Page 70 of Be Your Somebody
“I got you, always, Ave,” Bri whispers back to me. Exhaustion greets me like an old friend and the second her hands wrap around my body, I’m out.
Chapter 44
Avery
Hi, freckles, fancy meeting you here
Thesoundofmuffledvoices from downstairs brings a smile to my face. My body cracks and pops when I stretch due to hours of inactivity. When I head downstairs, Bri, Evelyn, and Michael are gathered around the kitchen table with mugs of coffee in hand. My eyes shine with affection for these people. I bite my lower lip in a failed attempt to stop the tears from free falling down my cheeks.
“Hi, honey, how are you doing? Did you sleep well? Are you hungry?” Evelyn asks. Evelyn’s comforting words have me closing the remaining distance and wrapping everyone in a bear hug.
Mystomach growls, answering her last question, so I decide to answer the first two. “I’m doing okay, all things considered. As for sleep, well, I slept like a baby. How long was I out for?” I croak. My hand flies to my throat and my eyes widen in surprise at how rough my voice sounds.
Before either Evelyn or Michael can respond, Bri speaks up. “Girl, you slept for fourteen hours. I had to check on you a few times to check if you were alive.”
“I guess that’s why I sound like I smoked a pack of cigarettes. I um, well, I wanted to thank you all again for dealing with me at the hospital. I know y’all were going through a lot, too. It means a lot to me that you were there for me, too.”
“My little squish, we’ll always be here for you. You’re an extraordinary woman, and like Cas, I knew it from when I first met you. You always took care of everyone else and put yourself last. You’ve grown into a woman who has found the balance between selfishness and selflessness. We love you just as much,” Michael choked out, making me hug him a little tighter.
“I mean, of course, you love me because, who wouldn’t? I am fucking amazing.” Brianna expresses a confidence that makes me laugh.
“Yeah, yeah, yeah, whatever, Bri,” I say, affectionately rolling my eyes. I turn toward Evelyn and say, “Do you know when we’ll get to see him?”
“He’s supposed to make the move from the ICU tomorrow. I gave the doctor your number so that you’re among the first to know when he’s moved.” Those tears that were threatening to release earlier now come pouring out of me.
It wasn't until three days later that I was able to visit him. I’m a walking bundle of nerves as I walk up to the front desk. “Hi, my name is Avery Douglas and I’m here to see Cassidy Andrews.”
“ID, please?” she asks dispassionately, without making eye contact.
“Um, yes, of course, here you are.”
She clicks the keys on her keyboard for a minute before handing me a piece of paper. “Here’s your visitors pass, room 313. Elevators are down the hall to the right.” I barely glance in her direction, mutteringmy thanks before following the directions she gave me. My heart races as the elevator ascends to the third floor. As the second the doors open, desperation to see him amplifies.
Seeing his name scrawled in dry erase marker on Room 313 has me releasing a breath I wasn’t aware I was holding. Somehow, I find the strength to knock on the door, and the second it opens, my body crumbles to the floor. Way to go, Avery. You couldn't even make it five steps without collapsing. My vision becomes so cloudy, causing the room to blur around me. The second he speaks, I crumble even further.
“Hey, freckles, fancy meeting you here,” he croaks out with exhaustion. Words fail me, and he seems to understand he’ll have to do most of the talking.
“Come here, baby, let me hold you.” The desperation in his voice gives my legs the strength to walk over to him. One second I’m walking, and the next, I’m cuddled in his arms and feeling safe. I’m home. His embrace is my favorite cozy sweater, providing softness and warmth. I never want to live outside of his arms ever again.
I know looking at his face while saying these next words will break me, so I keep my eyes closed. “Cas. Oh my God. I didn’t…I didn’t—"
He cuts me off with a quick kiss. “Avery, baby, I’m okay. Breathe,” he says to me. My breaths are shaky, and as much as I try, I can’t get a full deep breath for the life of me.
“Bri…hospital…accident…not coming home…” Most people would have a hard time understanding this gibberish, but not Cas. He knows.
“Avery, I’m okay. I’m safe and I’m here. I’m here holding you and you are here being held by me. Focus on that.” His voice is hoarse from the trauma, but it's that vulnerability in his tone that is providing me comfort. “I told you I would make it back to you. Even though it’s not in the comfort of either of our homes, I kept my promise. Focus on that, Avery. Nothing else matters but you and your safety.”
“You ended up here because of me. I can’t—" My voice comes out high-pitched and panicky.
“No, baby. I ended up here because ofhim,not you. I couldn’t take the chance of him following through on his plans. I will always do what I can to keep you safe. My dad already took so much from me, I couldn’t let him take away one of my reasons for living.” His words sound so convincing, but I’m still struggling to come to terms with that.
“I was soscared I lost you.”
“I’m sorry I scared you. I'd never forgive myself if anything happened to you. I love you and will continue loving you for as long as you’ll have me.” Cas choked back his tears.
“I love you, too. I want you for a lifetime, even though it doesn’t feel like enough.”
“We’ve wasted too much time talking.” Then I grab hold of his face and kiss the living daylights out of him. I don’t remember who deepened the kiss or who tightened their grip first, but his groan had me pulling back.
