AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Birch startled awake, gasping for air and struggling to make sense of what was reality and what was only living in his mind. He was surrounded by the quiet hum and the antiseptic smell of a hospital. It wasn’t his first time being injured and probably not his last, but he hated these places, reminded him of the night Blade died. Birch had tried desperately to get into the hospital room and be with his brother. His mother and sister had been discussing nonstop how they could twist Blade’s overdose to get them sympathy and more media attention. His father had tried to placate everyone.
Birch shook all the awful memories away. His room was dimly lit and he was alone. Blade was gone, but his brother had come to Birch, just like he’d prayed. Some might say it was just the head injury or him wanting the all-clear to be with Ally so desperately but Birch felt it was his sign. Ally was the right one. He was so happy he could burst, despite his head hurting and knowing the Humvee had exploded.
He stretched and touched his head. There were bandages there, but he searched the rest of his body and only some scrapes and bruises. His head pounded, but he felt okay. He had to know if anyone else was hurt or … he wouldn’t let his mind go there. None of them could have died.
His thoughts went back to Allison and Blade saying he could be with her. There was something wrong though, something wrong with her. Worry pressed down on him like a cloak of darkness. Then remembrance came quickly. Ally! She was with Jeremiah, naked, and Birch was definitely not okay. He had to get to her, look in her eyes, know for himself it was all a fabricated lie. Allison was genuine with Birch, and Jeremiah was trying to deceive the world. It would be just like Jeremiah to publish something that would tarnish her reputation. Yet how anyone could doctor pictures to make them look so real Birch didn’t know.
Forcing himself out of the bed, he wondered if he should rip the IV out or wait for the nurses to take it out. They always got so testy when he ripped them out.
The door flung open and Isaac leaned against the door jamb. He was still wearing battle fatigues and looked exhausted. “They saw you woke up and sent me. Demanded you don’t rip the IV out.” He chuckled. “It’s in your file.”
Birch smiled despite himself. “Is everyone all right?”
Isaac’s smile left. “Yeah. Kelton broke his wrist. Johnny got the worst of it. A bullet through his chest that nicked his lungs. He’ll be okay. Long recovery. Glad you’re up and about.”
His fingers itched to pull the IV out. “How long have I been unconscious?”
“About three hours. Long enough that I saved us all by myself and you slept through transit.” He winked. “Luckily, the Humvee was totaled so you don’t have to clean up your vomit.”
Birch knew he was being teased but he couldn’t laugh yet. “Thank you for saving us.”
Isaac simply inclined his head.
Three hours wasn’t bad. His head hurt but he wasn’t cloudy. “Does anyone know I was injured?”
“Your file says not to notify your family.” Isaac knew a little bit about Birch’s family, mostly that there was no love lost there.
“Very good. What now?”
“It was a pretty good concussion. Doc says you’ll be on medical leave through the holidays.”
Birch had never really wanted leave before, but now it meant more time with Ally. If … she wasn’t with Jeremiah. She couldn’t be with Jeremiah. “Where are we?”
“Edwards.”
Southern California. That was okay. The base was only a couple of hours from his home and Ally’s condo. If they wouldn’t let him travel to Kauai he could probably get to Dana Point and meet Ally there. If she wasn’t dating Jeremiah. No! He couldn’t let himself think it. But what if Blade’s extracted promise had been prophetic? What if he’d known that in one way or another any actress would betray Birch?
No! Allison was faithful, she was clean and pure, she loved Birch. She wouldn’t be naked with that idiot, and Blade had given his approval of her.
“You okay, man?” Isaac asked, his too-blue eyes penetrating into Birch as if he were interrogating him, but Birch could see that his captain was simply concerned. “Maybe you should lie back down.”
“No.” Birch stood straight. “No sir. I need to get to Kauai.”
Isaac’s eyes grew understanding. “Kelton told me about Allison and that actor.”
“It’s not true,” Birch said too forcefully. “The picture is fabricated. The article is just to … get more hype for the movie.”
Isaac looked as if he thought Birch was suffering from a vicious head injury. “Maybe you should lie back down.”
Birch jutted out his chin. “No, sir. I was raised on Hollywood deception and lies. I will not allow them to sully my relationship with Ally.” He let himself soften. “I need her, sir. Can you please find my phone so I can call her and work out how to get together while I’m on medical leave?”
Isaac stared at him. “I think your phone was destroyed, but if you’ll lay back down and let the doc check you out and the nurses remove those IVs the proper way, I’ll get you a burner phone you can use until we can replace yours. I don’t suppose you have Allison’s number memorized?”
“I do, sir.”
“I thought so. Will you lay down like a good boy?”
“I’ll try, sir.”
Birch sank back into the bed while Isaac went to get him the phone and the doctor and nurses. He’d talk to Ally soon. The picture was all a farce. He closed his eyes but the image of her pressed against Jeremiah with nothing on was the first thing he saw. His eyes flew back open and he wished for the first time in a while that he’d heeded his brother’s advice and not dated and fallen in love with an actress. How was he ever going to get that image out of his mind?Please, please,he prayed, let it all be a lie. Thank you for sending Blade to tell me Ally’s the right one. Now please let Ally be as genuine as I know she is. Please.
