“I really should get back to the office. Thank you guys for stopping by to invite me to lunch.”
“Anytime, and seriously, think about Barbados.”
“I will,” I agree. And I will think about it, but I know there is no way for me to pull a trip like that off. Not right now, unless I went without Dillon, and I’m definitely not going without him. I reach into my bag for money, but Wes slides his card to the waitress as she passes the table. “Next time, my treat,” I say, looking at him, only to have him shake his head in denial. “Whatever.” I roll my eyes then scoot out of the booth and lean over to kiss each of their cheeks. “Call me. We need to set up a girls’ night soon,” I tell July.
At the same time, I hear Wes mutter, “Fuck me,” which makes me smile.
“I’ll call soon,” she confirms, and I send them each a wave as I head out of the restaurant. Stopping at the edge of the sidewalk across the street from the office, I watch Dillon standing in the doorway with his hand up high, keeping the door open and his eyes on the patient he’s talking to. Smiling at the older woman, he nods, saying something to her before she walks off. Turning to go back inside, his eyes catch mine and he grins, letting the door close behind him, and he jogs across the street to me.
“Hey.” I smile once he’s in front of me.
“Did you have a good lunch?” he asks, wrapping his arm around my waist, dropping his mouth to mine and kissing me softly before I can answer.
“Yes,” I breathe against his lips then turn my head when I hear July shouting.
“Oh, my God! You guys are so cute,” she yells as she rushes toward us, out of the café, with Wes following close behind her, shaking his head. “Congratulations, Dillon.” She grins, giving him a hug and making me laugh.
“Thanks,” Dillon mutters, hugging her back with one arm, since his free hand is still holding mine.
“We should do a double date.” She smiles excitedly, looking between the two of us.
“Ignore her. She’s crazy,” Wes mutters, taking July by the waist and pulling her back to his side, then sticking out his hand. “Congrats, man. Welcome to the land of crazy.” He smiles as July smacks his shoulder, and Dillon shakes his hand chuckling.
Rolling my eyes, I see my cousin do the same. “I wish we had time to chat, but I need to get back to the clinic,” she grumbles, looking at her watch then me. “Call me soon, so we can set up girls’ night. Maybe we should have a bachelorette party for you, since you didn’t have one.” She smiles, and her eyes light with mischief.
“Not happening,” Dillon and Wes say in unison, making us girls laugh.
“We’ll see.” She grins then leans over, giving me a hug and speaking softly against my ear, “You guys look perfect together, and seriously, I’m so happy for you.” Tears sting my nose and I hug her tighter. I may not have any sisters, but who needs them when you have some of the best cousins in the world?
“Love you,” I murmur, feeling her arms tighten before she steps back.
“See you two around,” Wes says with a flick of his fingers as he takes July’s hand, leading her toward his bike that is parked a few feet away, near the curb.
“You are not having a bachelorette party,” Dillon mutters, just loud enough for me to hear as he moves us toward the road.
“We shall see.” I grin, stepping ahead of him, then hear him roar, “Nooo!” as his hand holding mine tugs me back roughly. The sudden impact of a car clipping my hip and thigh sends me spiraling to the concrete, where my head bounces, turning everything black.
“You heard the doctor. She’s going to be fine. Calm down. You won’t do her any good if you’re a fucking wreck when she wakes up,” my dad’s gruff voice says off in the distance. My head feels like I got hit in the skull with a bat, and my eyes are too heavy to open. I feel myself start to panic as I try to fight against whatever the hell has dragged me under, but it seems impossible and eventually I give up, letting the darkness take over.
“Baby, you have got to wake up and let me know you’re okay,” Dillon whispers against my ear, sounding worried, and I frown. Why wouldn’t I be okay? Then the pain in my head and side registers, and I remember getting hit by a car.
“Dillon.” Without opening my eyes, I know I’m in the hospital by the smell of disinfectant.
“Finally.” His warm hand rests against my cheek, and my body relaxes ever so slightly from his touch. “Open your eyes for me.” I try. I really try, but they are so heavy. “Please open your eyes,” he murmurs, resting his soft lips against my forehead. I fight against the weight, and my eyes slowly flutter open. It takes a second to focus, but when I do, I find his face looming above me and his worried eyes searching mine. “There you are.” His thumb slides down the bridge of my nose, causing my heavy eyelids to drift closed once again. “Look at me, gorgeous.” I blink back open and look up at his handsome face.
“Fuck.” He bends, touching his mouth to mine. “I love you. Stay awake for me,” he demands, leaning back, picking up the remote attached to the bed, and pressing something on it before grabbing a pink cup with a straw in it and placing it against my mouth. “Slow,” he instructs as I drink down gulp after gulp of cool water.
Releasing the straw, I shake my head then whisper, “I got hit by a car.” I watch his eyes close and his jaw clench.