“I’m sorry Chloe.” I heard Nix say just before I drifted off.
I woke sometime in the middle of the night at the hospital and quietly got up out of bed. I used the restroom and then opened the door to the room and saw that the hospital was almost completely abandoned. I held the lavender thin cloth robe together as I walked to the nurses' station. There was an older woman there with curly blonde and gray hair, wire-rimmed glasses, and shoes all over her scrubs uniform.
She looked up when I approached her. “Hey there sweetie, what can I do for you?”
“I couldn’t sleep. You wouldn’t happen to know what happened to my phone when I was brought in, would you?”
“All of your belongings should be in a plastic bag either under your bed or in the closet in your room.”
“Okay, thanks.”
“But sweetie, you should really try to go back to sleep. The discharge doctor will be in by five. He always checks on those that have done what they are supposed to be doing first.”
“I just wanted to read some, and maybe that will help me get back to sleep.” Little did she know, I’ve never been one of those girls that fall asleep to reading. I loved books and reading. I’ve taken as many literature classes as I can from my high school. I was right in the middle of a new release by Sarah J. Maas. It was incredible.
“Okay sweetie, just don’t stay up too long.”
“Okay.” I crossed my fingers and walked back to my room.
Ryan was still asleep. I think he could have slept through anything. I looked under the bed, and there was nothing in the rack where I think she was talking about. Then I walked over to the wooden closet and found a clear plastic bag with my name written in black marker. I pulled out my cell and found that I had fifty-five percent battery life left. That should last me until I get out of this place.
I sat up and read from my Kindle app for the next three and a half hours until Ryan woke up and laughed at me about reading in the middle of the night. I didn’t find it very funny, but he still chuckled. We talked about movies and TV shows that we’ve been watching. He’s a huge The Big Bang Theory fan. I don’t blame him. Sheldon is awesome. I have a friend named Michael that acts similar to Sheldon Cooper. I told him I watched things like Switched at Birth and When Calls the Heart.
Breakfast was brought in to us a little after eight. Oatmeal and mixed fruit bowl. Nothing fancy. The oatmeal had no flavor. Let me repeat that—no flavor. At least the fruit was fresh which made it tolerable. Thank goodness for the banana still in its peel.
Full House was on TV. The volume was turned off, and we were going back and forth dubbing over the words. Ryan was making Danny Tanner use Bob Saget’s crude language instead of family-friendly hugs.
“D.J. if you fucked that boy I won’t hug you again today.” In a feminine voice he said, “Dad, you promised you would never turn down a hug.” Back to the masculine voice, “That’s right. I can’t help it. I’m a hugger.” Then Ryan opened his arms for a real hug. “Come on Chloe. Hug me.” He got out of bed and started to walk toward me with his arms still wide.
I giggled at his antics. “Stop.” I barely got out as his arms wrapped around me. Still laughing he leaned in and his lips connected to mine. I froze. He realized a bit too late that I wasn’t kissing him back. He pulled away. “I’m sorry. I guess I just thought we were connecting here.” I wanted to say something but held back a moment. “Never mind. Won’t happen again. You’re totally hooked on that guy. Let’s just pretend that never happened. Okay?”
“Okay.” I wanted so badly to go back and stop it before letting it happen.
Thank goodness the doctor came in a few minutes after that. “Miss Summers?” I perked up and nodded. “Hi. I’m Doctor Franklin. I’ve gone over your doctor’s notes and see no reason why getting you out of here and home in the next hour or so. I’ve just got some follow up questions.”
“Okay.”
“Do you remember touching anything made with latex in the last twenty-four hours?”
Ryan coughed, “sorry, I’ve got a tickle.”
“There was no immediate area of irritation. I suspect you might have ingested it.”
Ryan coughed again.
I sighed because Ryan wasn’t going to stop until I told the truth. Or at least what I thought was the truth. I cleared my throat, “I had sex.”
“Sorry, what did you say?”
