That Snowy Night (Into The Fire Book 11)

by J. H. Croix

  “Yeah, well, Maisie’s here in Willow Brook. Delilah’s in North Carolina. It’s a whole lot harder with thousands of miles in the way.” I was feeling irritated.

  Beck looked at me quietly, and I shifted my shoulders uneasily. As much as Beck loved to joke around, he was disarmingly perceptive sometimes. “Dude, if she means that much, then I’d say get your ass to North Carolina.”

  I contemplated my options for how the hell to get a hold of Delilah. Because even though she was ignoring me, I sensed she was doing it more out of self-preservation than anything else.

  At my wits’ end, I called Remy. He answered on the second ring. “What’s up?”

  “Hey, Remy, it’s Alex. I need a favor.”

  “Happy to help. What do you need?”

  “Is there any way you can get a message to Delilah for me?”

  A few days later, after Remy assured me he would reach out to friends in Stolen Hearts Valley and find a way to get a message to Delilah, I was out at the airport working on a plane engine.

  Something weird was going on with this one, and I was carefully taking things apart. As I lifted off the cover where the battery was, there was a loud boom. I pushed out of the compartment quickly, turning to see a small plane that had just landed. Its engine was on fire.

  I heard screaming as I started running across the parking lot toward the runway. I could hear other footsteps in the distance. When I got to the plane, I saw the pilot slumped over the steering wheel. Fred was an old friend and had been flying all over Alaska for as long as I could recall. He was unconscious. There were two passengers in the back, already clambering out. I called for them to get out as fast as they could as I yanked the door open to where Fred was. The last thing I remembered was another loud boom just as his weight came into my arms.

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Alex

  3 a.m. Alaska

  As I tried opening my eyes, my thoughts were fuzzy. I stared up at a blank white ceiling. Turning my head sideways, I saw a light blue curtain beside my bed. Just moving my head hurt like hell.

  “What the fuck?” I muttered to myself.

  Taking in my surroundings, I deduced I was in a hospital bed, and my head throbbed. When I moved to sit up, I discovered I was too weak and collapsed against the pillows.

  I tried to remember what happened. It took a moment, but I recalled the engine exploding on Fred’s plane when he landed and running over to check. The last thing I recalled was pulling him out while the passengers leaped to the ground. My memory was a giant blank spot after that.

  Yet again, I tried to sit up. When I struggled to breathe, I fell into the pillows again. “Fuck.”

  Looking around, I couldn’t tell if I was alone or not. There was a window to the side of my bed, and it was barely light out. I could tell I was in Willow Brook because I could see the lights from downtown just outside the hospital. I looked around my bed, noticing that I had an IV in one arm.

  My eyes finally landed on what I presumed was the call button for the nurses. I pressed the button for help.

  In another moment, I heard the door opening and footsteps following before the curtain was pushed back. “Well, hello there, how are you, Alex?” the nurse asked.

  “What the hell is going on?” I recognized the nurse right away. Chris Grant was one of Holly’s good friends at the hospital here. “How did I luck into getting you?”

  Chris smiled. “We have somebody on vacation this week, so I’m covering a few night shifts. Do you remember what happened?” He stepped to the monitor beside my bed to check a few things.

  “The last thing I remember is pulling Fred out of the plane. The passengers were jumping out and seemed okay. I can’t remember anything else. Can you fill me in? For starters, can you tell me if Fred is okay?”

  Chris pulled a chair over and sat down beside my bed. “Sure thing. Fred is fine. He’s asleep in the bed beside you. You both got knocked out when one of the plane engines exploded. Fortunately, the passengers were fine. They dragged you both away quickly. I’m guessing you might have some hearing loss, but a specialist will test it later.”

  I thought I could hear okay, but one of my ears was ringing a little.

  “Why am I still here?”

