurance. I’ll just have to send my brother after all that.

  Sitting in a chair that makes me feel like my ass is going to fall asleep, I put my head in my hands. How could this have happened to her? I hope to god she makes it through this. Once we get her out of here Jonah and I are taking her shooting. She’s going to get her concealed carry permit. Or fucking mace. Something. She is not going to be left defenseless again. I will make sure of that.

  After what feels like hours I hear the automatic door open and in walks Jonah, along with Momma and Dad. Momma looks about as horrible as I feel, looks like she’s been crying. She comes right over to me and I stand up and she wraps me in a hug. I don’t know what it is about a mother’s hug. But it has the power to reduce you to a blubbering mess apparently. I start sobbing on Momma’s shoulder. She lets me. I feel Dad come up behind me and rub my back. Finally feeling like I got it all out, I step out of her embrace and wipe my face off.

  I grab the paperwork and shove it at Jonah, “Can you fill this out? I don’t know shit about her. Except her name and that she’s carrying my baby. And oh, just so we’re all on the same page, I told the dickheads at the front desk we were engaged so they’ll keep us updated on everything.”

  “Honey, I am so sorry that you had to be the one to find her. That poor, poor girl. I can’t imagine the fear that she must have felt going through all that.” Momma tells me, she shakes her head and looks around. Trying to find a place to sit. Dad follows Momma, not saying much of anything. He is usually a man of few words, but I know he adores that girl and it’s killing him to have to be here for this.

  Jonah gets all the paperwork filled out the best he can. I give it back to the front desk ladies and then start punching away at their computers. We all sit motionless and not talking. Just waiting for any type of information at all. I’ve gotten up a couple times and paced around until the other people waiting started giving me dirty looks. Let them fucking go through this and let’s see if they can sit still.

  Fucking finally a doctor in green scrubs comes out of the emergency room doors and asks for Annie Reynolds’ family. I jump up and stalk towards him. Not even waiting to see if everyone else is following me, just expecting them to be there.

  “What’s going on doctor? Is she ok? How is the baby?” I shoot questions faster than he can start talking.

  “Miss Reynolds has suffered a severe concussion from the hits she took to the head. She’s bruised up and has lacerations covering most of her face, chest, and back. We preformed the rape kit and it’s ready to be handed over to the police. At this point we are still waiting for her to wake up on her own. Her brain has shut down to protect itself from the trauma.” He tells us. He looks confident about his prognosis.

  “How’s the baby? She’s going to wake up, right? I mean she’s not in a coma is she?” I fire back. I need all the facts.

  “Sir, the baby is just fine. The ultrasound showed that he is alive and healthy. She’s not in a coma, her mind will allow her to wake up slowly when it feels she’s ready to. The human brain is an amazing organ and knows the body better than we do. I can’t tell you how long it’ll take for her to wake up. But she’s breathing on her own, and not on a ventilator so that’s in her favor. We’re getting ready to transfer her to a room in the step-down ICU, just for precautionary measures.” He tells me and then excuses himself after he tells us a nurse will let us know when she’s in her new room.

  I’ve been in such a panic that the reality of the situation just hits me all at once. The baby is fine. She isn’t in a coma. I’m standing but feel my legs start to buckle from underneath me. And just as fast there are arms grabbing me and dragging my ass to a chair. I look up as soon as I’m in the chair, everyone has tears in their eyes. Everyone is just as relieved as I am. My baby is going to make it. Now, I just need his mother to get it together and come back to me.

  Annie

  Pain. The only thing I can concentrate on is the extreme amount of pain radiating through my body. I try to focus on anything but that. I try to open my eyes, but the feel as if they’ve been sewn shut. My mouth tastes like I swallowed some cotton balls. I hear voices talking, and I hear my name so I try to concentrate on what they’re saying.

  “Why hasn’t Annie woken up yet? It’s been five days, Momma.” Who the hell is that? I don’t recognize that voice.

  “Son, I’m so sorry. Her body went through a horrible trauma. Her body is trying to protect itself and Josh. Her body needs to heal more before she can wake up.” That sounds like Jonah’s mom. But where am I that I need to heal?

  “Jayden, the doctor and nurses have told you that she’s going to be fine. She just needs to wake up. Now why don’t you go take a shower and put on the some clean clothes? You don’t want her first time seeing you looking like this.” Now that voice I know. That’s Jonah. And he said Jayden. He’s here? What the hell is going on?

  What the fuck happened? I start to struggle to open my eyes. God damnit. Why won’t they open?

