Trusting You: The Switched Series book two (14 page)

I open my eyes and everything is white. I can hear a beeping sound and I notice a TV is on, but the sound is muted. Am I in a hospital? I try to think back to what has been going on. I remember waking up with Manna. She had a gun and she hates me. I remember the smoke. Then I remember Brody and Josh. Josh. He got shot. Is he okay? I am starting to panic when I feel a hand on my arm.

“Hey, everything is okay,” Callie says from the chair beside my bed. I can’t figure out why she would say that to me. Does she not know what I have been through tonight? I try to talk, but my throat feels like it’s on fire. She walks over to a table and pours a cup of water and brings it to me.

“Small sips. The nurse said your throat would be sore and your mouth would be dry from all of the smoke,” she says, taking the cup from me after I finally get some moisture in my mouth.

“Manna?” I say, watching her shake her head.

“I am so sorry. When she fell down, she hit her head on something. They said it was instant,” she says, with tears in her eyes. I have no idea how I should be feeling right now. My sister, who went from being my hero to the person who stole my boyfriend to the person who tried to kill me, is now dead.

“What about Josh?” I whisper.

“He got out of surgery a little while ago. They said he would be fine,” she says, looking sad. Was Manna really telling me the truth about him? Would somebody really live a miserable life for the person they love? There has to be more to that story.

“Brody,” I whisper.

“He is still talking to the police. Filling them in on what happened,” she says with a small smile. Why is he not in here with me? Shouldn’t my boyfriend be with me right now? Maybe he doesn’t want me anymore. I know I have caused a lot of mess by running off, but I really hope he’s not mad at me.

“Does he hate me?” I ask Callie.

“Of course he doesn’t hate you. He’s really worried about you. He was going crazy not being able to find you,” she says. If that’s true, where is he right now? I’m about to ask her again when Ash walks into the room.

“Hey, I’m glad you’re awake. You scared all of us,” he says looking very uncomfortable. I feel like I am missing something, but I can’t quite figure out what it is.

“Did something happen to Brody? Why is he not here?” I ask again, feeling the tears in my eyes.

“He’s fine. He just went home to shower and change. He’ll be back in a few minutes,” Ash says, while Callie rolls her eyes. That is definitely not the answer Callie just gave me. Did something happen to him? I can’t remember anything past getting in the ambulance.

“Where is he really?” I ask practically screaming.

“We don’t know,” Callie says quietly. “He was here and then he just disappeared. I think he just needed a few minutes to process everything.”

“What does he have to process? He didn’t get kidnapped, shot or killed. I think he has had the easiest part of the day,” I say to them, realizing my sister is dead. The only family I had left is dead and the one person I want in this room with me right now is not here.

“I’ll go see if I can find him,” Ash says, running out of the room.

“I can’t believe she’s dead,” I say through the tears.

“I know, I am so sorry Leighton,” Callie says grabbing my hand.

“Are you sure he doesn’t hate me. I want him here, now,” I say, sounding as desperate as I feel. Callie looks up at me with a confused expression.

“Are you talking about Brody?” she whispers. Who else would I be talking about? I am missing something here. I nod my head at her.

“Who else would I be talking about?” I feel like I am missing out on something right now. “Why is he upset? And don’t say he’s not, because if he wasn’t, he would be here right now,” I say, hoping she will finally tell me the truth.

“He thinks he has lost you,” she says, looking me straight in the eyes.

“He thinks I’m dead?” I ask. She shakes her head at me.

“He thinks he lost you to Josh. He thinks you may still be in love with him,” she says surprising me. How could he possibly think that?

“I don’t understand that, why would he think that? Josh broke my heart. That’s not easily forgiven,” I say, confused.

“Do you know why he married your sister? Did she tell you?” Callie asks. I try to remember back to all of the crazy stuff Manna was saying tonight. What did she say about that? Something about he loves me. She threatened to kill me if he left her.

“Brody knows about that?” I ask mortified. She nods her head at me and gives me a sad smile. What a mess I am in.

“Good to see you awake Miss Lancaster. I am Dr. White. If you are feeling okay, I don’t see any reason you can’t go home now. I’ll have a nurse come remove your IV and we will have you out in no time. You may have a small cough until all of the smoke is out of your lungs, but other than that, you are good to go. Just call us if you start feeling bad or have any questions,” she says, before leaving the room. I don’t even know where my home is right now.

After all of the needles are out and papers are signed, I am finally ready to get out of here. Callie has stayed with me this whole time and told me I can stay with her as long as I need. Brody still hasn’t shown up, but I am trying really hard not to think about that. I really don’t want to start crying again. I can’t believe he gave up on us so easily, without even talking to me.

