Total pages in book: 64
Estimated words: 61951 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 310(@200wpm)___ 248(@250wpm)___ 207(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 61951 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 310(@200wpm)___ 248(@250wpm)___ 207(@300wpm)
She shakes her head, and with a quivering chin, she says, “I’m not. I’m going to lose my mind.”
Jase comes in and walking right to us, he wraps his arms around both of us. “I just spoke with Uncle Mason. He says they’ve found a girl, but they need to dig through the rubble to get to her. Let’s hope it’s Aria.”
“What about Forest?” Fallon gasps, her face crumbling with tears. “Oh God. Where’s Forest?”
Just then her phone rings and she hurries to answer it. “Daddy?”
She listens for a moment, and then she begins to sob heartbreakingly.
No. No. No.
My blurring eyes are locked on her, and when she ends the call, she buries her face against Jase. “They think they’ve found him, but he seems to be unconscious. They’re working on getting to them.”
I feel a hand on my shoulder, and then Noah’s chest presses against my back. He wraps his arms around the front of me and rests his chin on my head. Bringing my hands up, I grip hold of his forearms as I try to draw strength from him.
The air is tense and filled with worry. My stomach begins to burn from all the concern eating away at me.
When Hunter and Jade arrive, it feels like a grim shroud of death is dropped over all of us. We gather together in the living room, and as Noah sits down, he again pulls me onto his lap. I wrap my arms around his waist and rest my cheek against his shoulder. My gaze keeps drifting from Hana to Fallon and Kao, to Jase and Mila, to Hunter and Jade.
Fallon’s phone begins to ring, and it has us all jerking from the sudden sound.
“Daddy?” Again she listens, and then her eyes drift closed, and a breath shudders from her. “Okay… okay… love you.”
Before she can tell us what Uncle Falcon said, Hunter’s phone rings.
“Aria!” Hunter darts up. “Are you okay?” He lifts a hand to his brow, and then he slumps back on the couch. “But you’re okay?” He shuts his eyes and sucks in a deep breath. “I’m sure he’ll be okay. I love you.”
Jase’s phone beeps, and then mine. I hurry to check the message.
Dad: Talking with Uncle Falcon. They’ve found Forest and Aria. Aria’s fine. Forest has been rushed to the hospital, but he seems stable. Will call in a couple of minutes.
“They’ve found them,” Jase says, and a collective sigh escapes around the room. “Forest has been taken to the hospital. He’s stable, though. We’ll know more soon.”
We’re all overwhelmed with relief, and I bury my face against Noah’s neck as the emotions wash over me.
When we finally get the news that Forest has a broken arm and four broken ribs but that he’s okay, I’m exhausted to my core.
It’s as if the worry burned through all my energy.
“You should all stay the night,” Kao says. “Grab a guest room or a couch. I’ll put out some pillows and blankets.”
Everyone leaves to find a spot to rest, then Noah says, “Want to crash here?”
I nod. “I’m good with anywhere.” I get up and say, “I’m just going to get a glass of water. Do you want some?”
Noah shakes his head as he kicks off his shoes before stretching out on the couch.
When I come back from drinking water, I sit down on the other couch, and when I’ve taken off my sneakers, Noah murmurs, “Come over here.”
I move to where Noah’s lying, and he tugs at my hand, so I’ll lie down. I crawl over him and positioning half my body over his, I rest my hand and cheek on his chest.
“Thank you, Noah.”
He places a hand against my cheek, and then I feel him press a kiss to my hair. “Try to get some sleep.”
I nod, and listening to his heartbeat, it doesn’t take me long to drift off.
NOAH
It’s been a rough week for everyone, but Forest and Aria are finally back home. Forest has some healing to do, but at least they survived the disaster.
Walking into the living room, I see Carla’s lying on one of the couches, watching Shrek with Forest and Aria. I drop down on the other open couch, and just as I get into the movie, Carla’s face suddenly hovers above mine. She almost gives me a damn heart attack because she snuck up on me.
Then she impersonates Donkey, “I hate it when you’ve got somebody in your face, you trying to give them a hint, and they won’t leave. Then there’s that big awkward silence… you know…”
I struggle not to laugh as I stare up at her. She’s so damn cute when she mimics an animation.
“Can I lie with you?” She even pulls an adorable face.
Teasing her, I grumble, “Nope.”
Carla pouts down at me, and it fills me with the urge to kiss her. “Can I lie with you… Please.”