Page 22 of Deception
The different scenes they could have walked into continue to play on a loop, and she clings to her husband. He tries to comfort her, but he knows there’s no stopping her spiral until she’s ready. Fear kicks her in the gut, and she can’t breathe.
“They’re okay, baby,” he whispers. “They’re going to be just fine.”
Finally pulling herself together, she pulls away and takes a deep breath. “I know. I just… It could have gone so differently.”
“I wish he’d have hit the damn dog,” he jokes.
“I don’t think his poor little heart could’ve taken it. He’s a lot more sensitive than he likes to let on. When you see him, reassure him you’re not upset with him. He’s scared we’re going to change our minds.”
He frowns. “Change our minds?”
“Adopting him,” she says. “That boy breaks my heart because he may be sixteen, but he has these moments where the scared little boy who lost his father far too young comes out. He spent too much time being mistreated and made to feel expendable. Even the EMT choked up.”
“He thinks the accident is going to make us kick him to the curb?”
“Can you blame him? I mean… Look at what you took him away from. No one but Hailey’s ever chosen him, and I think he’s scared he’ll lose us.”
Chucking, he nods. “He’s a little too perfect. Might do him some good to get into a little bit of trouble every once in a while.”
“How are they?” Felicity asks, walking up to them as everyone stands in the waiting room.
She looks around and sees everyone from the clubhouse stands with them. Everyone but Autumn. “They’ll be okay. Thanks for driving me like you were qualifying for a NASCAR race.”
“Of course.”
They walk into the waiting area with the rest of the club, and Diesel grimaces. “I hate to say it, Lex, but I don’t think the car’s salvageable.”
Her surrogate father looks as sad as she feels at the loss of her car. It hurts more than Lex expected. That car has been her baby for two decades now. Even though it’s just a car, and shetold Lucas not to worry about it, there’s a twinge at losing it. It’s one of the longest running constants in her life, and its seen her through many life events.
“You really know how to kick a girl when she’s down, don’t you?” Lex says with a laugh. “I loved that car, but as long as my boys are okay, that’s all that matters.”
“I’m sorry baby,” Colt says and hugs her again. “We’ll find another one.”
“I don’t know,” she admits. “It won’t be the same. Maybe it’s time to find something new.”
He rubs her back as she silently mourns the loss of her car while feeling equally grateful for the safety of her children. A couple of broken noses and a concussion is much better than the other outcomes.
Chapter Eight
Griffin’s Beach
Kent
“How’s your girl holding up?” Kent Conway asks Gavin.
The phone rang just ten minutes ago, and Kent knows Gavin’s girlfriend must be out of her mind at the thought of losing her brother. For the longest time, the two of them only had each other.
“She was pretty freaked out, but seeing him okay settled her down,” Gavin says.
“Man, that has to be scary for everyone. And that car… Fuck, that was a beautiful car.”
He laughs. “Yeah, it was. What are you doing? It sounds like you’re watching cartoons.”
Cradling the phone between his shoulder and ear, Kent shifts Gavin’s nephew on his lap. “Kind of. Nolan is. And I’m watching him.”
“Where’s Gracie?”
“Your sister is out on a date,” Kent says.
