finding Reese.: a SAFELIGHT novel vol.2 (SAFELIGHT Series) (4 page)

From time to time our phones chirp with incoming messages, and while Catalina ignores hers, I’m periodically checking mine. Jackson remains in a coma but his vital signs continue to improve. Just as the cab pulls up to the hospital drop-off area, my phone rings. It’s Kaelan.

“We’re here,” I answer before she has an opportunity to even say hello.

“Wonderful. He’s in room 1023. You are both on the list of authorized visitors. He is isolated right now, but in a few hours he will be allowed visitors. See you in the waiting room. We’ll chat further. Oh”−Kaelan pauses, taking a deep breath−”heads up. Olivia is here.”

Groaning, I hang up and pay the cabbie. In the parking lot I see countless news vans and reporters standing around. Some are doing live shots, while others stalk the entrance of the hospital waiting for news on Jackson’s condition. Holding our bags, I follow Catalina into the hospital and check-in at the desk. After receiving our visitor badges, we enter the elevator. Catalina’s breathing becomes uneven, it appears she’s fighting back tears. Whisking her to my side, I whisper reassurances, trying my damnedest to pacify her.

“I hate hospitals, Stryder. They bring back bad memories,” Catalina mutters with her arms wrapped tightly against her chest. I nod, knowing Catalina must’ve spent some time hospitalized after that fatal car accident she was in. Not to mention her black-out episode at
Xsports
which landed her in the hospital after she saw the coverage of the avalanche on network TV.

“I get it, babe. Hopefully, we won’t be here for long. Jax is pretty resilient, and if he was able to survive an avalanche, this should be a walk in the park for him,” I tell her softly as the elevator doors open.

Waiting for us are Kaelan and Kathy. I wrap my arms around both women who mean so much to me as Catalina stands close by smiling. Kathy breaks free from my hold and hugs Catalina fiercely, and holding back sobs, she speaks.

“You saved my boy’s life, Catalina. How could I ever repay you?” Kathy cries, holding onto Catalina’s cheeks with her palms. “If not for you, we wouldn’t be here right now. Thank you, my dear. Thank you.”

My heart swells to watch my second mom embracing Catalina like that. It’s not hard to see how much my family loves her. Looking over my shoulder I notice Olivia standing nearby with her arms crossed, watching us. Raising my hand, I wave at her but don’t get close. After the way she treated Jax at his birthday party, it’s needless to say she’s no longer in my good graces.

Oli waves back, lowering her gaze in embarrassment. I’d bet money she’s regretting her bitchtastic ways, especially now that Jax is in critical condition. Oli approaches Catalina reluctantly, and whispers, “Hey.”

Catalina looks at Olivia with sympathetic eyes and while women can be evil with each other, especially when there’s a man in the middle, I have to remind myself Cat isn’t like most women. Extending her arms, she embraces my ex-fiancé lovingly.

“Hey. How are you holding up?” Catalina whispers to Olivia.

I guess being held by Catalina is too much for Olivia because she breaks down in tears. “I’m so sorry. You saved him. Thank you,” Olivia mumbles in between breaths.

Catalina looks at me tenderly, and I blow her a kiss all while her hands rub soothing circles against Oli’s back. “There’s no need to thank me, Olivia. I’m just happy that bracelet exists, and Jax never took it off. He promised not to, but you know guys . . .” Catalina giggles softly, trying to put Oli at peace.

Nearby, Kaelan and Kathy hug each other and look at me with appraising eyes. I offer them the widest of smiles knowing that in Catalina, I have found the noblest of women. Catalina removes a small packet of tissues from her purse and helps clean Oli’s tear-stricken face. I swear Catalina must be an angel because her kindness and compassion blow my mind.

“Better?” Catalina whispers, and Oli nods silently, excusing herself and entering the restroom in the intensive care unit waiting room. Catalina waves goodbye and takes out her cell phone to make a phone call.

I walk over to Kaelan, and ask her about Jax’s prognosis. She replies by telling me the doctors are trying to stabilize his body temperature, and are running tests to make sure there isn’t permanent damage to his vital organs.

“You should’ve seen him, Jupiter,” Kaelan whispers squeezing her eyes shut, and quirking her head to the side. “He was purplish-blue when they brought him here. He almost didn’t make it,” Kaelan cries softly into her hands. “I almost had to bury my baby boy.”

This situation is tough on all of us. Pulling Kaelan into my shoulder I let her cry freely. She was Jax’s nanny when he was a kid and also his godmother. Kaelan has never been far away from Jax, even during his days in rehab. If anyone knows Jax in every way, it’s Kaelan−from the most intimate stuff to the most outrageous details. It’s no secret she loves Jax like her own flesh and blood, and I know Jax feels the same way about Kaelan. A doctor approaches Kathy. My whole body stiffens as we walk slowly towards them, and Kaelan reaches out for Kathy’s hand and squeezes it tightly.

“Mrs. Reese, the condition in which your son was found was completely unexpected. The sole reason Jackson is alive is because he was wearing a survival suit underneath his snowboarding gear. He is severely dehydrated and we are having a tough time stabilizing his heart rate and body temperature, not to mention frostbite which is more visible on his fingers and hands. We are hoping he won’t require skin grafts, but that is not an immediate threat.

“Now to the good news . . . Brain wave activity is normal, and rules out any brain damage concerns we had when he was first brought in. Apart from two broken ankles, probably due to the fact his board was still attached to his boots when he was brought in, your son is in wonderful shape. While we stabilize his vitals, we’re keeping him in a medically induced coma. Jackson is very lucky to be alive,” He declares happily, patting Kathy reassuringly on the shoulder.