“Do you know what room Josh is in? I need to talk to him,” I ask Callie. She shakes her head at me and doesn’t say a word. “Okay, I’ll find him.” I go to the nurse’s desk to get his room number and head straight to his room. I walk in and he is still asleep in his hospital bed. I have no idea what I am going to say to him, so I sit in the seat beside his bed and stare at him for what feels like forever.

“Are you going to talk or just stare at me all day?” He opens his eyes and tries to smile, but I can tell he is in some serious pain.

“I’m really glad you are okay,” I say. “I’m so sorry for everything.” I cannot stop the flood of tears that are falling down my face right now.

“Hey, I’m okay. Come here,” he says, grabbing my hand and pulling me to him. I know I shouldn’t go, but I can’t seem to stop my body from moving toward him right now. I sit down on the bed beside him and hear his intake of breath. I try to get up, but he holds me down. “Please don’t leave yet.” I nod my head and lean into him.

“You shouldn’t have stayed with her for me. I would have been okay,” I whisper.

“I know,” he says surprising me. “I think I just thought if I stayed with her you would eventually come home and I could win you back. You never came home.”

“It was too hard seeing the two of you together. Even at the funeral, I can’t begin to tell you how heartbroken I was. I was so in love with you and to come home and find you two together almost killed me,” I say quietly.

“I know, but Leighton. Tonight proved how dangerous she was. I loved you enough that I had to do everything in my power to keep you safe.”

“By giving up your own life? Josh, you shouldn’t have had to make that choice. All of this has been my fault. I am so so sorry,” I cry. He squeezes me tighter and I can feel his tears hitting my arm now.

“I didn’t want to live a life without you in it. I really thought if I stayed, I could win you back somehow. Now, I know that’s not true. But Leighton, I would do it all again if I knew it would keep you safe.”

“Please don’t say that. You deserve to be happy. You deserve a family and a woman who is head over heels in love with you. I can’t be that girl, not anymore,” I say, standing up. “I will never be able to thank you enough for what you did for me, but I can’t do this, not with you.”

“I know. I may be your past, but now I know I am definitely not your future. I’m glad you found someone who is head over heels in love with you. All I have ever wanted is for you to be happy.”

“I want the same thing for you,” I say, leaning down to kiss him on the cheek. “I really hope you can find your happily ever after.” I turn around with tears running down my face once again. I once thought this man was my forever, but now I know there is only one place I want to be right now. I just hope I’m not too late.

“Leighton,” Josh says, making turn around. “I really am sorry for not being honest with you seven years ago. I will regret that decision for as long as I live.”

I walk out of his room to find Callie waiting for me at the end of the hallway on her phone. “I promise I am telling the truth,” she says quickly. “I gotta go, see you in a few minutes.” She quickly cuts her phone off and stuffs it into her purse.

“Are you ready?” she asks smiling. I nod my head at her, before a new set of tears start again. “It’s going to be okay, I promise,” she says, linking her arm in my mine and leading me outside. She already has her car pulled up at the door waiting so I don’t have to walk far.

“I promise I’ll be out of your way soon,” I say quietly.

“You’re not in my way Leighton. I want you to stay here as long as you want. I’m sorry all of this happened to you, but I’m really glad to have you here now. You will always be family to me,” she says sweetly.

“Thank you.” I don’t ask about Brody again. I still can’t believe he didn’t even come to the hospital with me. Does he really not realize what he means to me?

After a very quiet ride back to town, Callie takes me straight to the hotel I stayed in last year.

“Why are we not going to your house?” I ask quietly. I really don’t want to be locked in a hotel room by myself today. How could she do this to me?

“My house is still a crime scene. I need to go check on the girls and then I will come back and check on you. I promise you will be okay,” she says, leaning over to give me a hug. I nod my head at her and open the car door to get out. I don’t even have any luggage with me. Maybe I should go running back to Josh. At least he would make sure I was taken care of.

“Mrs. Barbara at the front desk has your key. I have already called and told her you were coming. You get the same room we had before. I’ll see you soon,” she says, with an excited grin. How can she possibly be happy right now?

I decide to go inside and get the key to the room. I have nothing with me, not even my purse, but I have to figure out a way to get out of this town. There is no way I can stand to be here much longer without Brody.

Callie finally texted me she was finally here. I would finally get to see Leighton in a few minutes and this has to be the most nervous I have ever been in my life. The last time I saw her before she was kidnapped, she walked out the door on me. I was convinced she was she still in love with her ex, until Callie called and quickly filled me in on what she heard outside his hospital room when Leighton went to see him. I know I should have been at the hospital when she woke up, but seeing her tied up the way I did, made me realize really quick how much she means to me. I really hope Callie is right about all of this and Leighton isn’t going to go running from me the moment she walks in the door.

