And Then You Kiss (Crested Butte Cowboys Series Book 3) (19 page)

“Bree Fox? Is there someone here named Bree Fox?” There was an orderly standing by the double-doors leading back into the emergency room calling her name.

“I’m Bree Fox,” she answered, walking in his direction.

“Your sister would like you to come back.”

“Please Bree, tell her. Please,” Jace implored.

She turned and met his eyes, but didn’t answer.

“Are they still out there?” Blythe asked her.

“Of course they are sweetie, and they aren’t going anywhere.”

“They need to. I’ve had it with the two of them. I don’t want anything to do with either one of them.”

“Blythe, you know I am not Jace Rice’s biggest fan, quite honestly, I don’t like him. But even I believe he’s been telling the truth. If he’d known where Tucker was all this time, he would’ve said so.”

“Oh bullshit Bree. Come on. The two of them have been using me in a tug-of-war since the day I met them. Jace saw this as his opportunity to win me over. Tucker’s gone, he’s the hero. God, how can you not see through it? I can’t believe he has you snowed.”

“I mean it Blythe. Tucker called him, and Jace called him back. I saw it all unfold. I watched it.”

“Did you hear their conversation?”

She hadn’t. Jace had stepped outside when he called Tucker. But that didn’t change what she believed to be true.

“Uh huh. Right. Look, it doesn’t matter anyway. Tucker is back, so Jace is off the hook. It makes no difference that I don’t intend to have anything to do with Tucker. Jace can get back to his Romeo cowboy ways. His obligation to take care of his brother’s cast off and her bastard child are over.”

“Blythe!”
Bree gasped.

“What? Tellin’ it like it is Bree. Those two are trouble. I’ve known it since the first day I met them. I knew it was a game all along. My mistake was that I let my guard down and actually had sex with one of them. I’ll pay for that mistake for the rest of my life.”

“You can’t mean that. Blythe you couldn’t possibly think this baby is a mistake.”

“No, not the baby. The baby’s father. We may be tied together by this child, that’s if Tucker doesn’t disappear again, but otherwise, I plan to have as little as possible to do with the man or his family.”

Bree knew Blythe was reacting out of anger, and hurt. She wasn’t being rational, but she was also laying in a hospital bed and had nearly lost her baby. No one should be expecting her to be rational.

“What have they said about the bleeding?” Bree asked, in an effort to change the subject, at least a little.

“They said I have partial placenta previa. Mom said she had it when she was pregnant with me. I don’t understand it, but for now I’m on bed rest.”

There wasn’t anything about Blythe’s condition or pregnancy that was getting any easier. First she’d been immobilized by the surgeries on her leg and arm, now she would be confined again due to the pregnancy. She knew her sister well enough to know she must be going batty from it. She would have been herself.

“Will they let you go home at least?”

“I think so, but they’re waiting to run more tests. I may have to have a blood transfusion.”

Tucker had gone outside to wait. He couldn’t stand being in the waiting area with Blythe’s parents. He knew what they thought of him for leaving. He had his reasons, and seeing Blythe in that bed, knowing she and her baby were still at risk, made him want to catch the first plane right back out of there.

But he couldn’t. This was something he couldn’t run away from, even if he believed they’d be better off without him. At the very least, he had to make Blythe understand why he left in the first place. After she heard what he had to say, she might decide she didn’t want him to stay. It had to be her decision, or one they came to together. He wouldn’t walk out on her and the baby unless he knew it was what she wanted.

As of right now, she didn’t want him there, but she didn’t know the whole story. She needed to know why first, and then he would respect her wishes, whatever they were.

Bree came back out the double-doors. Jace stood.

“Mom, she wants you and Dad to go back in now.”

Paige and Mark went in the doors Bree came out of without speaking to Jace or even acknowledging he was still there.

“This isn’t fair,” he muttered. “Were you able to talk to her?”

“Yes, I talked to her, but I didn’t get anywhere.”

“But you know I’m telling the truth.” He squinted his eyes at her. “Or is this your way of getting rid of me?”

Bree’s daggers were back. “How dare you accuse me of anything, especially lying to my sister? How dare you?”

“Gotta admit, she’ll believe whatever you tell her. You haven’t made your feelings about me a secret.”

“A moment ago, you said something about this not being fair, and right now, you aren’t being fair to me. I’m not a liar Jace Rice. I may not like you, but I wouldn’t lie to my sister to get rid of you.”

He studied her, trying to ascertain whether she was telling him the truth.

“So what did she say?”

“Apologize.”

“She said to apologize?”

“No. She didn’t. Before you ask me what she said, you owe me an apology.”

He hesitated and Bree turned to walk away. “Wait. I’m sorry.”