  Chris’s brows hitched up. “You with all the questions. You just woke up now. You have a minor concussion. You were totally out of it. Looks like Fred has a case of blast lung from the explosion. If you do, it’s minor because your breathing is much better. We had you on oxygen for a bit, but then your breathing improved. You have some abrasions on your back from being thrown on the pavement from the blast. You’re probably gonna be sore as hell, but otherwise, you’re okay. You saved Fred’s life. If he’d been trapped in the front of the plane when the second explosion happened, it would’ve been much worse. The front end of the plane caught on fire almost immediately because fuel was already leaking from the first explosion.”

  I stared at Chris, trying to absorb what happened. “Damn. I can’t believe I don’t remember that.”

  “Well, you were knocked unconscious. You can’t remember anything when you’re unconscious,” he said matter-of-factly.

  I rolled my eyes. “No wonder it’s hard to sit up. My back is sore, and I run out of breath in about a second.”

  Chris stood from the chair, immediately reaching for something on the wheeled stand by my bed. He put a clip over my thumb. “I want to check your oxygen levels. We might need to give you some more.”

  After a minute, he shook his head. “No, your level is good. I think you’re feeling the strain from the blast.”

  “Is Fred still on oxygen?”

  “Yes, but he’ll be okay. He’s older, and he was knocked unconscious when the plane landed. He has some bruising to his ribs from the rough landing. He’s dozing on pain meds.”

  “I didn’t get any pain meds?” I teased.

  Chris angled his head to the side. “Much lower dose. You’re younger. You can handle it. If you’re in pain, though, just let me know.”

  I took a breath, silently scanning my body. “I’m sore, but I can deal. Has my family been here?”

  Chris sighed. “Are you kidding me? Of course! Holly wanted to treat you herself when the ambulance brought you in with Fred. I had to physically pull her away. Everybody’s dozing or guzzling coffee in the waiting room now.”

  “Who is everybody?”

  “Your mom and dad, Holly and Nate. Want to see them?”

  “I’d like to. Will it wake Fred up?”

  “Let’s wheel you out,” Chris said in a conspiratorial tone.

  With a little help from him, he got me into a wheelchair with my IV to follow along and wheeled me down the hallways. The only sounds at this hour were the hum and beep of hospital machines.

  When my wheelchair was turned into the waiting room, emotion tightened in my chest. Holly was asleep, curled up with her knees pulled to her chest and her head resting on Nate’s shoulder. He was actually awake. His eyes lifted from the magazine on his lap, and a smile stretched across his face immediately.

  Both of my parents were asleep, and I held my finger to my lips. Nate gently shook Holly’s shoulder. She came awake instantly, looking up at him before she looked wildly around the room, and her eyes landed on me.

  “Alex!” She jumped up as Nate followed her across the room.

  “Keep it to a dull roar. I don’t want to wake Mom and Dad up,” I said quietly when she reached me.

  “Wake them up,” she said. “They just want to see you. Then they’ll go home and go to sleep.”

  Holly’s voice carried across the room, and my mother lifted her head. In another moment, all of them were surrounding my wheelchair.

  “How do you feel?” Holly demanded. “Has Chris checked all of your levels?”

  He was standing behind my chair, and I imagined she got an eye roll for that one. “Of course. Everything looks good. He’s feeling a little weak, but he’s fine.”

  “
How are his oxygen levels?” Holly pressed.

  “Within normal limits,” Chris replied patiently.

  My mom knelt beside my wheelchair, curling her hands around one of mine. “How are you? You gave us a scare.”

  “I’m fine. A little sore, but I think I’ll be all right. I guess they’re going to test my hearing later this morning.”

  “How is it now?” Holly asked, leaning down and looking at me, her eyes searching my face as if she could somehow suss it out herself now.

  “You’re plenty loud, so I can hear you fine. I’m not sure. My head still feels a little fuzzy.”

  Holly straightened, wrapping her arms tightly around her waist. When I looked up at my dad, I met his eyes to see a stoic worry held there. “I’m okay, Dad.”

  He patted me on the shoulder. “I know. You gave us a scare.”

