Page 59 of The Late Hit
Tears pour from my eyes like a summer rainstorm, which is only fitting since I was dreaming of our last summer together. Summer days were our favorite days growing up. No school, no homework, and no routines. The only thing we had to worry about was where we were going for the day. Bryce, Asher, and I would take turns deciding what we would get up to for the day. The three of us were inseparable. I’d give anything for one more summer together. Three months of the three of us finding crazy things to do. The crazier, the better, because we had each other by our side.
This day is always hard, but this year is even harder. I’m not sure if it’s because it’s been five years, and five just seems so monumental. Or is it the fact that my heart is wanting to give into whatever this attractiveness I have for Quinton, and the last time I gave my heart away, I lost the two boys that held parts of it?
My body snuggles deeper into the oversized hoodie that I wear every year on this day. The hoodie belonged to Asher. It was his freshman sweatshirt with his last name on and number twenty-two on the back. He gave it to me to wear on his first game, and I never gave it back. Whenever I’d go to his house, I’d sneak sprays of his cologne so I always had his smell on me.
His scent lingers, but only slightly, which breaks my heart even more. I dream of him and Bryce, but their features are getting blurrier. I’m starting to forget the small details that made them who they are. Their smells are fading, the sound of their laughter and their mannerisms are slipping from my grasp.
Sobs rack through my body as that realization hits me. I’m slowly forgetting them. But how could I ever forget them? Bryce was a part of me. He shared my DNA. We shared a womb. He was my mind, body, and soul. The other half that kept my heart beating. That was until I fell in love with our best friend. Asher’s embrace could make even the darkest days shine bright. And oh, did they ever, that wonderful day in the hospital.
Today marks my fourth consecutive day in this room. The sounds of machines beeping has become a soundtrack I crave. Because those sounds, those sounds mean Asher is still breathing. He is still here, even though he is somewhere dreaming of better days. As much as everyone tries to get me to leave, I refuse. I am needed by his side.
Thankfully, we own this hospital. I am given the opportunity to shower in the staff locker rooms, even though I have no desire to leave his side. Those showers are the fastest showers I have ever taken. I don’t want to be away from him for too long.
Mother had a cot delivered for me to sleep on, but I refuse. Each night after the nurses come in for their nightly check, I slip out of the cot and climb under the covers next to Asher, careful not to disturb the wires that he is connected to. The bed is hard, the sheets scratchy, but I didn’t care because I am beside my Asher.
Losing Bryce was devastating, but I fought hard to keep myself strong. Strong for the beautiful man lying next to me. Placing my arm across his stomach, I curl into his side. Each night I share with him a story that the two of us shared.
“Do you remember our first Valentine’s Day together as a couple?” I ask him, pausing, praying for a response. But one doesn’t come, so I continue. “You showed up at our house in dress pants, a dress shirt, and a tie. You were so handsome in your light-blue shirt. It made your eyes pop. I couldn’t stop staring at them all night. You planned the whole night, starting with having our family driver take us on our date.
“Dinner was at Steak’N Shake because you knew I was obsessed with their strawberry milkshakes and shoestring fries with cheese sauce. I loved that you didn’t try to take us somewhere fancy, even though it was Valentine’s Day. We were the best-dressed couple in that entire diner, but I loved it. I knew that things were changing between us, and we were becoming more serious, but that was the night that I knew that I loved you, like really loved you. You were always you. You didn’t try hard to impress me, you just told your jokes—as cheesy as they were. You didn’t judge me for inhaling two milkshakes. You were you, I was me, and we were just us.
“But our date wasn’t over after dinner. Oh no, you surprised me with tickets to seeThe Lucky Onebecause of my obsession with Zac Efron. Most boys would’ve refused to sit through a chick flick, but not you. What was it that you told me? Something about Zac might make me swoon and the movie might make me cry, but you’d be the lucky one wrapping your arms around me—”
“To comfort you,” a raspy voice says, interrupting me.
Slowly, sitting up, I looked up and am met with dazzling blue eyes staring back at me. The arm that I had placed around my shoulders, slowly squeezes me.
“Asher?” I asked, afraid my eyes and ears are deceiving me.
“Hi, pretty girl,” he rasps out, causing tears to explode from my eyes. His grip tightens and he pulls me closer, grazing his lips across my forehead. My blue-eyed beauty was awake.
Slowly sitting up, I turn to get a better look at him.
“Oh my god, Asher,” I gasp out in between sobs, my lips finding his immediately.
My heart was broken, but at that moment, I feel it slowly start to repair.
Too bad I don’t know what is to come in just thirty-six hours.
Leaving that memory, I get up and head to the bathroom. After relieving myself and brushing my teeth, I climb back under the covers, I reach over and grab the remote, flipping on my TV. Scrolling through the movie options, I find the one I’m looking for. SelectingThe Lucky One, I let the memory fade away and let the mourning begin.
The movie is only fifteen minutes in, and my body is curled under my blankets when there’s a soft rap on the door. Cautiously, Chloe sticks her head in.
“Hey, B,” she starts, walking slowly into the room with a mug in her hand.
“Hi,” I answer, making room on my side of the bed for Chloe to sit down.
Chloe places the mug of piping hot coffee on my nightstand.
“I brought you some coffee. I figured you were hiding away up here.” Crawling onto my bed, Chloe slips under the covers, my head finding her shoulder. She reaches up, wiping the tear stains from my cheeks. “I know today is a hard day, but you don’t have to hide away alone. I can skip classes, and we can hide under the covers together.”
Reaching for her hand, I rest my empty hand on hers.
“Thanks, Chlo, but I just want to be alone.”
With a deep sigh, Chloe stares at me.
“I knew you were going to say that, you do every year. But just know, B, I’m here for you. I know I don’t know what you’re feeling, but I love you, and I’m always here for whatever you need. Macy is too. And Quinton. And Cody and the rest of the guys. We hate seeing you hurt. We understand it, but we still hate it.”
