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I shut off the TV, but by the time I reached Colton, he’d already hung up his phone.
“There’s been an accident.”
TWENTY-FIVE
EVERLEIGH
I don’t rememberthe exact moment the car left the road. The last thing I could remember was the glare of headlights from an oncoming car. Blinking, the lights blared into my eyes. I screamed and put my hands up in front of my face. Holding my breath, I tensed my entire body, bracing for impact.
The sickening sound of metal crunching and twisting didn’t follow, but the light continued to blare through the cracks between my fingers.
“Everleigh. You’re alright. You’re in the hospital.”
The hand was warm on my shoulder, and I blinked as I pulled my hands from my face.
“Hi.” The voice belonged to Colton.
“Where am I?” I was surrounded by a curtain. A heart monitor beeped somewhere behind me. Colton leaned over the bed and held onto my hands. “You were in an accident. The car went off the road.”
“Ali.” I tried to sit up, but pain seared through my shoulder.
“She’s fine. Just a little banged up, like you.”
I rubbed my shoulder and groaned.
Colton moved my hand. “Your shoulder is bruised from the seat belt. The airbags went off when you ran into the ditch. You always did drive too fast on that road.”
“It was daytime, but the snow had started to get heavy and I’d had to turn on the headlights.” The moments before we’d ditched the Range Rover slowly started to come back to me.
“Why were you two in such a rush?” There was an edge to Colton’s voice. “You could have been killed. Ali could’ve…” His voice croaked.
“Knock, knock.” Ali’s voice was on the other side of the curtain. She slipped into the room and sat beside Colton. “Don’t give her a hard time. I was trying to get her to drive faster.”
Colton shook his head. “Don’t make me institute a rule that says you two can’t drive together.” He swiped at a tear. “I can’t lose the two women in my life at the same time.”
Ali wrapped her arms around Colton. “We’re okay. Accidents are called accidents for a reason.” After hugging her fiancé, Ali sat on the edge of the bed.
“Ali.” My hand went to my stomach and there was panic in my voice.
She leaned over to hug me. “The baby is fine too,” she whispered in my ear. Tears streamed uncontrollably down my face. Not just a tear or two – no, raging rivers ran down my face.
Colton stood. “Everleigh, what’s wrong?”
I’d never cried like that in my entire life. The pregnancy had seemed like a nuisance – something that was going to get in the way of my life. Waking up from the accident, things were clearer than they’d ever been, and my priorities instantly shifted.
“Colton. I need to talk to Dad.”
Ali handed me a tissue and I blew my nose. “He’s on his way.”
“Good.” I rested my head back on the pillow. “Wake me up when he gets here. I’m resigning.”
“Did she hit her head?” Colton asked.
“I’m right here. I can hear you,” I said with my eyes shut. “I’m quitting. I’ve got other things to do.”
Colton shook his head. “Why don’t you wait until you’re cleared to leave the hospital before making any life-changing decisions?”
Ali slipped out from Colton’s arm and held my hand. “Are you sure?” Her eyes were intense as she stared into mine.