  “Fred’s okay too. Apparently, he got more pain meds than me,” I teased, trying to lighten the moment.

  “Of course he does,” Holly said. “He’s old. He needs to be comfortable.”

  “You don’t want me to be comfortable?” I countered as I looked back at Holly.

  “I do, but just comfortable enough.”

  A tear rolled down her cheek, and she knuckled it away. Nate curled an arm around her shoulders. “It’s okay. He’s okay.”

  “I know,” Holly sniffed. “But it scared me.”

  My mother gave my hand another squeeze before straightening and pressing a kiss on my temple.

  “Why don’t you guys head home and sleep in a bed? I don’t even know what time it is,” I said, looking around the room before my eyes landed on the clock mounted in the center of the wall. “Damn, it’s three in the morning. Go home.”

  Nate chuckled. “Now that we’ve all seen you, we’ll go home.”

  “I’m on duty at noon, so I’m going to check on you then,” Holly said. “You better be awake.”

  Chris laughed from over my shoulder. “If he’s asleep, let him rest.”

  After my family left and Chris wheeled me back to my room, he helped me get back in bed. I hated that I needed the help, but I was tired and fucking sore as all hell.

  I lay in bed, wondering how to get a hold of Delilah. Just before Chris left the room, I called, “Do you happen to know where my phone is?”

  “No clue. I’ll check your things. If you had it on you, it’s probably in a bag with your clothes. If not, I’ll text Holly. She’ll chase it down.”

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Delilah

  Late afternoon North Carolina – the following day

  I missed Alex. So much.

  I found myself absentmindedly rubbing my knuckles over my heart as if I could somehow assuage the ache there. The ache that was entirely my fault. I was the one who wasn’t answering his calls, although he’d all but stopped. At this point, it was my pride keeping me from calling him. Pride and fear I wouldn’t find a slew of texts from him when I stopped silencing his notifications. I cheated and checked almost every day anyway.

  I arrived early for a shift at the bar. Things were quiet here in the midafternoon. We served lunch, but there was always a lull in the afternoon until around dinnertime. Today, there were a few customers drinking beers and playing cards, and some young kids from a nearby college were playing pool. They were even being quiet. I would take all small miracles.

  Griffin looked up as I walked into the back side of the bar from the hallway. “Hey there. Didn’t expect to see you here today. Did Shay get ahold of you?”

  His question confused me. “Aren’t I on the schedule?” I asked, focusing on the immediate issue.

  I quickly crossed over and tapped on the screen of the tablet we had mounted behind the bar that also served as a register. Scrolling through the window for the schedule, I said, “See, I’m right there.”

  “I know that. I already called Jade and asked her if she could cover. Shay was here looking for you. Your boyfriend got into an accident.”

  I was getting more confused, my brain not quite catching up to what Griffin was talking about. Although my brain wasn’t processing well, my body seemed to know better. Uneasiness tightened in my chest, and dread balled cold in my belly. “What are you talking about?”

  “Alex. He was in an accident. I guess Remy called Shay because he didn’t have your number, and Shay came here looking for you. I figured you’d want the night off. Jade will be here soon, so don’t worry about it.”

  It felt like static filled my brain, and I distantly heard myself asking numbly, “What happened? He’s not my boyfriend. Where is Shay now?” My questions were flying out, and panic was churning inside. I felt lightheaded, and my throat was so tight with my heart racing that I couldn’t get a breath.

  Griffin’s voice broke through the static. “Hey, easy there, Delilah. Sit down.” I felt a chair pressing against the backs of my knees, and my hips collapsed with a thump. “I’m calling Shay right now.”

  In another minute, Griffin actually had a small paper bag in front of me. I stared at him blankly, not understanding what he was doing.

  “You’re hyperventilating. I need you to hold this over your mouth and take several deep breaths,” Griffin said firmly and calmly.