  “Look, Jayden! Her eyes are moving, looks like she’s trying to wake up!” Jonah says excitedly.

  “Baby, open your pretty brown eyes. Let me see you. I
need to see you, show me you’re okay!” I think that’s Jayden. God, his voice is as smooth as silk. He could talk my eyes open if he kept it up. I want to see him.

  “C’mon Annie, show me those eyes.” Everyone seems to have disappeared to give Jayden this moment.

  My eyelids crack open a tiny bit. I squint somewhat and someone yells to turn the lights off. That’s so much better. It still feels like my eyelids weigh a hundred pounds. I pry them open a tiny bit more, I’m starting to see blurred shapes. Getting them open all the way, I blink repeatedly to try to focus on anything and everyone. I see someone that looks to be only about a foot away from my face. Blinking some more, the face in front of me comes into focus. Green eyes are the first thing I see. Jayden. He’s here. Why is he here?

  His lips are moving, but I can’t hear him. My heart rate picks up, and the machine starts to go crazy. Everyone starts to scramble at that point. I see someone run out of the room. I look back at Jayden, he grabs my hands with his. I look down, his hands are so huge compared to mine. He starts to shake my hands, so I look back up. He’s still talking. Huh, that’s strange, why I can’t I hear him?

  I start to feel a little light headed. I try to take in his face. He has concern etched onto every inch of it. But, he’s just as beautiful as I remember. Even with his scruff that needs shaved, and in his civilian clothes.

  And that’s my last thought before unconsciousness takes over again, and everything goes black.

  Second Chances

  Time is free, but it’s priceless.

  You can’t own it, but you can use it.

  You can’t keep it, but you can spend it.

  Once you’ve lost it, you can never get it back.

  -Harvey Mackay

  Annie

  I’m still in the hospital. I fell in and out of consciousness for a couple days before I was finally able to stay awake. Every time I came to, I had to relive what happened to me all over again. And it isn’t enough that while I’m awake I think about it, but also I’m having nightmares. I wake up soaked with sweat, out of breathe, and scared shitless.

  Jayden has been here since they first brought me here. I’m not really sure what to think about that just yet. I’m not ready to think about that. They tell me that I’m so “lucky” for only having minor bumps and bruises. I don’t know if you’d called surviving getting raped lucky. I have to live with this for the rest of my life. I mean, Jesus, who rapes a pregnant woman? Apparently that sick fuck does.

  I haven’t really talked to anyone about what happened. I’m answering when spoken to, but if they try to ask about the attack, I ignore them. I spend a lot of time watching daytime TV right now. Or looking out the window. The doctors have recommended me talking to someone when they release me. Yeah, okay.

  Jayden and his family went to grab lunch from the cafeteria a little bit ago. And I’m so thankful to be alone. I’ve not been alone but for a few moments since I woke up the last time. I know they’re worried, I’m worried too. I’m worried about what will happen when I leave here, am I going to be able to stay at my house alone? Or will someone have to be with me?

  I’m so thankful of the fact that my baby is just fine. I don’t know what I would have done if they would have told me he didn’t make it. I’m sure I would have spiraled into a severe depression. My hand rarely leaves my stomach. Anxiously waiting for him to kick, to reassure myself that he’s still okay. Just then, the door to my room opens and Jayden strolls in.

  Just because I’m in the hospital doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate the fact that this man is sexy as hell. Jayden has scruff on his face, looks like he hasn’t shaved in a couple days. His hair is all disheveled like he recently ran his hand through it. Forget the shirt he’s wearing. It’s a dark grey shirt with MARINE on the front. And it fits him perfectly. Before I can continue my inspection, I hear him clear his throat. What is it with the Miller boys catching me checking them out all the damn time? Jesus, I need to get stealthier at this.

  “Hey, Annie. I just ran into the doctor. He said he’s going to sign your release form soon. Are you happy to be getting out?” He has a huge smile on his face. I’m not sure if it’s fake enthusiasm or if he’s genuinely excited that I’m getting released.

  “Sure, nothing like home.” I say with no emotion. Don’t get me wrong, I am excited to get out of here. I’ve never been a fan of hospitals. Especially after sitting there for hours waiting on news for my parents when they died.

  I glance at him and see that he has a sad look on his face. “Aren’t you ready to get home to your own house, especially your bed? I imagine you’d much rather be resting up in your own bed.”

  “Well, yeah. Who wouldn’t? I’m sure you missed your bed while you were deployed.”

  “I did, that’s why I know you are too. There is nothing like the comfort of your bed that makes everything better.” This time, I can tell that’s a genuine statement.