“I have to give you this,” the doctor says, placing Jackson’s bracelet in her hand, “it was causing interference with the MRI machine, but it’s also what saved his life. I’m going to do some rounds and I will be back to update you. Right now, we don’t recommend visitation as we need to allow him to rest. If his condition changes, I will let you know.”

I place a kiss on both Kathy and Kaelan’s foreheads, and step back searching for Catalina. As I’m walking away Kaelan stops me.

“I made arrangements for the two of you to stay at Kicking Horse Lodge. Why don’t you guys head over the hotel and get some rest?” Kaelan asks kindly. “I’ll buzz you if we hear anything.”

Nodding, I walk down the hallway in search for Catalina. As I turn around the corner of the long hallway, Catalina stands in front of the glass divider that separates Jackson from us. Halting in my tracks, I hear Catalina mumbling into the glass.

“Please, Jax. I need you to wake up. If you can hear me, I know it’s nice wherever you are, but it’s not your time yet. You got me? I need you.”

Catalina cries into her hands, repeating herself over and over. My heart breaks just watching her pleading, and praying for Jax in front of his door. I walk towards her and wrap my arms around her waist, and bring my head to rest on her shoulder.

“He’s stubborn. He’ll come around whenever he wants,” I whisper, kissing her neck softly. “Come on. The doc says they aren’t allowing visitors. Kaelan said she’ll call us if anything changes. Let’s go to the lodge and get some rest, okay?”

“But what if he wakes up and we’re not here?” Catalina whispers amid sniffles, her palm caressing my scruffy cheek.

“If he does, Kathy and Kaelan will tell him we’re close by. I promise I will bring you back here as soon as we get the word that he’s awake, but for now you and me need to get some rest. Come on, Catalina. He is in the best hands.”

Catalina reluctantly leaves the window, and we take the elevator down to the lobby so we can leave the hospital. As soon as we walk out of the glass doors of the hospital entrance, we are bombarded by flashing light bulbs, and questions being yelled at us by reporters demanding an update. Lifting my elbows, I push past them as they continue to scream questions at us. Thankfully there is a cab at the rotunda so we throw our bags in and slide inside quickly, and the driver doesn’t hesitate to drive away before he asks us for our destination.

Once at the lodge and in the safety of our suite, I draw us a bath, and strip Catalina down to her bare skin. Her hand continues to fiddle with the bracelet she bought for herself the same day she bought Jax’s. Her eyes wander the room, and I know better than anyone she’s anywhere but here. Catalina won’t be able to rest until she sees Jackson awake and cracking jokes with her. Until that happens, I will have to do whatever I can to make her feel safe and wanted, and man, I miss my Raven Girl. Call me selfish but I need to feel her skin against mine, and I miss hearing her say my name when she falls apart in my arms. She has her ways of coping with distress−well, so do I.

I hate that she’s barely talking and it’s like she’s in a daze, moving along, just going through the motions. I’m so used to having Catalina speak her mind, and using her sass and wit against me. Seeing her so quiet and withdrawn−reserved even−makes me insecure. I don’t know what to do to make it better.

In quiet silence, I undo the buttons of her blouse. My eyes widen when I see her tanned, silken skin. It rouses my dick, but I know all too well now is not the time. I’m relieved knowing Jackson is recovering. It gives me a sense of normalcy, and the realization I am no longer skirting on the edge of disaster, holding in my breath, and waiting for bad news to arrive helps my mind relax a bit. Without haste, I remove the rest of her clothing and throw it on the floor, doing my best to avoid looking at her lips which beg me to kiss them. Foregoing her needs in favor of my own would only prove I’m a selfish asshole. My heart tightens in my chest when I see Catalina’s eyes closed, her forehead scrunched with deep worry. I miss her, and desperately need her to come back to me.
God, this is driving me insane!

With hesitant steps, I lead her into the bath, making sure she’s settled in before I give her the privacy she needs. Kissing her forehead, I exit the bathroom, closing the door softly behind me. Resting my head against the wall, I battle the urge to go back in, disrobe myself and make love to her. But she’s worlds away, and I don’t know how to bring her back. She is my heart and my home and until her universe is righted mine will be royally fucked-up, and I have no other choice but to deal with it.

Walking over to the bed, I lie down and rest my arm over my forehead. All the flurry of activity and days of sleeplessness over Jackson’s disappearance finally catch up with me. As soon as my head hits the pillow I fall asleep, grateful to shut up all the noise of my stressed-out mind. Hopefully when I wake up, I’ll feel better, more rested, and less frustrated.

F
EATHERY LIGHT KISSES DISRUPT MY
peaceful slumber, and warm fingertips trace the outline of my jaw and lips. I smile inwardly, grateful I’m still wanted despite all the craziness of the past couple of days. I open my eyes and it takes a second for them to adjust, and when they do I see before me the most precious sight. Catalina’s long raven hair cascades past her shoulders covering her large and perfectly round breasts, and her almond-shaped dark chocolate eyes are looking down at me. My hands reach for her cheeks to touch the softest of skin, and when she cradles into my touch I sigh with happiness.

“Hey,” Catalina whispers, her cheeks slightly flushed.

Clearing my throat, I smile. “Hey, how was your bath?”

Inhaling and exhaling deeply, she replies with a wistful smile, “It was lonely . . . I missed you. Why did you leave?”

My heart tightens in my chest when her eyes search mine for answers. Perhaps I was over-thinking things when I decided to leave her alone in the bathroom. Maybe she wanted me there, but in fear of being rejected I hauled ass out of there in the blink of an eye.

Running my fingers through my hair, I reply, “I wasn’t sure what you wanted, but I knew if I stayed my need for your closeness would’ve trumped all reason.” Taking hold of her palm, I lace our fingers together. “I’m trying my damndest to do the right thing here, Catalina.”