Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 81176 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 406(@200wpm)___ 325(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81176 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 406(@200wpm)___ 325(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
I went to argue with her, but Rory suddenly appeared on the other side of Clare.
“Your brother Tim called my cell. He said he’s been trying to get a hold of you.”
Clare’s smile instantly fell. “It’s in my purse. Is something wrong?”
Rory’s gaze swung to me, and something on her face told me that whatever she was about to say wasn’t going to be good news. Looking back at Clare, she grabbed hold of her hands.
“Your mother and father have been in a car accident. That’s all he said. They’re at Massachusetts General.”
Clare swayed slightly, and I quickly wrapped my arm around her waist. “It’s okay, I’ve got you.”
Her voice sounded the weakest I’d ever heard as she asked, “Are they…are they okay?”
Rory swallowed hard and replied, “He didn’t say. Just that you needed to get there as soon as you can.”
“I…I…” Clare mumbled as she looked around. “I have to call an Uber.”
“Don’t be ridiculous, Clare,” I said as I took her hands in mine. “I’ll take you. Come on.”
She stood frozen in place. Standing in front of her, I cupped her face in my hands and leaned down to look into those eyes that were filled with fear.
“Hey, it’s going to be okay. I’ve got you.”
When her eyes met mine and I saw the tears, I just about fell to my knees.
“Let’s get your coat and purse and we’ll go there right now.”
Clare stared at me for a few moments before the fog cleared. She nodded. “Thank you, Wes.”
I kissed her on the forehead. “Of course.” I looked at Rory. “Would you mind letting Mom and Dad know why we’re leaving in a rush?”
“Of course. I’ll get her stuff.” Rory turned and headed off in a flash.
Wrapping my arm back around her waist, I guided her through the crowd of people. Everyone went on with their conversations as if nothing was wrong. Not knowing that the woman I was holding on to was shaking as we made our way across the house. Once we finally got to the front door, Rory was there with Finn and my father.
“It’s going to be okay, Clare,” Rory said as she handed me Clare’s coat and I helped her put it on.
All Clare could do was nod.
“Wes, you’ll stay with her, right?” Finn asked, giving me a hard look.
“Of course, I will, Finn,” I said, a bit of resentment in my voice that my father obviously caught but remained silent.
“I’ll call you, Rory, as soon as we find out how her parents are. Will you let Tim know I’m driving her.”
“Yes, of course. Please be safe driving.” Rory reached out and grabbed my arm. I knew she was silently asking me to stay with Clare and make sure she was okay.
With a nod, I placed my hand on Clare’s lower back and ushered her out the door. Once she was in and buckled up, I started the car and headed back into Boston.
“Do you need me to call anyone? Your brother or…”
It was then I realized I didn’t know a whole lot about Clare’s family other than what she already told me.
Her hands shook as she pulled out her cell phone. Once she found what she was looking for, she tapped her phone.
“Tim? I’m on my way. Are they okay?”
I couldn’t hear her brother on the other side of the phone, but I could see her tense up. “Both of them?”
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Please don’t do this. Please don’t do this.
“Okay. No, I’m not driving, Wes is.” Then I could hear her brother’s mumbled voice through her cell.
“Wes Ward, he’s…”
Her voice faded off and I could feel her eyes on me. When I looked at her, my heart squeezed in my chest.
I held my hand out. “Give me the phone.”
As if on autopilot, she handed me her cell.
“Tim, this is Wes Ward, I’m a close friend of your sister’s.”
“Hey, Wes. Thanks so much for driving her to the hospital. They took both of them straight into surgery, so I’m not sure how they are or what is going on. I got the call when they couldn’t get a hold of Clare. I hate that I’m not there for them or for my sister.”
“It’s okay, I will be. We’re about thirty minutes or so out. Where do we need to go?”
He paused for a moment, and I heard paper being moved around.
“You’ll want to go to the third-floor nurses’ station.”
“Okay, third floor, nurses’ station.”
“Hey, Wes?”
“Yeah?”
“Thanks for doing this.”
“Of course, I’d do anything for Clare.”
The words came out automatically. I would do anything for her, and that thought didn’t scare me. Confusion swept over me. What in the hell was happening? Was I falling for Clare? Was it because she was going along with this crazy plan of mine to win Mandy back. Clare didn’t owe me anything, she didn’t have to do or agree to any of it. She could have easily pushed me away in the kitchen earlier as well. But she hadn’t. And the bigger question was…did I even want Mandy back?