I cant believe it.
Jason managed to get them heading north along the coast with no mishaps.
And no words.
Jason? She hesitated. Are we still friends?
He gave her an inscrutable glance. Is that what you want?
It was the least of what she wanted. I understand if you dont, she said softly.
Really?
Yes, she said slowly, thrown by his disturbingly polite voice. I realize Ive confused things, Jason. Muddled up the relationship.
Which waswhat, exactly?
Uh
At her inability to put it into words, he let out a breath, revealing more frustration and a measure of temper. Shed finally busted through his infinite patience, which was quite the feat.
You dont want to answer? he asked. Or you dont have an answer?
She squirmed. Okay, so this whole talking thing had been a bad idea. Heres the exit, she said, gesturing to the first off-ramp for San Luis Obispo.
Code for shut up, Jason. He got off the freeway and drove straight to the hospitals emergency room entrance. Go ahead, he said wearily. Ill find you.
Jase-
Go.
Right. She ran out of the car and into the hospital, thinking about his words. Ill find you. She knew it would always be true. If she needed him, hed find her. If she wanted him, hed find her.
Bottom line-he was there for her, through thick and thin and storms and panic attacks. He was there for her for anything.
Who was there for him?
At the registration desk, she was directed to a room where she found her sister sitting up in the hospital bed, wearing a gown and a wrist bracelet signaling that shed been admitted.
Lizzy. Ceces eyes went bright with unshed tears.
Lizzy rushed forward, so full of anxiety and worry she could hardly breathe as she reached for her sister, hugging her. You had the baby.
Yes. I had her.
Her? Lizzys heart leaped into her throat. Its a her? Is she okay? Are you okay? Where is she?
Right here.
Lizzy turned toward the tall, built, biker guy.
Holding a baby.
He looked at Cece, who nodded, and then he held the baby out to Lizzy, who took the bundle from his warm, solid arms.
Meet Hope, Cece said, her voice soft and thick.
Lizzy stared down at the sweetest, most serene little face, at the perfect bow lips and bright eyes. Oh, Cece, she whispered, awed beyond words. Its your mini-you.
Told you, the man murmured to Cece, and then with an undeniable familiarity, stroked his hand down her arm.
Cece didnt sock him. She didnt shove him away. She didnt flinch.
Instead, she smiled with her entire heart in her eyes.
Lizzy stared at the admittedly amazing-looking biker. Im sorry, who are you again?
My angel, Cece said.
Youre not the doctor, Lizzy said.
No, he agreed. Im Hunter Bryant.
Cece entwined her fingers in his and gave him a sweet smile that blew Lizzy away. Hunter delivered Hope, Cece said.
In Lizzys arms, Hope cooed, and Lizzy stared down at her, heart melting into a little puddle at her feet. Hope, she whispered, smiling as the baby yawned and stretched.
Seemed fitting, Cece said.
Hunter smiled down at the baby, then at Cece. It sure did.
Okay. Lizzy divided a look between them. Okay, what exactly happened out there in that cursed storm?
It wasnt a cursed storm. Cece smiled up at Hunter. It brought me a miracle. Two miracles.
Jason appeared in the doorway, looking rumpled, edgy and exhausted. And yet when he saw Lizzy, his mouth curved, the smile reaching those gray eyes, softening him.
And Lizzys breath caught. Cece was right. It hadnt been a cursed storm, not for her, either. Not even closeJason, come look.
Pushing away from the door, he moved close, shoulder to shoulder with her as he looked down at Hope. Shes beautiful. He touched the babys cheek, his face softening even more into a sweet smile. He looked up at Cece. Just like mom.
Cece let out another smile, this one sleepy, and she leaned her head against Hunters chest, further shocking Lizzy.
Its okay, Liz, she murmured quietly. Hes one of the good guys youve been telling me is out there.
As the baby yawned and nodded off, Lizzy felt Jason looking down at her, and she met his gaze. He touched her cheek as gently as hed touched the babys, running his thumb over her skin, catching the single tear she hadnt realized shed let fall. Ah, Lizzy, he murmured so softly as to be almost inaudible. Its okay. Its going to be okay.
A promise. And he hadnt failed her, not yet.
Nope, the only one who had failed here had been her.
17
THE NEXT DAY, Lizzy went into work. The electricity had been restored, but thered been significant damage to the east wing of the E.R., plus they were inundated with patients. Shed been running for four straight hours with nothing more than a shot of caffeine in her system when she was paged to the front desk.
She went hustling down the hall. It couldnt be Cece. Her sister was at home, doing wonderfully, and so was Hope. Lizzy had spent a couple of hours, holding her niece, stunned by the love that bubbled in her heart from just looking at the baby.