  I have nothing to say to that and feel like a jackass. This guy is away from home for months and here I am just stuck in a hospital for a couple days. I should be thankful that I’ve not been stuck out of the country. I turn away from him, not really comfortable with the situation. So I avoid him.

  “Hey, now. I didn’t say that to upset you. I signed up for this life, so I know what I’m getting into when I deploy. What all I’ll miss. And I’m okay with that.” He says to me as he gently takes a seat on the bed with me, “I know this is not how we planned to meet, but this is what life threw us. I just want to make sure that I’m there for you however you need me.”

  Is he for real right now?

  “I just want to go home.” Is all I say to him.

  “I’ll go find the doctor and harass him until he signs those papers.” He gets up and walks out, and once again I’m left with my thoughts.

  Later that night, I’m all set up in my room. Brandy came by and fussed over me. She didn’t know how to act around me, and she was honest about it. She said she wasn’t sure what to do or what to say, she said she didn’t want to say anything to upset me. Finally, someone was not stepping on these metaphorical eggshells.

  Jonah and Jayden are currently downstairs in the living room talking about God knows what. His parents left not too long after we got home. The brothers have been a force to be reckoned with. Neither of them letting anyone too close to me at any given moment. I’m not broken. I may seem like it, but clearly I’ve been through a lot in the past couple days. I just need time to process and come to terms with it.

  And I’m getting closer to my due date. I’m due in three months. This should be a happy time for me. My baby’s father is back home, and willing to help out. I found a family in the Millers. I should be getting everything ready for Josh, and be impatiently waiting for him. But my happiness was stolen right out from underneath me.

  I’m shaken out of my thoughts by footsteps, stomping up my stairs. What the hell? Then I see a pissed off looking Jayden come through my door, followed by Jonah with a shit eating grin on his face. Oh no, I’m afraid to find out what they have planned.

  I stare expectantly at them, waiting for someone to clue me on what they think is going to happen.

  Jonah is feeling brave apparently, “We’ve been trying to figure out who is going to stay here with you.”

  “Guys, I don’t need either of you here to babysit me. I’m just fine. The doctor said to take it easy, not stay off my feet and in bed.” I force what I hope is a convincing smile on my face. And they just look at me like I’m the craziest person they’ve ever met.

  “Alright, so who do you want to stay with you?” Jonah asks, yep they don’t believe me.

  “Both of you can go home. I don’t need a babysitter!” I’m starting to get irritated.

  “Bro, just go home. I’ll brave the beast tonight and stay with her. Make sure she’s really okay.” Jayden tells us.

  Absolutely not. Hell, no. We’ve never officially met and the first time he sees me, he has to rescue me from being
raped. Nope, this isn’t happening.

  “We never got to have dinner, we can order some pizza,” he sees the look I give him about the pizza, “or whatever food you want and get to know each other.” He has such an earnest look, and he looks so damn adorable right now. God damnit.

  “Alright. You can sleep in the guest room.” I hope I don’t regret this. This could either be a really good thing for us, or a really bad thing. I mean, I’m not going to be the greatest company.

  “And on that note, I’m leaving. You two have fun, and go easy on my boy Annie.” Jonah tells us then walks out of the room, and a few minutes later I hear the front door slam.

  Jayden just stares at me, looking unsure of himself. This is so awkward.

  “So, how about that food?” Anything to get him out of my room and away from me.

  “What sounds good and I’ll order it?”

  “I honestly don’t care, I just need something besides the cardboard the hospital was trying to feed me. Baby doesn’t like cardboard.” I smile and place my hand on my belly, rubbing lightly.

  I see Jayden move closer to my bed. That is so not what I wanted.

  “Can I… I mean… Is it okay if I touch your stomach? I want to feel him kick.” Why does that make me swoon? Seriously.

  “Yeah, let me move him around a little bit.” He gives me a strange look as I start to push my stomach, trying to get Josh to move around. As usual it only takes a few pushes to get my karate expert to start up practice.

  “OH! Here, feel!” I grab his hand and place it on the spot that he just kicked. After a few minutes he kicks in the same spot again. And I look at Jayden’s face to see him staring intently at my stomach in awe. His eyes starting to look glassy. Damnit if he cries I’m going to cry.

  Suddenly he stands up and turns around and walks out. Oh, okay then. That’s one disaster avoided. Now, I need to get him out of my house. I need to be alone with my thoughts, not here with my baby’s father. Trying to take care of me and worry over me. He needs to get out of here before I fuck things up for us anymore than I already have.