Fall (Seaside #4)(56)
Author: Rachel Van Dyken

“Ah, I always wondered what the pot sounded like when it stopped shouting accusations at the kettle,” I said aloud.

Alec barked with laughter. “I forgot how much I liked having you around, England.”

“Foreign charm, and admit it — you think my accent is sexy.”

“True.” Alec nodded solemnly. “Sometimes I even hear it at night as my wife lulls me to sleep with her—”

“—you can stop now.”

Another grin.

Yeah, I’d never seen Alec smile so many different ways. Marriage had been way too good for him. His playing was better, his song writing amazing, and I was pretty sure that by the time he was fifty he was going to be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Just a hunch.

“How’s she holding up?” Alec walked over to the breakfast bar and pulled out a stool.

“She’s alright,” I said in hushed tones. “Sad, upset, confused, but… she’s doing better than I’d be doing.”

“She seems strong,” Alec mused, looking at the door. “Kind of makes me feel like an ass. I had to do how many drugs and be responsible for my own son’s death before I got my head out of my ass — and even then it was Nat doing the saving. For Priscilla to just accept and fight…” He shook his head. “I admire that.”

“Yeah, well.” I winced. “It’s going to be a long road.”

“And this road… are you going to be driving on it with her?” he fished.

I knew what he was asking. Funny, because I could answer with complete confidence. “Alec, c’mon, you know I hate it when women drive my car.”

“I’m ready.” Priscilla came out of the bedroom, her long dark hair pulled into a tight ponytail and a grey sweatshirt over her leggings.

“You look great.” I kissed her forehead.

“I look horrible.” She managed a tiny smile. “But I love you for lying.” Her eyes narrowed, “This time.”

The room fell completely silent.

I took another step so she was in my arms. “Yeah, well, I just love you.”

I heard choking, a gasp, something that sounded like a chair tipping over, and then crying.

Turning around, I saw Nat wipe tears from her eyes as a stunned Alec picked up his stool, and Alyssa helped Demetri clean up the water he’d apparently spit all over the couch.

Wow, good to know they had so much faith in the Tin Man finding his lost heart.

I ignored all their stunned expressions. “We’re gonna go.”

I led Priscilla to the door and had just about shut it when Demetri shouted. “I love you too, Jaymeson!”

Chapter Forty-Three

Priscilla

Jaymeson didn’t let go of my hand the entire way to the hospital. I was pretty sure that he was going to start cramping, but he didn’t complain. He just squeezed tighter and pulled me into his embrace.

Lucky for us, the hospital was prepared for our return. Camera crews still waited, but this time I was ready to face them. I had one mission. Fight for my sister.

Once we reached the doors, Jaymeson paused. Questions were fired from every angle, and it was stressful to say the least. Instead of going inside, Jaymeson turned and held me close to him.

“We’re going to be coming and going a lot,” he said smoothly. “If you give us some space and privacy, I promise to answer some of your questions. But please, don’t direct any of them to my girl, she’s had a rough couple of days and the last thing she needs to do is answer mindless questions about what it’s like to be Jamie Jaymeson’s girlfriend.”

The cameras continued to go off but people stopped talking.

“I love her,” he said simply looking down at me and bestowing a kiss on my forehead like I was the most precious treasure. “If you want to do something with the copious amounts of free time you seem to have, pray. Pray for her seventeen-year-old sister to make it through, because right now — she’s the only family my girl has left.”

With that, he gave a slight nod and led me back into the hospital. I glanced back through the glass doors to see a few of the news ladies’ mouths completely dropped open, whether it was in shock over what he said, or shock over the fact that he’d just declared love — I had no idea. But it felt good. It felt better than he’d ever know. Because it wasn’t just me fighting for my sister, but Jaymeson too. Maybe it was crazy but in my heart, I felt like she would make it. As long as I had him on my team, she’d make it.

By the time we reached the fifth floor I had gotten used to the stairs. It was weird because for the first time people weren’t just staring at him, they were staring at me. Possibly trying to figure out what in the world he was doing with me. But I didn’t care.

“Mr. Jaymeson…” A nurse jogged toward us. “We have some news.”

My heart stopped.

But the nurse was smiling. That was good, right?

“She’s been moved into one of the private suites on the eighth floor. The swelling has gone down considerably and the doctor’s confident that she’ll make a full recovery.”

My shaking legs gave way. I would have landed on the floor had Jaymeson not gripped my body with his hands holding me steady.

“Thank you.” He held out his free hand and shook the nurse’s hand firmly. “What room number?”

“One.” The nurse beamed.

Jaymeson half carried me to the elevator as we went up a few more floors. I was so excited to see my sister that I wanted to run out the elevator and throw myself onto her bed.

Lucky for me, Jaymeson kept me grounded. He was probably sure I was going to face plant if I tried to make a run for it.

The elevator doors opened with a soft ding, we took a left toward the rooms labeled one through ten. And then took another left.

When the nurse said suite, I’d thought she meant a big room. Not an actual hotel suite.

Dani still had some tubes connected to her, but the color had returned to her cheeks.

I breathed a sigh of relief.

“Dani?” Tears filled my eyes. “Are you awake?”

Her eyes flickered open. Growing up, I’d always been jealous of her. She had beautiful honey brown hair and the bluest eyes I’d ever seen. While I’d always felt plain, she was striking.

“Pris?” Her voice was hoarse, almost unrecognizable. “Is that you?”

“Yeah.” Carefully, I sat on the bed and reached for her hand, she struggled to sit up and then blinked a few more times.