Then shed gone to work, for the first time in her life just a little bit jealous of her sister, who had not only gotten her life together but was moving it forward.
Progress.
She needed that, too. Yeah, shed had the UCLA thing planned, but she knew the truth now-it was no longer what her heart wanted, and hadnt been for a long time. Shed turned down the scholarship this morning.
Shed find a new dream.
As she headed to the nurses station, she saw Cristina standing in front of the desk with a clipboard. She was in full firefighting gear and looked filthy. Shed probably just pulled someone out of a fire and was checking on them. Cristinas partner, Blake, was across the hall, downing from the water fountain. Lizzy waved a hello in his direction and went straight to Cristina. You okay?
I am. Cristina accompanied this with an amused look. You?
Im fine.
Good, because theres someone here to see you. She put her hands on Lizzys shoulders and turned her forty-five degrees so that she could see the other side of the desk.
Where Jason stood.
Unlike how hed been almost the entire time shed spent with him, he was completely dry. The odd thought almost made her smile, but she didnt. Couldnt. Not when he was standing so close, watching her, his eyes unfathomable, his hands tucked into his pockets, a pensive look on his face that turned into a smile when he saw her.
Not his full-wattage smile, not his usual confident-in-his-skin smile, but one that said he wasnt entirely sure of his welcome.
You two had quite a time out there, I hear, Cristina said quietly.
Yeah. She couldnt take her eyes off Jason.
Do yourself a favor, Lizzy, and keep him.
Lizzy huffed out a breath. When I suggested that to you about Dustin last year, you nearly bit my head off.
Yeah, well, Im meaner than you. Cristina accompanied this with a little nudge.
But Lizzy didnt need a nudge.
Yeah. She couldnt take her eyes off Jason.
Do yourself a favor, Lizzy, and keep him.
Lizzy huffed out a breath. When I suggested that to you about Dustin last year, you nearly bit my head off.
Yeah, well, Im meaner than you. Cristina accompanied this with a little nudge.
But Lizzy didnt need a nudge.
She didnt let herself think, she just did what came naturally, and walked up to Jason.
His arms closed around her, warm and solid. Hey, he murmured in her ear.
Hey. God, he smelled good. She wanted to bury her face in his neck, but she was extremely aware that she stood in front of the nurses station and there were curious eyes on them, so she pulled back, firmly putting her hands in her pockets to keep them off him.
Shed told him she didnt want to do this, which had just been a way to protect herself, and now seemed dumb.
So very dumb.
In any case, she truly was so happy to be able to lay her eyes on him she could barely keep her heart in her chest. Im happy to see you, she said. But what are you doing here?
I came to ask you out on a date. I was thinking lunch.
She had to laugh. Food.
Of course, he said on a smile. So? Yes?
She couldnt believe he was standing here, looking so good. A date? Really?
A first date, he clarified. And why not?
Well, because weve already been through so much for one thing. The crazy drive, the white water rafting, the Olympic swim, theum She felt her face heat as she thought of the other activities.
Naked activities.
Weve done it all, she murmured, smiling at the wicked gleam in his eye. A first date seemssuperfluous.
We could go straight to the important stuff, if youd rather.
Lizzy was very aware of everyones extreme interest in their conversation, and she pulled him aside a little bit. Whats possibly left? she whispered.
Plenty. The I-love-you stuff for one.
She went utterly still, except for her eyes, which she felt nearly bug out of her head as she completely forgot about their attentive audience, which had simply moved closer to hear better. I-You- She closed her mouth, but she couldnt breathe so she had to open it again. What?
He gave her a knowing look. Want to go back to just having lunch?
No, Cristina said for her. She doesnt.
Lizzy shot her a look over her shoulder, then turned back to Jason. Im sorry, she whispered. Imdizzy.
Thats panic.
Im not panicked.
Oh, youre panicked, he said. Youre panicked and braced for the I-love-you stuff.
Oh my God. She put her hands to her temples. Okay, Im panicked. Even with the spots and her blurry vision, his grin came through loud and clear.
Let me put you out of your misery, Lizzy. I love you.
I thought we were just- She held up a hand. Okay, you know what? I need to sit down.
So she did. She sat right there in the hallway and leaned back against the wall, staring up at the man whod turned her world upside down.
He crouched in front of her.
Above them, from the other side of the nurses station, came a scrambling sound as her co-workers and Cristina hopped up on the desk for a better view.
You dont know what youre doing, if youre leaving-
Speak up, Cristina demanded, curling a hand around her ear. Trying to eavesdrop here.
My life, Lizzy said to her and the others, all now in danger of falling off the desk.
Hey, if you wanted privacy, you should have gone to lunch.
Im not leaving town, Jason said.