TYSON CAINE: Book 1 in the Brothers in Arms Series (Brothers in Arms Book 1) (20 page)

“You also have a punctured lung from one of your ribs, so we will be prepping you for surgery shortly,” he adds. I gaze over at Brooklyn, who looks extremely worried.

“But on a positive note, I believe you saved your quarterback's ass, and he scored the winning touchdown,” the doctor adds surprisingly, and I nod and chuckle.

“Why, yes sir, I did all that, and this here is my brother, the quarterback,” I tell him pointing at Tyler. I’m sure he will love the attention.

He shakes Tyler’s hand. “Good job, son,” he tells him. It then that I realize he should be celebrating.

“Hey, bro, get outta here! You gotta go celebrate our win!” I shout at him feeling annoyed I’m stuck here while they get to celebrate. “Have a few beers for me,” I proclaim as I think about lying here alone while everyone else is partying and having fun.
Depressing.

“Only if you are sure. I’m glad you are okay, Tyson. I was worried, bro. You really saved my ass again,” he exclaims to me, and I smile at the brotherly words exchanged.

“I would do it again in a heartbeat, bro,” I declare as we high five, and he hightails his ass off to the victory party.

“I can’t believe he is actually leaving, but it is Tyler, after all,” Brooklyn says looking unimpressed with Tyler.

“You are all the family I need in the world, Miss Waters,” I declare still feeling high and trying to avoid thinking about the surgery ahead.

Exams are done and dusted, thank God for that. I really feel like burning all my textbooks—I’m that over all of the studying and hard work. Unfortunately, it does mean that it’s time for my girl to leave.

“I can’t believe you are leaving today, Brooke. I know it’s a fantastic opportunity in New York, but I will miss you like crazy,” I say feeling a lump form in my throat.

It’s been hard work with rehab since the big game. My surgery went well, and I’ve fully recovered, though my shoulder still hurts like a bitch at times. Nothing will compare to Brooklyn moving across the country. Her two-hour flight is nothing really, but it feels like a million miles.

“My summer will be dark and dismal without you here. How will I cope without you, Brooklyn?” I question her as the day is finally here when I have to say good-bye.

“What about me, Ty? How will I cope without you?” she pleads. “At least you have your brothers, Jake, and the other boys on your football team. I’ll be in a brand new school, have new classes, and won’t know anyone,” she says, and I can tell she is getting more upset by the minute. “I won’t even have Cassie.”

“It’s so scary to start fresh. I love to dance, and this is a once in a lifetime opportunity, but man, it’s daunting,” Brooklyn tells me as we load her bags into her dad’s car. He has insisted he is driving her to the airport, and honestly, I think it’s best. I would be a mess if I had to say good-bye to her there and then drive back.

“You will be fine, Brooke. You are the strongest woman I know,” I state to her truthfully. “Plus, in a few months, we will see each other. We can do this,” I say to her putting on a brave face for her. This is her dream, and I will support her no matter how hard it may be.

We spent a beautiful night together last night. We had a romantic dinner and her dad let her spend the night at my place. We made love three times. God, I’m going to miss kissing her and her smoking hot body. But most of all, I will miss her sense of humor and the connection that we have. Being around her makes me a better person. The plan is for me to fly to New York the first free weekend we have.

God, I hope it’s sooner rather than later.

****

Life is a series of damn challenges—it’s the way you deal with each challenge, hurdle, or obstacle that defines you in the world. Much like moving to New York, it’s a huge challenge that I need to face alone.

Each decision has an outcome, and whether it is good or bad, it’s all part of the way life works. I’ll take the good with the bad. The good is my fantastic dancing opportunity, and of course, the bad is leaving Tyson and my friends and family.

Since I lost my mom, I have grown a lot. I’ve learned that life is short, and you need to chase your dreams, follow your heart, and do what makes you happy.

Tyson makes me deliriously happy. We laugh constantly, and we can’t keep our hands off each other, even if it’s just to hold hands and caress each other. It’s so sweet. I feel aglow with warmth and joy when I’m around him. I’ve never smiled so much and never had so much fun. It feels like I’m living in a fairy tale. He sweeps me off my feet daily like a cliché knight in shining armor.
Kinda perfect, if there is such a thing. 

Sometimes, I wonder if my mother gave fate a little push that night at the carnival. If Tyson hadn’t made the first move by talking about his feelings, I don’t think it would have happened. He was so nervous. I was in shock and hesitant at his confession, but I had a sudden urge to kiss him, and something told me just to shut up and go for it. The kiss was amazing and secured the deal. We would never be just friends again.

Tyson and Brooklyn—it does have a sweet ring to it. Not doing the surname thing, but Brooklyn Caine does sound like a cool name!

****

When I arrive in New York, I’m blown away by the craziness of the traffic and the hustle and bustle. The thick scent of exhaust, loud horns, brakes screeching—it’s overwhelming.

I’m grateful that I settle into my dorm room relatively easily with Lisa, my roommate. She is an art major, and we get along quite well, although her definition of fun is totally different from mine.

As for the classes, dancing is phenomenal. It’s only been eight weeks, and I have learned so many new dance moves and awesome techniques.

At night, I cry myself to sleep. I can’t get past the empty void of not having Tyson with me. We speak every day, sometimes numerous times, on the phone and FaceTime, but it’s not enough.

It’s been two months without seeing Tyson in the flesh, touching his skin, tasting his lips, and I’m feeling homesick and restless.

God, I miss him.

I’ve decided to surprise Brooklyn. Two months apart is fucking enough. Like seriously, I was missing her like crazy after the first week, and it’s been a slow torture since. I miss her gorgeous face, kissing her plump lips, and just being in her company.