She turned back and studied him, much in the same way he’d been studying her moments before.

“I’m sorry, okay? I’m on edge, I’m beyond frustrated, but I shouldn’t have accused you of lying.”

“She doesn’t believe me, but I did defend you.”

“And? What was her response?”

“I told her that I saw it all take place. She asked me if I heard your conversation, and I had to tell her the truth. I didn’t hear it.”

“She believes I knew where Tucker was all along. Why would I have kept that from her? It doesn’t make any sense.”

“To win.”

Ah—Blythe believed it was still a game between the three of them. “That’s crazy.”

“I don’t recommend you say that to her, if you’re given the opportunity.”

“No. I wouldn’t. But this is life Bree. There is a baby’s life we’re talking about. And her life. I stepped in because Tucker wasn’t here, because it was the right thing to do, not because I wanted to win a prize. What a low opinion she must have of the two of us to think her life would mean so little to us.”

Jace sat down and put his head in his hands. He’d done everything he knew to do for Blythe, yet she still believed he’d been lying to her, that it had only been a game. He knew his feelings mattered little in this scenario, but it didn’t change how hurt he felt. He’d offered Blythe his heart. Whether or not she could return his love, he’d been willing to give her his, and she still thought he was a player, and nothing more. He wondered what that said about him. He’d spent almost every day of the last couple months with her, yet she didn’t know him at all.

Bree could see Jace’s hurt. He was wearing it right out in the open. It was in his eyes, etched on his face, and in the way he held his body. The truth of it was, her heart was breaking for him. She knew he hadn’t been lying. She also knew he loved her sister. She doubted her opinion would carry much weight, but she’d defend him anyway. He was right, this wasn’t fair. He’d gone above and beyond in wanting to help Blythe, be there for her. Her sister’s dismissal of him was a slap in the face, one he didn’t deserve.

“I’ll talk to her again. I’ll keep talking to her.”

“Thank you Bree. I know this isn’t easy for you.”

“It isn’t about me. It’s about her. And Tucker. And you. I’ll tell her I believe you, but even if she accepts it, nothing much changes. With Tucker back in the picture, she won’t need you in the same way. And she wants nothing to do with him either.”

“It’s his baby.”

“She knows that. It doesn’t mean she’ll want him in her life. The baby’s life, maybe. Her life, I don’t know what to think.”

***

They were moving Blythe up to a room on the OB floor. She’d be in the hospital at least overnight, and they’d reevaluate in the morning. The doctor explained the placenta previa meant part of the placenta was covering the opening of the cervix, which is why Blythe experienced bleeding. Since the placenta was only partially covering the opening, the doctor hoped that as the uterus grew, the placenta would move higher, and the blockage would no longer be an issue.

If that happened naturally, Blythe would be able to resume normal activity. If it did not, he would insist on bed rest for the remainder of the pregnancy.

Since she’d lost a considerable amount of blood, a transfusion was necessary. Bree went to give blood for her sister. She stopped in the hospital waiting room on her way to give Jace an update.

“Did Tucker leave again?” Bree asked him.

“No. He’s outside.”

“You might as well go home. I mean, not home, but wherever you’re staying. Where are you staying?”

Jace had been staying with Billy and Renie. Now that Tucker was here, he didn’t know. He was sure it would be okay, but he wouldn’t want to impose. It might be better for them to get a hotel room close to the hospital.

“Is there any chance she’ll talk to me?”

“Not yet, and honestly Jace, there isn’t any hurry. Why risk getting her worked up right now. Be patient. You’ll get your chance to clear this up.”

“Thanks. You’re being awfully nice to me.”

“Don’t get used to it,” she teased.

It was nice to see Bree smile. Nicer than he wanted to admit. What he wanted more than anything was to ask her to hug him. It sounded silly, even to him, but it had been too long since someone had hugged him. He needed one.

As if she’d been beckoned, Lyric bounded up to them. “What’s the word?”

Bree filled her in on Blythe’s condition.

“Why aren’t you with her? Or Tucker? I saw him sulking out front.”

“She doesn’t want to see them,” Bree answered for her.

“Uh oh.”

“Yep,” answered Jace this time. “She thinks I’ve been lying to her.”

“About what?”

“She thinks I knew where Tucker was.”

“Did you?”

“No.”

“Well okay then. She’ll believe you, when you tell her yourself.”

Jace hoped Lyric was right. Maybe she’d help plead his case too, and Blythe would relent and agree to see him.

“Hey aren’t you supposed to be in Pueblo?”

“Yeah, I called Billy and he withdrew my name.”

“Where you supposed to be next?”

“Crested Butte, to train, in a couple days.”