  When I didn’t move, he held the bag in front of my mouth for me, and I finally curled my hand around it. A few minutes later, I managed to get enough air in my lungs that the lightheaded and dizzy feeling began to recede.

  “Shay is on her way back. I caught her before she got on the highway. She’s coming to pick you up,” Griffin explained when I lowered the bag to my lap.

  “Is Alex okay?”

  Griffin nodded as I stared at him. He was a handsome guy, but there was no spark, which was convenient because he was a good friend, and I didn’t want to ruin it.

  “Shay says he’s going to be okay. Something to do with an explosion. I’m sorry I don’t have more details.”

  I reached in my pocket for my phone, coming up empty. “Can you go get my purse?”

  Without a word, Griffin turned away, pushing through the door into the back hallway. A moment later, he returned and handed me my phone. “I took the liberty of taking it out of your purse. Hope that’s okay.”

  I mumbled my thanks as I pulled up the screen. I saw the missed calls from Shay and then turned on the notifications for Alex’s number. I watched silently as a row of texts populated.

  “Did you freaking block his number?” Griffin asked.

  When I looked up, I didn’t realize I was crying until he turned and snagged a cocktail napkin off the stack on the bar. “I’ll take that as a yes,” he said.

  I blew my nose and wiped tears away from my eyes with the balled up napkin. “I didn’t block him, but I silenced the notifications from his number. I’m an idiot.”

  “Tell me something I don’t know,” Griffin said dryly. “Actually, you’re not an idiot, Delilah. You’re fucking smart as hell. But you’re not really all about hope and love and shit like that.”

  Just then, I heard Shay’s voice as she came through the door in the front. “There you are! Come on,” she said, gesturing for me to follow her.

  Standing from the chair, I barely registered Griffin going back into the hallway again. “Where are we going?” I asked because I honestly didn’t know.

  “To the airport,” Shay said as if I should’ve known this.

  Griffin reappeared, handing me my purse and jacket. “Go.”

  “I’m going to the airport?”

  Shay nodded firmly. “That’s right. Holly got you the ticket. She thinks Alex will want to see you when he wakes up.”

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Delilah

  I had to give it to Shay; she was navigating the narrow mountain road that led out of Stolen Hearts Valley to the highway like a champ, smoothly keeping the vehicle on track despite the fast-moving pace. I hadn’t thought very much about it and had simply followed her into the truck. I’d learned in the last hour that Shay could be pret
ty bossy. She insisted we go by my house to get some things. She also told me it was silly for me to bring my car unless I wanted to pay for parking at the airport. I didn’t, so I took her suggestion.

  I had nothing more than a single backpack with clothes and toiletries stuffed hastily in it.

  “How in the world did you end up talking to Holly?” I finally asked.

  “Because Remy called me. He told me he was giving her my number. I’ve met her before when we’ve been out to visit Remy and Rachel. Holly got you a ticket and told me it was already waiting for you at the counter. She sent the email confirmation to me, so I’ll just forward it to you once I’m not driving,” she explained.

  Shay must’ve sensed my wide-eyed stare at her because she looked to the side as she turned her blinker on to slow and take the exit onto the highway. “What?” she asked, her tone casual.

  As if we weren’t just chatting about the fact that the sister of the guy I’d tried to dump had just up and bought me a plane ticket to Alaska. And I was so freaked out by what was going on I hadn’t even hesitated to jump in the truck and just go.

  “What do you mean what?” I countered.

  Shay looked back toward the highway, and I saw the curve of a smile on her cheek. “Holly seems to think you and Alex mean a lot to each other. Knowing Holly the way I do, I know she likes you, and I know she thinks Alex will want you there.”

  “What do you mean?” I asked quickly.

  “I mean Holly is kind of a crazy, overprotective sister. There is absolutely no way she would get this ticket if she didn’t think Alex wanted to see you and if she didn’t like you.”

  Shay had already assured me after we left the bar that Alex was going to be okay, but I found myself asking yet again, “Are you sure he’s going to be okay?”