I sighed, “I had sex. We used a condom.”
“Oh. Well, there are other contraceptives on the market that are latex-free. I can get you a list of safe products you can purchase that will be just as effective as latex condoms.” He said writing information on my chart and patting my leg. “Go ahead a call your ride. As soon as your guardian gets here, you’re free to go.”
“Thank you.”
“Feel better Miss Summers and just remember to keep an eye out for latex products.” He gave me a friendly smile and walked out of the door.
“I can’t believe you did that.” I snapped at Ryan.
“I can’t believe you actually told him the truth.”
I replied with a growl. Then I grabbed my phone, so I could text Mama Drayden to let her know that I could leave when she was able to get to the hospital to pick me up. She had responded back quickly with an ‘I’m on my way.’ That’s one reason why I loved the Draydens. They were always there for me. At least when it really counted. Mama Drayden had been more like a mother to me than my own since before I could remember. My own was always busy with fundraisers and press when it came to my father. My dad was one of the senators for the state. I hadn’t known what that meant until that day I got lost in the woods. I ended up with a security detail and a driver for the next five years. Being raised by a sweet old lady named Fran and an almost secret service man I called Uncle Steve definitely made my childhood unusual.
She had to have flown all the way down to the hospital to me in her car. She was knocking on the door and opening it up with a big smile, not even twenty-five minutes later. I had exchanged numbers with Ryan and went home to get some actual sleep so I could return to school tomorrow.
Chapter 8
I Pucking Lost Her
Nix
That night I slept worse than I ever had. It was like I had been thrown into the past. A past I had nightmares about when anyone's safety comes into play. I had put Chloe’s life in danger when she was eight. I had left her in the woods between our houses, and she had been lost for nearly a whole hour. I had been panicked when I realized she wasn’t behind me. My house was in view, and I turned around because I was going to take off for my best friend Brock’s house. She wasn’t there. I frantically looked all around. I went running back into the woods and tried for about ten minutes to find her, but I didn’t even remember which way I had taken through the woods. I ran back home, flung open the back door which opened into the kitchen and found my mom and dad right where I needed them.
“She didn’t follow me,” I said panicked.
My dad stood seeing the panic in my eyes and grabbed his coat. “Care, get your coat.”
“Knox.” My mom said in a worried gasp while covering her mouth. I knew why there was a rush. Temperatures would drop, and she could get caught in a total freeze. She would be dead before morning.
“Dad,” I called out for him.
“What Nix?”
“I was trying to get her to hurry.” I stuttered through my confession.
“What Nix?” He was getting more and more frustrated.
“I ran out the door before she grabbed a coat. I’m not even sure she had one on.” I spat it out as quickly as I could. He would know there was more urgency to find her.
“Carolina!” He called out as my mom came running down the stairs with a coat trying to put it on.
“What’s wrong?”
“She going to freeze before dark.”
My mom gasped, and tears started down her face. We started to run to my dad’s truck. My dad narrowed his eyes at me, but I s
till jumped into the back. I wanted to help. I was going to help. It was my fault that Chloe’s life was at risk. My sister’s best friend was going to freeze to death because of me. Bile rose in my throat as dad took a snow-covered dirt trail into the woods. I heard the branches smacking against his truck as he drove as fast as he could. He turned on his high beams and jumped from his truck.
“Chloe!” He called out in a deep tambour that echoed through the trees. “Which way did you come from?”
I looked around to try to recognize anything that I might have passed. I was gambling with her life. Whatever direction I chose would end in life or death. I pointed out into the trees hoping I was remembering correctly and my mom and dad took off calling out for her as they hastily made their way through the thick trees.
Almost twenty-five minutes later we still hadn’t found Chloe and time was running out. I was walking close to Mom, and she wrapped an arm around me. I’m sure she could tell that I was upset. I had felt like I was about to throw up and pass out at the same time. “Nixy, we will find her.”
“What if we don’t, Mom?” I heard the worry in my voice.
