Page 46 of End Of Never

Be safe xxx

Haley and I drive to the large town two hours away for some serious shopping. On our drive, we blasted our mixed CDs and reminisced about rocking our lip gloss and low-rise jeans, while singing our hearts out.

We spent the day shopping till we dropped, then stopped for a large cup of coffee at a small coffee shop. “How’s Hayden doing having you in his space?” I smile and sip my ice-cold coffee.

Haley smirks, “Fine, I tried to get him to move into my place, but he said he wants to stay with his dad, and I get it. But the lease ended at the end of the month, so it really worked out fine. I think he is struggling watching his dad, we all are, but he’s all he has left, ya know.”

“I can understand that, they have a close relationship, but he has us, and he has you to help him get through what’s coming…what are you thinking, Hals?” Leaning back, I watch her face fall. “He isn’t Zyon. I’m not saying give your heart on a platter, but maybe let him in more than just your pants.” Haley shoots straight up and leans over the table, with the meanest mean mug I have ever seen.

“Wow, bitch, tell me how you really feel.” She laughs and rolls her eyes.

“I’m just saying not all men are bad, and I have a feeling he won't break your heart.” She leans back in her chair, sipping her hot espresso.

“And if he does?” Her big brown eyes look up to mine.

“Then, I’ll pick you up, and love you how you should be loved. We will be a thropple… only you can’t love Jace because he’s mine, but I’ll love you.” She shakes her head, smiling widely.

“I’ll try, I will try to open my heart, a tiny bit, for you, because that would break Jace’s heart if you leave him for me.” She isn’t wrong.

After coffee, we head back to town, the sun is setting, and the music is blaring through the speakers.

Arriving home, the living room light is the only one shining in the Wilder house. When my headlights beam into the window, Hayden walks out. “Hey, ladies, how was your day?” He starts grabbing the bags from Haley, then jumps when she snatches one back. “You can’t have this one,” he eyes her, then me.

I put my hands up, “I don’t know anything. I’m going to get home and get to Zeus. I had fun, babe. Be good, and don’t forget.” I wink at Hayden, “Let his love open the door to your heeeaarttt.” I sing on my way to my car, not turning to see Haley, because I just know she is scowling and flipping me off. When I get inside, they are halfway up the steps when Haley turns around, sticks her tongue out, and flips me off. She is so cute when she’s mad.

I wake up to Jace holding me and carrying me to the bedroom. I must have fallen asleep on the couch after my shower. Zeus trails behind, jumping to his spot on our bed right at the end. Jace slides me under the covers, tucking me in and kissing my forehead. “Good night, baby. I’m gonna shower.” He rubs my hair out of my face before standing.

“Wait.” He sits back down on the bed. “Are you okay?” His tired eyes look into mine.

“It was just a long day, but I’m okay.” I lean up and kiss him, wrapping my arms around him.

“If you weren’t, you’d tell me, right? You are allowed not to be okay.” He runs his hands through his hair, releasing a big sigh.

“Yeah, we just got a hard call tonight, and it’s hitting me pretty hard. I just need a shower and to come wrap you in my arms.” He leans over, laying me back down, and kissing me once more before he heads for his shower.

When he comes out, I pull back the covers for him to slide in, reaching my arms around his torso. I pull myself into him. “Want to talk about it?”

He turns his head to look at me, his somber eyes drift around the room, “There was an accident tonight, a big pile up. All surrounding stations were dispatched. A car had tried to stop before the pile up, but the car couldn’t brake fast enough, and the mother veered too far right, and went off into the hillside. The car rolled six times before finally landing on its back.” He pauses and swallows hard. “When Cody and I got down there, there were two people in the car. A five-year-old boy and his mom both slouched in their seats. Cody asked me to get the boy, and anxiety set in. I have saved so many kids since the one I lost, but still, every time I hold a child's life in my hands, I think about the one I couldn’t save. The driver's side door jammed, so we both crawled through the passenger-side door. It was awful, the conditions, glass everywhere, etched into their skin, creating deep lacerations. The mother had a broken nose and a broken arm.

When I got to the back seat, instinct took over, and the anxiety left. I just did my job and prayed he was alive. As I climbed over the seats, I found a pair of glasses on the car's hood above the child. The kid had two scrapes and a concussion. His mother looked brutal. I was trying to shield him from seeing his mother, and when I got him talking, he asked for his glasses and said he couldn’t see anything. I slid his glasses into my pocket and told him I couldn’t find them.” He takes a deep jagged breath, “When we finally got the jaws and could get the mom out, the little boy was sitting in the ambulance crying for his mom, begging her to come sit with him, and it broke my heart. All he wanted was his mom, and all I could do was tell him we were going to try to make her better. There were no promises to be made because I couldn’t keep them. I didn’t know if she was going to survive, I took him out of the car as soon as I could so Cody could save her, without panicking the kid.” He rolls over onto his side, now facing me.

“What you did was save him from seeing the devastation. You saved him from the nightmares of seeing his mother or the car; you saved him in ways that could have destroyed him. What happened to the mother?”

“She lived, after CPR and Cody’s quick thinking, she lived.” He sets his head down on his pillow.

“I bet that little boy is looking down on you, proud of you. I do not doubt that, with each shift, he walks alongside you, saving life after life. There will come a time when you lose another, because this is real life, honey. Bad shit happens, and I wish like hell we could save them all, but all we can do is try our best. When that happens, I want you to lean on me, let me save you for a change. I love you, Jace Evans, and I’m not going anywhere.” He reaches his arms around me, embracing me like my words alone could rid him of his sorrows.

“I love you, god do I love you, Lilla Lane.” He kisses me softly, sealing his words with a promise.

Jace's parents invited us over for lunch today. I have always loved them, and can’t wait to see them this afternoon. I miss walking Teddy, but with everything that has gone on and my leg injury, I took a break from dog sitting. They offered the job to a sweet girl down the street, and she and Teddy are both loving it.

I follow Jace inside his parents' house, and instantly feel overwhelmed with love. Jace’s dad stands from his recliner, arms wide open for his son. He squeezes him and moves to me. “Hello, Miss. Lane. So good to see you, sweetheart. I miss having you here every week.” Giving him a big squeeze back, Jace looks over with the widest grin.

“I miss you guys, too. Our schedules have gotten crazy with work and physical therapy, but as soon as it slows down, we can have a family dinner once a week.”

His dad takes a step towards me again, embracing me once more, “We would love that.”

Jace’s mom comes in from the kitchen, with her apron still on and a kitchen towel hung over her shoulder. “Hello, kids, so happy to see you both. Come, hug mama.” She stands with arms wide open for Jace, who embraces her warmly, rubbing her back. Her head sits just below his chest, her small frame gets swallowed by his hug, and I can tell Jace is everything to his mother.