“Ely?” I could hear him say, his voice was an echo in my fuzzy head. “Ely?” Crap, he was panicking.
Ely, come on, get a grip. This is a good thing. Don’t run away.
“I’m okay.” Rushed out of me. “Just give me a minute.”
Still breathing. Breathe in, breathe out, breathe in, breathe out. Okay, I can do this.
When I opened my eyes, Rhone was staring at me. The color had drained from him face, I could see the fear in his eyes. I couldn’t let that happen. Not to him. He’d been nothing but good to me and I know he cared. Plus, I already knew I was stupid head over heels for him. If he wanted me to meet his family, maybe he felt the same way?
“That– that–” I stuttered, shaking my head to free the cobwebs clouding my mind. Get it together Ely. “That would be nice.” I always spent the holidays with Jordan and his family, now it was time to do my own thing. Maybe Rhone’s family would one day be mine too? Don’t get too far ahead of yourself, Ely. Your desire to have a family of your own shroud’s reality.
“Are you sure?” Rhone nervously asked.
“I am.” I truly was, once I got over myself and accepted that this was real, I would be.
Sitting behind the fountains was an amazing addition to the ambiance and helped soothe my nerves. Conversation flowed naturally as it did during our nightly phone calls. When we were silent it wasn’t uncomfortable, it felt like a natural break. The food was fantastic, worthy of the high ratings the restaurant had received. I was stuffed, my preferential palate had been delightfully sated. Our glasses were never empty, our plates cleared as soon as we’d finished. For dessert, we shared an order of crème brulee, satisfying my sweet tooth. A perfect way to end the date. Well, what I hoped was only the restaurant portion of the evening ending. My plan, well my wish actually, was for Rhone to come home with me so we could see where things would go. To me, this was the best first date even though we’d technically been dating for a couple of weeks already. Rhone really went all out, making sure everything was perfect for tonight.
“Leo’s out for the night,” I blurted, my face reddened. Rhone’s smile made it more than worth it though. I grinned all the way to the valet.
“Is that so?” he asked, kissing the back of my hand while we waited for the car.
“Gentlemen,” a security guard said as he neared us. “We need you to step back inside please.”
“What for?” Rhone asked.
“There’s a situation,” the guard said.
“A situation that involves us?” Rhone asked.
Before the guard could reply, a car came flying around the corner wheels screeching and they pulled into the circle drive. The passenger was randomly shooting at people they passed.
“Fuck, Ely get down!” Rhone screamed, grabbing me, trying to pull me back inside the casino. The guard beside us flew forward, blood splattered across the glass doors as he hit them before falling to the ground. I froze, my reflexes told me to help him. I turned toward the man as Rhone jumped in front of me. Something pierced my side as I jolted forward, into Rhone then we both went down, landing in a heap. The tires once again squealed as the car sped off, the roar of police sirens were heard in the distance. Alarmed voices filled the air, a woman frantically screamed for help.
“Ely, fuck Ely, you’re hit,” Rhone said. Funny, I don’t remember anyone hitting me.
“Rhone?” I questioned, my voice coming out in the faintest of whisps. “What happened?”
“Ssh baby, you need your strength,” Rhone said.
“Why are you crying?” I asked, but when I reached up to wipe his tears away my arm wouldn’t move.
“Fuck, Ely. Ely baby, look at me. Ely!” Rhone screamed. “Someone! Anyone! Help!”
“Rhone?” was the last thing I said before my world went black.
Fading in and out of consciousness, I briefly remember a series of hallways. Unfamiliar voices speaking to one another, but not to me. Staring up at bright lights as they flew past. Was I flying? Where was Rhone?
“Sir, sir you need to release him and let us do our jobs,” the paramedic said to me. Reluctantly, I backed as far away as I could while steadying myself as the ambulance veered in and out of traffic. “What’s his name?”
“Ely, Ely Pearcy,” I told them. “Where are you taking him?”
“Who are you to Mr. Pearcy, sir?” the second medic asked.
“He’s my boyfriend.”
“We’re going to UMC trauma center,” he replied.
“What’s his age?”
“Twenty-one,” I said on autopilot, watching them attempt but fail to stop the bleeding.
“Why won’t the bleeding stop?” I asked, my question falling on deaf ears as they hooked up an IV.
“This is Vegas 4727. ETA five minutes. White male, age twenty-one, gunshot wound to his right abdomen,” medic two called in.
“Copy that Vegas 4727,” the voice on the other end replied.
They handed me his phone, wallet and his compact case as we pulled up at the emergency entrance to the hospital. The case rolled in my hand, the memory of the light reflecting off the mirror, highlighting those beautiful blue eyes wondering if I’d ever see them again gutted me. Watching them wheel Ely away ripped my fucking heart out.
My hands, covered in blood were shaking like mad as I pulled my phone out. Thankful I only had to hit one button to make the call I needed to. “Mom,” I said, calling the one person I needed most. As soon as I heard her voice, I lost it. “Mom, I’m at the UMC. Ely got shot.”
The only thing I heard her say was “I’m on my way.” I dropped to my knees in the crowded waiting room, staring down at the blood, Ely’s blood, and cried.
“Sir, sir, are you okay?”
“No,” was all I said, never looking up. But that was enough to force me to pick myself up and find an empty chair to silently pray to whoever was listening to save Ely. Tucked away in the corner, away from prying eyes I texted the guys to let them know what was going on. Had I called them, I knew I’d not be able to get the words I needed out. As it was, I was typing through tear-filled vision. This wasn’t how this night was supposed to end. This night was supposed to be perfect, for Ely. That’s all I wanted, for him to be happy and for his first date to blow all the rom coms he loved away. For him to fall in love with me like I knew I already was with him. This wasn’t supposed to happen.
“Rhone?” I heard my mother’s voice, spotting her a few feet away.
“Mom—” The waterworks started back up at the sight of her. Mom was my safe place. The place to be me and let go and once I was in her arms everything came rushing out.
“Have they said anything?” she asked. Her arms calming the storm raging inside me.
“No, nothing yet. I don’t know who to notify,” I said, sad for Ely that he’d have no family here.
“Rhone, we’re his family now,” Mom said. How she always knew what I was thinking I’ll never know.
I handed her his phone. “Can you call Jordan, and also Leo. I don’t know if I can get the words out that they need to hear.”