Trina, the nurse who helped me when Juno was here last month from the car accident, comes out of the back. Juno’s too busy with Easton to notice, so I stand to talk to her.
“Do you remember me?”
She smiles. “I do. You’re Kingston’s friend.”
“I am. Any chance we can see him?”
She looks over and cringes at the big family the big group. “Let me call back and see. Maybe half of you at a time?”
“Sure thing. Thanks.”
She calls back then says the doctor says it’s okay, that they’re waiting on X-rays and MRI results.
“Half of us can go see him,” I announce.
Everyone starts talking at the same time until finally it’s decided that Dori, Juno, Savannah, and I will go first. We walk into the back, Juno’s hand in mine. She might not say it, but I think being back here brings her back to when she thought she might lose me. Hell, seeing some of the other injuries from that accident made me happy hers weren’t more serious.
Kingston seems surprised when we walk into the room. There’re two nurses at his side, talking to him.
“Hey, guys,” he says in a quiet voice.
The nurses each say goodbye with a wave, mentioning their shift is done.
We talk to him about what happened, and he says he’s pretty sure he has a mild concussion, but they’re going to run some more tests to be sure. As Juno and Dori talk to him, I try to get into Dori’s purse to get my key back.
“Get out of my purse. Your key is always in a safe place.” Dori pats her chest.
My mouth hangs open. She’s got to be kidding me.
Then I hear someone come in the room behind us. “Hi, I’m the resident overseeing you today.” She scribbles on the board then turns around. “How’s the pain? Anything I can get you?”
Kingston’s face loses all color. “Stella? Jesus, how hard did I hit my head?”
She steps back. “Kingston.”
Juno looks at me and I nod, agreeing with her without her having to say a word. Let’s get the hell out of here.
“Stella dear.” Grandma Dori steps toward her and hugs her.
“Hi, Dori,” she says, her eyes only on Kingston. “I’ll be right back.”
Kingston tries to get up, but cringes and his hand moves to his head.
Savannah pushes him back down on the bed by the shoulder. “You can’t get up.”
“But—”
“I’ll go so someone else can come in.” I dodge out of the room before an argument starts and walk down the hall.
In the waiting room, Austin stands and says he’ll take my place.
“There’s Phoenix and Sedona.” Holly points down the hall, and everyone stands to greet them.
Before we get a chance to say our hellos, Sedona unbuttons her coat. “Let’s just get this out of the way.” She stands sideways, her hands running over her swollen belly.
My mouth drops open and silence fills the waiting room for a few weighted moments.
“You’re pregnant?” Brooklyn screeches.
“No, she ate a watermelon,” Phoenix says. “And she’s moving back home.”
Everyone looks at one another to gauge if anyone else knew, but it’s clear that Phoenix and maybe Griffin are the only ones in the loop.
“Finally!” Harley screams and rushes over to Sedona. “I’m pregnant with someone.” She bumps stomachs with her.
As if someone alerted them that there was a disturbance in the Bailey force, Savannah and Juno walk back into the waiting area and stop dead in their tracks.
“Does G’Ma D know?” Denver asks.
“No,” Sedona says with a frown.
“She’s about to,” Rome says under his breath.
“Did you plan to reveal this in the hospital in case we actually kill her this time around?” Denver asks.
“No.” Some of Sedona’s earlier bravado vanishes.
“Well, I’m just saying kudos if you did because she’s dealt with a lot from us, but this.” He twirls his finger at her belly and shakes his head.
“Next time she wants your opinion, I’ll remind her she doesn’t,” Phoenix says to him, putting her arm around Sedona as if she’s a wounded bird.
Huh. There must be a lot more we don’t know yet.
“A child is a blessing,” Harley says. “No matter the circumstances.”
As if she knows the tension needs to be broken, Calista walks up to Denver. “Uncle Denver, let’s play thumb wars.”
“Sure thing, little one.” He puts his hand in hers, and a moment later, he looks at Sedona. “I’m sorry. You know we have your back and that baby is lucky to have you as a mom.” He leans closer. “But should I book a flight to New York?”
A tear slips from Sedona’s eye.
“I’ll take that as a yes,” he says, looking at all the men in the group as though they’re paying Jamison a visit.
“Just to keep everyone in the loop, Stella is back too.” Savannah takes Brinley from Liam, rocking her on her hip.
They all look at one another as though they’re bracing themselves for hurricane Bailey that’s about to make landfall.
Go on a trip back in time.
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With Stella back in Alaska, Kingston will do anything to make her stay but what will he do when he finds out they’re in the same predicament they were eight years ago.
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Chapter One
Kingston
I’m an easygoing guy. Not a lot gets under my skin.
My dad was a man of many quotes. At least when it came to me. Looking back I think it’s because I was the sensitive one in the family. He’d say he wasn’t clever enough to come up with them on his own, so he never recited one without giving the author credit. “Don’t fight a battle if you don’t gain anything by winning” by Erwin Rommel was his favorite to use when I was struggling. Didn’t matter if it was sports or academics, he’d say that quote to me. I didn’t figure out the meaning until years after his death, and even then, my oldest brother, Austin, had to explain it to me.
There was a time in my life when I didn’t fight the battle because I was more afraid of losing something than winning something. I promised myself I’d never make that mistake again.
Which is most likely why the battles I pick now are fires. Whether I’m jumping out of a plane and parachuting into a forest fire, or carrying someone out of a burning house, I always win. These fights feel safer than the ones that could break my heart.
Lou climbs into the firetruck right after me, sitting across the way. The sirens go off as the truck rolls out of the station. Lou and I attended the fire academy at the same time—which was right around the time I lost my childhood best friend and the girl I love.
“Romeo, tell your sister thanks for me,” he says, winking.
A woman once referred to me as her knight in shining armor after I used the Jaws of Life to free her from a wrecked car. She’d plowed her car over an embankment because she was intoxicated. But it was her repeatedly asking me to be her Romeo that earned me a nickname that makes most people—and by people, I mean women—think I’m a player. I’m not, in case you’re wondering.