I wanted today to be a fresh start for us. After I knew she was going to be okay, I left the hospital to take care of a lot of business. I hope Leighton will forgive me for not being there when she walks in the hotel room to see what I have done. I have emptied every florist in this town of roses and have them sitting all over the room. I went shopping to get Leighton some clothes, definitely a first for me. After that, I ran by my house really quick to grab the most important thing I needed today. I already had her purse and phone in my truck from when we found it in the bedroom. I know today has been the worst day of her life, so I am really hoping I can make it better. I know I am taking a huge chance here, but she is definitely worth it.

My heart is beating in my chest and I can feel the sweat breaking out on my forehead. I am usually very calm and in control, but this girl brings out the nerves in me. I have never wanted anybody or anything the way I want her, no need her and I really hope she doesn’t walk out that door on me.

I hear the key in the door and take a deep breath. Slowly the door opens and Leighton steps inside scanning the room. Her eyes grow wider as she looks around the room until her eyes meet mine. I swallow hard while I stare in her eyes. I’m not sure what I was expecting, but she just looks blank and empty in this moment, and the fear I have lost her starts getting bigger.

“Hi sweetheart,” I say quietly, watching her face closely. She starts shaking her head at me and I can see the tears start falling down her face. I am to her in seconds and finally have my arms around her. She finally wraps her arms around me and sobs into my chest.

“I needed you. Where were you?” she whispers, breaking my heart. I pick her up and carry her to the bed. I lay down with her beside me keeping my arms around her. I kiss her hair and rub her back and let her continue to cry. I start thinking long and hard about what I need to tell her. When her sobs start to ease up, she looks up at me with the saddest expression I have ever seen.

“I am so sorry I wasn’t there. I have absolutely no excuse for not being there for you when you needed me the most. I just didn’t want to make you feel like you have to be with me. I only want you happy,” I say. “If he’s what makes you happy, I can step back if it’s what you want.”

Leighton lays her head back down on my chest snuggling into me and takes a deep breath. “When I went home that Christmas and found him with my sister, he broke my heart,” she says quietly. I start rubbing her back again, not knowing what to say.

She raises back up and turns where she is face to face with me. “When I was tied up and Manna was telling me things about the two of you, it hurt. When she told me how you took her to the beach to tell her you loved her the first time, it broke my heart,” she says with a tear falling down her bruised cheek. I can’t believe Sam would tell her that. I can’t believe I had forgotten that either. I wipe the tear away from her cheek, being careful not to hurt her.

“The good thing about broken hearts is they can be repaired,” she says quietly. “The difference between you and Josh is if I lost you, it would shatter my heart and that cannot be repaired. I need you Brody. It’s like I can’t breathe without you.”

I grab her face gently with my hands and bring her lips to mine. “I love you baby, so much,” I whisper, leaning my forehead against hers. “I have something for you,” I say, letting go of her face.

“You mean all of these roses aren’t for me,” she says, with a small laugh. “They are beautiful.”

“I’m glad you like them, but no, they are not your only surprise,” I say feeling very nervous all of a sudden. I reach into my pocket to grab the ring when she interrupts again.

“I hope you have some clothes and soap and shampoo for me. I kind of stink,” she says, looking around the room. I take a deep breath before grabbing her hand and bringing it to my lips.

“I have all of those things and I have this,” I say, opening my hand up to show her the ring. I watch her eyes widen and a new set of tears come to her eyes.

“Leighton Lancaster, I have realized a lot in the past twenty four hours. I thought I lost you at least twice and I never want to have that feeling again. I love you more than I ever imagined could be possible and there is no one in this world I would rather have by my side than you. Will you please marry me?” I say, looking into her eyes.

“Are you sure?” she asks, looking ready to run.

“I have never been surer of anything in my life. You should know that I probably don’t have a job anymore because I didn’t show up to my new one this morning, but as long as I have you by my side, I don’t really care what I’m doing,” I say, still waiting on her to say yes.

“Oh my gosh, your job. I am so sorry. It’s all my fault,” she whispers.

“Leighton, I’m still waiting for an answer.” She looks at me and the biggest smile spreads across her face.

“Yes, I will definitely marry you,” she says, crashing her lips to mine once more. “Can I have my ring now?”

I grab her hand and slide the ring on finger. I don’t know what I did to ever deserve this girl, especially after living through the last twenty four hours, but I will definitely spend the rest of my life making sure she is happy.