“You gotta go dude. Can’t be sittin’ around here. That was your agreement with Blythe.”

“Lyric, I don’t care what you or anyone else says. I’m not leaving until I straighten things out with her.”

“Gotcha. So where are you and ol’ brood-monster stayin’?”

“I asked him the same question.” Bree sounded pissy again.

“And what did he say?”

Jace loved that Lyric handed Bree’s pissiness right back to her. Although right now he needed both of them on the same side and in his corner.

“We’ll get a room somewhere nearby. Not a big deal.”

“You can stay with us.”

Jace thought Bree’s eyes were going to pop out of her head.

“What?” Lyric saw Bree’s look too.

“They cannot stay with us Lyric, and before you make an offer like that, you should consider asking your roommate her opinion.”

“Oh jeez Bree, lighten up. Don’t know ’bout this one here, but the other one will be your brother-in-law someday. Maybe you should start bein’ nice to him now.”

“It’s okay. A hotel will be easier, and closer.”

“Maybe you oughta go stay with them Bree, you’ll be closer.”

Jace anticipated that any second Bree would either storm off or tear into Lyric. But she didn’t. She laughed. Lyric had a way about her that Bree responded to. Jace should ask her to give him lessons. The more he was around her, the more he wanted Bree to approve of him, like him even.

***

Blythe needed rest, so Paige and Mark talked everyone into leaving. Everyone but Jace and Tucker, who they didn’t bother talking to.

Jace approached Tucker who was sitting on a bench by the hospital entrance. “Hey man, let’s go find a place to stay.”

“I’m good.”

“They’re not gonna let you hang out on this bench all night. I’ve got some clothes at Billy and Renie’s. I can swing by there, get ’em and then we can get somethin’ to eat.”

“You go on ahead.”

“Tucker, come on. She won’t see you.”

“Don’t care. I’m not leavin’.”

“First you leave, when you shouldn’t. Now you won’t leave, when you should.”

“Shut it Jace.”

“She’s sleeping. When’s the last time you slept? Or ate?”

Tucker didn’t remember, and he didn’t care. He had to get back in to see Blythe. He had to tell her, make her understand. He left for her, to keep her safe. If he knew she was pregnant, he might not have left. He couldn’t say for sure.

“Go, do whatever you need to do. I’m staying.”

“They won’t let you in to see her.”

“We’ll see.”

Renie was at the house when Jace got there. And she didn’t look happy.

“What? And before you answer that, every woman I’ve come in contact with today has yelled at me. If you’re gonna pile on more, save it. I guarantee you, I’ve already heard it.”

Renie walked over to the oven and pulled out a plate, wrapped in foil. She set it down on the counter in front of Jace.

“What’s this?”

“Dinner.”

“Uh, thanks.”

Willow came running toward him, holding out her arms for him to pick her up. When he did, she wrapped her little arms so tight around his neck, he thought he’d choke.

“Thanks baby girl,” he said, pulling his head back a little ways from hers. “You don’t know how much I needed that.”

Willow continued to hold on to him. It wasn’t as though she was always this way with him. He could swear she sensed his sadness and wanted to make him feel better.

Pretty soon she started babbling at him, but he could only make out every other word or so.

“Yes, baby girl. After your bath you can try to talk Uncle Jace into reading you a story.”

“How did you get all that?”

“You get used to it.” She patted his hand, “you’ll get used to it too.”

“I guess you haven’t heard.”

“I heard. Tucker’s back and Blythe isn’t speaking to either of you.”

“What else?”

“Is there something else? That’s all I heard, other than they’re keeping her overnight. I’ll go and see her in the morning.”

“Is that what you’re doing back here?”

“She is my best friend. One who I’ve known my whole life by the way. Would you like to hear how many times she’s sworn to never speak to me again?”

“How many?”

“Let’s see, I’ve known her eighteen years, so I’d say at least eighteen times.”

“None were as serious as this though.”

“What Tucker did was serious, but nothing you did was. She’s strung out. She’ll listen to reason.”

“Will you help plead my case?”

“I heard Bree already did.”

“You haven’t missed much.”

“Best friend, remember?”

“So you think she’ll realize she’s wrong about me?”

“I do.”

“Then there’s the issue of Tucker.” He shook his head. Much harder, but no less important. More important, in fact. “He’s her baby’s father.”

“There’s an easy solution.”

“Oh yeah? What is it?”

“It starts with you and Tucker telling her the truth about what happened on Thanksgiving. Both Thanksgivings. What happened that made Tucker leave the way he did, and what happened that makes him act the way he does.”

“I think he wants to tell her. In fact, I think he wanted to tell her before the accident. She told me they were on their way to ‘talk,’ when the accident happened.”