Page 42 of Full Throttled

She sighs and it sounds so defeated and quiet. “Londynn was in a wreck about half an hour ago.”

“What? Is she okay?” I ask, as I instantly start rushing around the apartment to get dressed.

“We don’t know for sure. Summer and Dawsyn have the kids. It’s not a place for them to hang out until we find out what’s going on and Summer being pregnant, didn’t want to hit nerves with Londynn in case things don’t turn out well.”

I sigh and scrub my free hand over my face. “Well, let me get Aubree situated and then I’ll be right there.”

“You don’t have to come, Drake. I just wanted to make sure that you knew what was going on,” my mom explains.

I’m shaking my head, but I realize she can’t see that. “I’m coming. I’ll be there shortly.”

I hang up the phone and rush back down the hallway, but then stop when I reach Aubree’s door. I hate to wake her up when she was already late getting to bed and she has school in the morning. Waking her up, getting her dressed, dropping her off at mySummer’shouse will take that much longer to get to the hospital. I look down at my phone and stare at my screensaver of Zoey, Aubree and I at the zoo this past weekend. Before I realize what I’m doing, I push in Zoey’s number. She answers on the second ring. “Hey Dad Muffin, it’s kind of late for you, isn’t it?”

Hearing the nickname she has deemed mine makes me smile in the midst of the chaos going on in my life at the moment. “Are you busy?”

“No, I’m just grabbing food before heading home for the night. I just helped close up the shop. Why? What’s up?” she asks.

I sigh. “Londynn was involved in a wreck and everyone is at the hospital now. They dropped the kids off with Dawsyn and Summer, but I just barely got Aubree to bed. I don’t want to wake her up because she’s already going to have a hard time tomorrow.”

“I’ll be there in a few. I’m fixing to pull up to the window now and then I’ll head your way,” Zoey tells me. I wait for her to finish talking to the guy at the window. The relief I feel at being able to depend on Zoey is amazing.

“Thank you, Zo.”

“Anytime,” she replies, before hanging up the phone.

In record time, there is a light knock on the door. I rush forward and open it to find Zoey standing there. She looks exhausted in the depths of her eyes, but she gives me the biggest smile ever. I don’t know why, but I feel this need to have her in my arms. I pull her toward me and wrap my arms around her, holding her as close as possible. I can feel her trying to hug me back, but I can’t let her go, not yet anyways. “Drake, I can’t move and breathing is becoming an issue,” she finally says, her voice muffled into my chest.

I release her slightly. “I’m sorry, I just needed a moment to collect myself before seeing Jagger and Londynn.”

She nods. “Of course, I’m not complaining. I just didn’t think mypassing out would help the current situation any.”

I shake my head. “No, probably not.”

“So, do you know if Londynn and the baby are okay?”

I shake my head and that gnawing in the pit of my stomach hits me again. Before I became a father, I heard about people miscarrying babies all the time. I even knew about Jagger’s past and losing his fiancé and their unborn child. In my mind, it seemed hard, but not impossible. From the moment I was told I was going to be a father, it changed. Then I heard her heartbeat, saw her in a sonogram, felt her kick, and finally held her. I can’t imagine losing her at any stage of that. I can’t even begin to describe the pain that Jagger must have felt losing both of them. I can’t imagine how he felt getting this call tonight. “I don’t know anything, yet. My mom didn’t know much. I just can’t believe that Jagger might be having to go through this again. He doesn’t deserve this. It’s too much.”

I hang my head and turn away from Zoey. I hear shuffling and then I feel her tiny arms wrap around my torso and press a light kiss to my spine. “It’s okay. It’s overwhelming and you’re right, they don’t deserve any of this, but hopefully everything will work out this time, but I’m sure Jagger is going out of his mind.” Zoey holds me for what feels like much longer than it actually is.

“Thank you, Zoey.”

I feel her nod against my back. “You know I’m here for you anytime you need me. Thank you for calling.”

Turning around I wrap my arms back around her shoulders. I lean down and press a kiss to the top of her head. “I’m not used to having someone I can depend on, romantically anyways. It’s been so long, that I have a hard time remembering to fall back on you.”

Zoey looks down and nods her head. “I know what you mean. I was basically in the same boat, but we’ll learn as we go. It’ll be okay. Now, you should get to the hospital. I’ll hold down this fort. Keep me updated when you can.”

I nod. “Okay, feel free to lay down in my bed if you’re tired or even take a shower. I’m even okay with you stealing something to sleep in. Basically, make yourself at home.” Zoey nods. “I love you.”

“I love you, too. Be safe, okay?”

I smile at her. “Always. See you in a bit.”

I head down the stairs, but as I move further and further away from Zoey, that gnawing returns. Zoey always said I was her anchor but what she doesn’t realize is that she’s mine too.

Thirty-Five

Zoey

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