“We’re not even going to think that way. She’s going to be just fine.”
We had only taken another handful of steps before we hear Dad, “God! Chloe!” We went running toward his voice. “She’s here! Over here!”
My dad was taking off his coat and wrapping Chloe in it and holding her close to his body. I caught a glimpse of her just before her face disappeared into his coat. Her lips were pale and slightly blue. Her eyes were closed, and she wasn’t moving or responding. She didn’t have any color to her skin.
The next thirty minutes happened in a blur. We were back in my dad’s truck, and Mom was holding Chloe tight to her chest trying to give her body warmth. Her little yellow-gold rain boots were laying across my lap, and I pulled them off and felt her ice socks.
“Pull them off, Nixy.” Mom had said.
I looked between Mom and Chloe’s feet. I pulled off her socks and scooted closer to her so that her frost-bitten toes were next to my chest. When her skin touched mine, I flinched and wanted to pull away, but I wouldn’t let myself. I was going to help her. I would have sacrificed anything to make sure she would be all right.
Dad made it to the road and flew down the highway. I remember hearing the clicking of the caution lights on as he drove. He was on his phone telling whoever he was talking to the details of the situation. It took just a few minutes before we had two police cars escorting us down the highway. I looked over my dad’s shoulder to see that we were going nearly one hundred miles per hour as we weaved through slower traffic.
There was a team of medical personnel standing outside the Emergency room doors. Dad threw his truck in park and hopped out. He opened the back door for Mom and took Chloe from her. He ran through the doors and Mom followed. I didn’t know what I was supposed to do. I was left in my dad’s truck watching the doors like I expected the three of them to walk back out casually and Chloe to be okay.
An officer came over to the truck, the driver door still open, and peeked his head through the door. “Hey there. Your sister is going to be okay.”
“She’s not my sister.”
The officer’s brow narrowed. “You’re Nix Drayden,” he said pointing at me with recognition. I nodded. “You’re a great hockey player. You’ve got some real promise.” I nodded again. He looked at me and then the steering wheel. “How old are you?”
He probably had seen my team play. We’ve hit the local newspapers a few times. I’m proud of those articles and our accomplishments.
“Fifteen.”
“All right. I’m going to move your dad’s truck and then walk you inside to your parents.” He explained and then hopped into the driver's seat. “How do you know the girl?”
“She’s my sister’s best friend. Chloe Summers.” I stated as if everyone should know who she was because of her parents.
“Oh, I hadn’t realized it was the Summers’ girl. How’d she end up out there by herself?” The officer asked.
“It’s my fault. I was supposed to walk her over to my house.” I wanted to crawl inside a hole and die. I felt so horrible for not taking care of her properly. She was like a surrogate little sister. She had been all alone with her parents off doing the political thing, and Brooklyn was her first real friend. I should have been a better brother to Chloe.
I promised myself that I would stay away from Chloe until the moment when she needed me I would be there for her no matter what it would take. I would be her big brother and keep her safe.
The officer walked me inside the hospital, and we found my mom crying into my dad’s chest. They were worried about her. And to be honest, I was concerned about her. I didn’t want anything to happen to her. I was preparing myself for the worst as I walked to them.
I cleared my throat, “is she…” I let the word go and looked into my mom’s eyes for the truth.
“No, honey. They’re trying to warm her up. Her body temperature was so low when we brought her in, they’re just going to get her warm and let her sleep.” Mom said sniffling.
“So she’s going to be okay?”
“Of course.” My mom gave me a hug. One of those big mama bear hugs that engulf you and give you love with just the embrace. I needed that more than anything else. I started to cry into my mom while she rocked me back and forth in her hug. “Nixy, she will be okay.”
I woke up in a cold sweat. My heart racing and my mind holding tight to my dream. I had forgotten all about that night from nearly ten years ago. After staying out late last night at John’s house spending half of the time hiding my nuts from Sweetpea and the other half drinking myself into a state where John had to drive me home, and Jane followed behind us to take him back home with her. Brooklyn had answered the door and saw John holding onto me to keep me from swaying.
