Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 94716 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 474(@200wpm)___ 379(@250wpm)___ 316(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94716 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 474(@200wpm)___ 379(@250wpm)___ 316(@300wpm)
Jack kissed the top of my head, but didn’t stop laughing.
“Fuckers. Every last one of you.” I grumbled.
Jack’s phone started vibrating under my ass, I stood so he could reach his phone. I watched as his laughter died. The joy on his face was replaced by utter desolation. The laughter around us died as Jack’s expression started to register to everyone else in the room. His eyes slowly closed, and I saw a lone tear slide down the length of his cheek before he angrily dashed it away.
“I understand. Can,” He croaked and then cleared his throat when his voice started to break. “Can I see him before he’s cremated?”
My stomach dropped so low that I could swear it was somewhere near my toes. Dropping to my knees, I placed my hands on his thighs as he finished his phone call with whomever he was speaking with, offering my silent support. His hand clutched at mine, and he said a few more “Yes, sir’s” before hanging up and clutching my body to his in a brutal hug.
I let him hug me, and stayed there waiting for him to explain.
“Adam’s dead. Tai’s hurt.” He rasped, while rubbing his face with his hands.
“I’ll go pack. Do you want anything specific?” I asked, hoping he would meet my eyes.
“The blue dress bag in the closet. I need my uniform for the funeral.” He murmured, still avoiding my eyes.
I gave him a soft kiss on the forehead and exited the room. I met Sam and Jack’s eyes as they watched me leave. Each gave me a nod of approval before I broke eye contact.
Once I was outside, I squeezed my eyes tightly shut and tried not to cry.
In the past twenty days, I have remembered quite a few bits and pieces of my time with Jack. Yes, it was only a summer, but it was definitely significant. His brother and best friend were regulars in many of the memories as well.
As soon as I got in Jack’s bedroom, I got to work gathering Jack’s clothes and stuffing them into the large duffel bag at the bottom of Jack’s closet. My hand hit a box as I reached for my duffel. I wondered what was in it and why it was buried in the bottom of the closet; but right now, I didn’t have any time to think about it.
I called into work for the next week, and, needless to say, they were not in the least bit happy. I’d be lucky to have a job when I got back.
Once I was packed, I grabbed both bags and hauled them out to Jack’s truck since it was blatantly obvious this wasn’t going to fit in his bikes saddlebags.
I went back for pillows, blankets, and his dress uniform. I grabbed a few bottles of water, made a quick restroom stop, and was in the truck driving it to the front of the garage within thirty minutes of Jack’s call.
He was outside sitting against the outside wall, butt to the concrete. He heard me pull up, and hopped into the passenger seat without a word. I didn’t say anything. My heart broke a little when I saw the sadness in his eyes.
About halfway there, I had to stop for gas.
Jack handed his wallet over without a word and I used his debit card. I was typing in the pin number when I realized that I’d remembered it. Then I decided that he probably needed to change it. You should do that more than every ten years, right?
Once the gas was finished pumping, I took another bathroom break and grabbed a large coffee for both of us from the Starbucks attached to the gas station. Lucky, too. There is no way in hell that I’d drink gas station coffee. That stuff will put hair on your chest and I was fairly sure that’s grounds for divorce in some cultures.
Jack was in the driver’s seat when I got back to the truck.
I was extremely grateful; my eyes were bleary and I could really use a few hours of sleep before we arrived in San Antonio. Once I was safely inside and buckled in, Jack pulled back onto the interstate and continued his non-speaking routine he’d established the first few hours.
I tossed and turned for twenty minutes, trying to find a comfortable position when Jack pulled one of the pillows from the backseat and laid it across the console. I smiled at him gratefully and laid my head down, finding sleep instantly.
I woke a few hours later to Jack sifting his fingers through my tangled curls. My hair band was conspicuously missing, just as it always seemed to do when Jack had anything to say about it.
I stayed like that for another twenty minutes, watching the exit signs for Kyle, Texas appear before us. We passed them by and slowly came up to the San Antonio exits. We took the one with the blue hospital sign below it and weaved our way through traffic to the busy hospital.
Finding a spot proved difficult. Jack ended up parking nearly a mile away in the parking garage. A shuttle was provided but we skipped it. Walking hand in hand, I waited for him to say something, but he didn’t.
It wasn’t until we were on the elevator that he spoke. “Please stay with me.”
My heart broke for him and what he was about to see, but I held his hand strong. I wouldn’t make him go through this without me. For once, it was him needing me and not the other way around.
The elevator dinged as it opened leading into an open area of the ICU. Exiting the elevator, I jumped when I saw the vast amount of people there. Some wore plain clothes, while others wore the blue on blue fire fighter uniforms. A few cops were scattered here and there also.
They all stood when they saw Jack. They eyed me with curiosity, but I ignored them and led Jack to the nurse’s station. He wasn’t ready to talk yet and I knew he wouldn’t be a very friendly if they bombarded him before he saw his brother.