Just Let Me Love You (Judge Me Not #3)(44)

Embarrassed, the young girl’s face turns beet red.

She starts to leave, but I stop her. “Hey, can I see Chase? You said he’s going to be okay, but what’s wrong with him?”

Glancing around, she says softly, “It’s not really my place to tell you how he’s doing. I could get into a lot of trouble.”

Jeez, she must be a new employee, all hip to abiding by the rules and all. “Well, okay. Thanks, anyway,” I say flatly.

“The doctor will be in to talk to you soon,” she assures me. “Um, are there any parents on the way?”

“Our mom,” I reply.

“Okay, well, I’m sure the doctor will want to speak with your mom as soon as she arrives.”

The young girl leaves, blonde ponytail bouncing behind her. I sit for a minute before I start to search through the plastic bag she gave me, the bag with all of Chase’s things.

I find most of the clothes are covered in blood, no surprise there; blue jeans, a T-shirt with some ancient band’s name on it.

“This shirt must be from the seventies,” I muse, smiling when I think of how Chase told me he found a bunch of our dad’s old record albums up in Gram’s attic this past summer.

“Must have found this old thing, too,” I say as I place the T-shirt back in the bag.

Under all of Chase’s clothes, I find his cell phone.

I take it out and power it on.

I know the hospital has contacted our mother, but they have no idea Chase is actually married. My brother has thus far only shared that information with me, which makes me feel kind of special.

Time to make a decision, kid—that’s what Chase would say.

I know he would want me to notify Kay, like, immediately. His wife deserves to know what has happened to her husband, right?

Without another moment’s hesitation, I scroll through the contacts. When I find Kay’s number, I take a deep breath, and then I hit call.





Kay



I’m outside of the church, laughing and talking with Missy when my cell buzzes. She and I have just made plans to go see a movie when Chase returns home, a double date—possibly this weekend—me, Chase, Missy, and Nick.

Wow, who would have ever dreamed such a plan would be possible? Not me. But I’m happy we’re past, well, the past. It feels right and good to forgive and move on.

I glance down at the phone when it buzzes a second time. Chase’s number lights up and I say to Missy, “It’s Chase. I better get this. He’s probably about to board his flight and is calling to give me an update.”

“Sure, of course. We can talk more about everything later.” Missy starts to walks away, waving good-bye as she heads to her newly repaired car parked a few spaces away. “Take care, Kay,” she calls out over her shoulder.

“You too, Missy. Bye.” I give a little wave, and then turn away and answer the call coming in.

“Hey, Chase. What’s up?” Before he can reply, and in a low, seductive voice, I add, “You better not be calling to tell me you missed your flight. I have big plans for you when you get home.”

“Um, this isn’t Chase,” the voice on the other end quietly—and embarrassedly—informs me.

“Oh.” Shit.

I know who the voice belongs to, even as Chase’s brother says, “Uh, it’s me, Will.”

“Will…” I trail off.

I am perplexed as to why Will would be calling me from Chase’s phone. I’m also appalled by what I just said to my new brother-in-law. Mentally, I am face-palming myself.

And then Will says, “Kay, I have some serious news. Chase and I were in a car accident,” and I forget all about being embarrassed or appalled.

Oh, my God, is this even happening?

I forget every emotion and every feeling. I’m too busy trying to catch my breath, trying not to crumple to the ground.

Leaning against my car for some much-needed support, I whisper, “Chase…he can’t be hurt. Oh, God, Will, is he okay? Please tell me he’s all right.”

My world is crumbling, and it’s oddly reminiscent of another time in my life when my world was shattered—the day I lost the person closest to me at the time, my baby sister, Sarah.

I whisper her name, and Will says, “What? Who’s Sarah?”

Will doesn’t know… No, he wouldn’t. He’s aware that I lost a sister, but he doesn’t know her name.

“Nothing,” I say. “Chase is okay, right?”

Maybe if I say it again and again it’ll make it true, and not just some hopeful plea.

Maybe my crazy ploy works too, since, as I recite my make-it-real mantra in my head, Will says, “Yes, Chase is going to be okay.”

But then there’s a sigh of sadness, and I dread Will’s next words. “What is it? I say.

“You should probably fly back out to Vegas if you can. Chase hit his head pretty hard. I don’t know much, Kay, but I do know they’re keeping him for observation.”

“You’re okay, right?” I say. I’m still kind of stunned. How could I not have asked that yet?

“Yes, I’m fine,” Will replies.

I blow out a breath. I’m glad he is okay, but I’m still so worried for Chase. Head injury? That can’t be good.