Though it wasn’t obvious what we’d done, I was sure that a lot of the students were wondering about our absence.
Not that I cared what they thought.
I only cared about graduating in a week and blowing this popsicle stand.
Head held high, and neck still aching, I made my way through the middle of the dance floor since it was the easiest.
A hand came out to stop me, but I dodged it and kept walking.
It was only when I heard my name being called out in the hallway that I stopped and turned to face Rachel’s boyfriend.
“What do you want?” I sighed.
He winced. “I’ve been trying to get you alone all night. I wanted to tell you that Rachel’s pissed. They’re charging her with attempted murder.”
I rolled my eyes. I already knew that very well.
I’d been the one to meet with the detective that was overseeing the case and explaining all over again what had happened, and what had happened up until that point, just this morning.
“I know that,” I said. “I knew she’d be pissed.”
“Well, there’s pissed, and then there’s pissed,” he said. “I just… watch out, okay? We’re not together anymore. After that happened that day, I finally saw the light. But… she’s vindictive. She won’t let this go.”
I knew that, too.
She hadn’t let it go for years now.
What made me think she’d stop now?
“Thank you,” I said just as Derek’s phone rang.
I dismissed him and went to peek at Derek’s phone, seeing that it was his mother calling.
Shoving it back into my bag, I waited patiently at the exit.
Only, my phone started to ring, making me frown.
I picked it up and looked at it, seeing Derek’s mother’s name on the screen.
I frowned, answered it, and placed it to my ear.
“Avery…” Reese whispered the moment I answered. “Oh, God. You need to bring Derek to the hospital. Katy was in an accident.”
She explained everything she knew, ending with ‘Logan and Katy are both in surgery.’
I cursed as I hung up, then looked up just in time to see the bathroom door open.
I dropped my hand to my side as I felt tears welling in my eyes.
“We have to go!” I shouted at him. “Your sister and brother-in-law were in a car wreck. They’re both in surgery and you have a new niece or nephew.”
Derek’s face went blank.
And the entire way to the hospital, he didn’t say a word.
***
We arrived at the hospital to find Luke pacing the waiting room, Reese a fucking mess sitting in a chair, and Dax and Rowen sitting beside Reese on either side of her.
Reese was crying.
But the moment she saw Derek, she stood up and rushed over to him.
“They’re okay,” she promised.
“The twins?” he rasped.
Reese patted his chest. “With a babysitter.”
Derek visibly relaxed, and I left them to comfort each other and walked over to Luke, who looked like he was a nervous wreck.
“Hey,” I said, touching his arm. “You okay?”
He looked down at me and gave me a pitiful smile. “Fine, I guess.”
I leaned my head on his shoulder, gave his forearm a squeeze, and just leaned there for a while giving him comfort.
He allowed it for a time, then patted my arm before stepping away from me.
He walked to where Derek was standing, just as Dax stood up and joined the huddle.
I looked at Rowen and Reese who looked lost as fuck, then turned to survey the waiting room.
If the baby was born, why wasn’t anybody with him or her?
That question was directed at the old woman manning the desk seconds later.
She blinked at me, surprised.
“Well,” she said. “I don’t see why you can’t go where the baby is. I’ll call and ask just that.”
Reese was at my side a moment later.
“I don’t know why I didn’t think to ask her that,” she whispered.
I reached for her hand and squeezed it.
“I think you have enough on your mind,” I said comfortingly. “Let’s…”
“Do I have any family here for Logan…”
I would’ve followed what was said by the doctor that had come out of the restricted door, but the old woman hung up the phone and said, “The baby is in the NICU. If you go up to floor two, you can see the baby.”
I grinned at her and walked back to the huddle.
“…Doing okay. We have him in recovery right now. But for the time being, he needs to rest and wake up from the anesthesia. We’ll let you know about him once we have an update,” the man was saying.
Reese nodded her head.
“And our daughter?” Reese pushed.
“They were finishing up as I passed the OR they were in,” he said. “I can go check for you if you’d like.”
Reese and Luke nodded.
“Please,” Luke rumbled, voice hoarse.
As they moved away, I told them what the lady had said about the baby.
Reese’s eyes were wide as she looked at me, then Derek.
“You two go,” she ordered. “We’re gonna need to be here when news comes. I also want to be able to see Katy and Logan as soon as they’re done. Keep your phones on, though. We’re going to want to give updates to them the moment they’re awake enough to ask.”
I felt my belly shift with nerves.
Me? Go to the NICU?
What?
“Sure, Mom,” Derek said, latching onto my hand. “You’ll let us know the moment that you hear anything?”
Reese rolled her eyes, then went up onto her tippy toes. Still, Derek had to bend down in order for Reese to place a kiss on his cheek.
“Yes, of course.” She patted his face. “Same goes for you.”
We split after that, Derek and I heading to the elevators that would take us to the NICU.
“I don’t know how to do kids,” he muttered. “At least not until they’re less breakable.”
I snorted. “You know about as much as I know. It’ll be the blind leading the blind.”
He latched onto my hand and didn’t let go until we were forced to outside the NICU.
“Sierra!” Derek said, sounding excited. “Thank God.”
I waved at my old nurse, a smile on my face.
“Hello, you. Nice to see you without that halo.” She tilted her head. “How are you feeling?”
I crinkled up my nose, then looked at Derek who was looking concerned all over again.
Here he was, his sister and brother-in-law just in an accident, and a niece or nephew in the NICU, and he was worried about my sore neck.
“It’s sore,” I admitted. “I got the halo off yesterday. They did say that it would bother me for a few weeks while my muscles adjusted to holding my head up.”