“What the hell Nix?”
“He drank a little too much. We’re going to leave his truck here.” John handed my keys to Brooklyn. “Um, you’re not Chloe are you?”
“NO!” I roared. “That’s fucking gross man. She’s my sister.”
“What are you talking about?” Brooklyn asked looking lost with our conversation.
“Nothing. God, just go away. You’re so annoying.” I demanded.
“And you’re drunk.” She said and looked at John, “Brooklyn, nice to meet you.”
“John.” They shook hands and then Brooklyn looked behind John. “Oh, my wife Jane.”
“No. Seriously?” Brooklyn laughed. “John and Jane?”
Jane walked up smiling, “yeah. We know. And no my last name was not Doe before I married John. It was Platton.” She giggled.
“Platton?” Brooklyn asked. “Like Bryon Platton?”
“Yeah, that’s my little brother,” Jane said.
“Oh, fuck me!” I moaned.
“How do you know my brother?” She asked Brooklyn.
“He’s trying to date my best friend Chloe,” Brooklyn admitted.
“No fucking way,” John said and then broke out in a full-on gut-laugh.
“Well, that’s just the worse fucking coincidence ever,” Jane said. “My brother has been trying to date your best friend for over a year. He really likes her.” She said while she looked between Brooklyn and me. “And he’s not a tool.” She huffed.
This situation just went from bad to worse which sobered me up pretty quick. And everything pointed to a definite I’m fucked.
“Did you want to take him to his room?” Brooklyn asked.
“Yeah, I better do that. Which way?” John said he whispered in my ear, “my wife is going to kill you.”
“Yep.” That’s all I could say.
John helped me walk up the stairs without killing myself. At least I had that going for myself. He wasn’t wanting to cause me harm—just his wife. She was following John quietly. I knew what was coming for me. And I would rather have Sweetpea than Jane at this point. At this p
oint I knew my nuts weren’t going to remain intact. Jane is going to demolish them. Even drunk I knew this and felt afraid for my future offspring.
“Better be quiet. Mom and Dad just went to bed. Dad’s exhausted.” I heard Brooklyn as I passed by her.
“We’ll get him all tucked in.” Jane had replied.
I think she even laughed. But after that everything got a little fuzzy. I don’t remember walking into my room, and I don’t remember getting into bed. John and Jane had to have left at some point, but I’m not sure when or if they talked to Brooklyn about Chloe and me.
As morning light flooded into my room. I started to feel my body waking up. My head was pounding, and my stomach felt like I needed an entire day with the porcelain gods. I opened my eyes to see the back of a sticky note stuck to my forehead. I gingerly picked up my arm without sitting up and pulled it from my forehead. I had to blink several times to clear the haze from my eyes so I could read it. You better be glad you have a history with this girl and that she obviously likes you. Screw this up, and I’ll let Sweetpea have you. Love Always, Jane.
I groaned, wadded up the sticky note, and pushed myself up off of my bed. I sat up on the edge of my bed and looked down at myself. They stripped me down to my boxers. I looked over at my phone on my nightstand to find another sticky note. You smell like sex. Go shower ASAP. I leaned down and sniffed. There was definitely an Oder de Sex coming from my nether regions. “No wonder Sweetpea was going after me.”
I stood and swayed trying to get my balance. “I’m going to be shit at practice today,” I said as I made my way to the bathroom down the hall where this all started. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t regret running into her when water was dripping off her flushed pink skin, and all I could look at was her gloriously perky nipples. She couldn’t stop looking at me. I saw it for one brief second, but it was there—lust. Or was it something more? Could she have liked me for longer? I would do anything to know what was going through her beautiful mind right now. To know why she’s pushing me away. To stop her from pushing me away.
Rising Summers (Pucking Unbelievable Book 1) Page 6
