Total pages in book: 121
Estimated words: 118693 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 593(@200wpm)___ 475(@250wpm)___ 396(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 118693 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 593(@200wpm)___ 475(@250wpm)___ 396(@300wpm)
“Sissy?”
I glanced away for a quick second before looking back into her eyes. “Zeb’s fiancée.”
Her hand covered her mouth.
“Once I make sure she’s okay and so is Zeb, I’ll be right behind you.”
Her hand dropped to her side. “I can’t.”
Confusion swept across my body, along with a sense of panic. “You can’t what?”
“It’s okay, just go, Finn. Zeb and Sissy need you. I’ll be okay.”
“We’ll share a cab.”
She nodded. “Okay.”
The hostess asked, “So that means you’re no longer using the room?”
“Yes, just bill my credit card what you need to. I’m sorry.”
I took Rory’s hand in mine and we headed back down the stairs and out the front. I called for a taxi, and we quickly slipped into the backseat. I told him to take me to the hospital and then gave him the address to my condo.
We sat in silence as Rory stared out the window. Taking her hand in mine, I squeezed it.
“That could be you, Finn. You were supposed to work tonight.”
I tugged on her chin, making her meet my gaze. We were face-to-face, eye-to-eye. “It wasn’t me. So don’t even think that way.”
“When were they getting married?”
“They are getting married four days before Christmas.”
A tear slowly made a path down her beautiful face. Using my thumb, I brushed it away. “He’s going to be okay, Rory.”
She forced a smile.
“We’re at the hospital, sir.”
Placing her hand on the side of my face, she softly spoke. “I love you.”
“I love you too, Éan.”
I gently kissed her lips, then rested my forehead on hers. “I’ll meet you back at my place.”
She didn’t answer me. Pulling out a few twenty-dollar bills, I handed them to the driver and repeated my address. I quickly exited the cab and started heading in.
“Finn! Wait!”
Turning, I saw Rory running over to me. She slammed into my body and held me tight. “Kiss me. Please kiss me.”
Drawing back, I held her face in my hands and kissed her. She deepened the kiss while wrapping her arms around me, holding me tight. It almost felt as if she was kissing me for the last time.
When she finally pulled away, she smiled. “I’ll see you in a bit, okay?” I said as I gently tapped the tip of her nose with my finger. She nodded.
“I’ll be praying for Zeb.”
One more quick kiss and I replied, “Thanks, Éan.”
I headed into the hospital and looked back to see her getting into the cab. She leaned forward and said something to the driver. I stopped walking and faced the cab. Glancing my way one more time, she waved as the cab pulled off.
After making my way into the hospital, I found Colton and Sissy. We waited together for an hour before the doctor came out.
Sissy jumped up and rushed over to him. When he told her they’d stopped the internal bleeding and that Zeb had woken up in recovery and asked about her, she jumped into the doctor’s arms and cried.
I turned to Colton and we shared a look of relief. Sissy was now in a full-blown cry, thanking the doctor over and over.
The thought of Rory being that scared did weird things to me. I sent her a quick text telling her Zeb was going to be okay. She didn’t respond until I was in the cab and heading back to my place.
Rory: I’m so glad he is okay.
I was taken aback by how short her text was. Something felt wrong.
Terribly wrong.
I ran to the elevator when I got back to my building. Racing to my door, I almost knocked down a neighbor. I rushed inside.
“Rory?” I called out.
Flash jumped up in his crate and barked.
She isn’t here.
Me: Where are you? Did you go back to your place?
There was no response to my text.
Something caught my attention as I walked over to the crate and let Flash out.
To Finn.
A sinking feeling hit my stomach as I stared down at the envelope. My hands shook as I opened it. The key to my condo was in it, along with a letter. As I pulled the paper out, my heart pounded in my chest as I struggled to breath.
I read her letter through blurred eyes.
My Sweet Finn,
I know I promised to never leave you, and my heart is breaking as I write this, but we can no longer be together. Please, please know that this is the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do, but it’s the only thing I know to do. Please try to understand I wouldn’t do this unless I had to.
The last few months have been the most amazing of my life. I wouldn’t trade them for all the gold in the world. And no matter what you may think of me right now or in the future, please know that I love you. I’ll always love you, Finn Ward.