The plane ticket wasn’t cheap, as I went out on a whim and booked a flight at the last minute, but she is worth it. I seriously feel like a kid on Christmas morning seeing her again.

After my flight, I catch a cab and arrive at her dorm. It’s on the ground floor, the window is facing onto the grass area, and I walk over hoping to catch a glimpse of my sweetheart.

What I see is completely unexpected.
A male figure is inside her room. Why the hell is there a male in her dorm? And he is making coffee as if he lives there.

Maybe I have the wrong dorm number.
But then I see her, my angel, my first love, and the one I thought would be mine forever. Brooklyn is smiling broadly and laughing. My heart feels torn in two.

As if she senses me, her eyes find me and her brows lift in surprise. The girl with the sweetest lips, the one who knows my every secret, the one I’ve shared my heart and soul with has destroyed me.

I’m in fucking shock.

“Tyson,” I see her mouth. But to hear her say the words “it’s over” would be too much, I couldn’t bear it. I turn and run like the wind. Away from her and whatever excuse she will give me, away from anymore hurt or heartache.

“Tyson, wait, it’s not what you think,” I hear her call out as she runs after me.
But I can’t turn around. I can’t go back.
Brooklyn is no longer my everything; she has gone from being my whole world to now becoming my undoing.

“There Goes My Baby” by the Drifters is the song that comes to mind.

I’m dying inside.

The pain is excruciating.

I don’t think I will ever recover from this.

I don’t believe in life after this love, no way.

If my heart were made of glass, it would be shattered right now. I feel numb, I can’t cry or scream or react, just numb. My phone is buzzing like crazy, Brooklyn has called me nine times, but I can’t bring myself to listen to the messages.

I change my flight at the airport, and forty minutes later, I’m heading back to Indiana alone, where I will spend the rest of my days a lonely old hermit who despises women.

The flight is dismal and dreary. I could really do with a beer or hard liquor right about now. The plane lands, so I collect my luggage and am grateful I have my truck in the parking lot. I speed off, still dazed and detached from reality, thinking about it being over with Brooklyn hurts like a knife in my chest.

I’m so caught up in my grief I don’t notice the semi-trailer who speeds through the red light. The accident happens so fast. I hear the screeching of the tires, and the smell of burning rubber, as my truck spins out of control.
The crash, the flames, and sirens are all a blur.

I know I was speeding, not thinking. My mind was elsewhere, and my heart was hurting. Then the burning, sharp and stinging pain in my leg, it’s horrendous. I scream in agony.

Whether it’s from the shock or an internal injury, I black out. The next thing I remember is hearing my mother’s voice. “Tyson, I’m here, my darling boy.” I feel her squeeze my hand. I try to open my eyes, but they feel so heavy, and the light stings them making them water. I close them again, unable to deal with the brightness.

“Just rest, Ty. I’ll be by your side,” I hear her assure me, and as always, her calm words soothe me, and I drift off to sleep.

Next time I wake, I’m able to keep my eyes open. I see my mom’s beautiful face and tears well up in my eyes. “Mom, I’m so sorry to put you through this again.”

“No way, don’t be silly, Tyson. I promise you, no matter what, I’m here for you,” Mom insists. “I understand now why you left when you did it, too many memories, and bad memories at that,” I say to her.

“Yes, but there are so many good ones too.”

“Mom, it’s over with Brooklyn and me. There was another guy at her place,” I announce to her. Hearing the words out loud hurt even worse.

“What? Oh, Tyson, I’m so sorry, sweetheart. Have you spoken to her?” she questions me.

“No, and I don’t plan to. It’s unforgivable,” I declare and close my eyes again.

“The new day’s sun will bring you hope, Tyson. Sleep now, my baby,” Mom tells me lovingly.

God, I hope he takes good care of my Brooklyn, whoever the hell this new guy is. I want to kill him, but I would never wish anything bad against her.
Those are the last thoughts running through my mind before I fall asleep.

****

The next morning, the pain is so intense it wakes me up so I buzz the nurse for some pain relief. The sun is shining through the curtains, so it must be after seven. I need to remember to ask Mom for a clock, or even my watch.

I close my eyes to block out the pain; the burn and throbbing in my leg is intense. The knock on my hospital door startles me. I jolt and open my eyes. The stunning blue eyes staring back at me cause me more pain than the second-degree burns on my leg.

The wound in my heart is still fresh and hurting. I even feel tears well up in my eyes, and I’m not much of a crier. I can’t speak. The words I think in my mind are ‘I hate you right now’ and ‘How could you?’ but her answer could destroy me even more.

“Hey,” she says to me in her sweet voice that used to make my heart skip a beat.

I look away from her. This damn hospital bed is like a prison.

“Tyson, I’m so sorry about your accident,” she says to me, and I try to block out her voice. “Look, we need to talk. The guy you saw in my room is not what you think, you stubborn asshole,” she states to me.
She has some nerve calling me that.

“How can you call me names?” I respond angrily and turn my head in her direction ready to blow up and give it to her.

Her gaze catches mine, and then her hand is holding mine. My body deceives me, and I feel the usual spark. “Tyson Caine, I promise you that Chad is my lab partner and nothing more. I swear on my father and Dylan’s life,” Brooklyn declares to me as her eyes bore into mine.

“I love you, Tyson, always have and always will. You are stuck with me until we are old and gray if you will put up with me for that long,” she adds, and she leans in to kiss my lips. She kisses me with all of her heart, showing me what I mean to her, showing me that she is serious about spending forever with me.

How could I be so stupid? How did I ever doubt her?
The one person who I trusted more than anyone, and my ridiculous overreaction has caused me to end up in the hospital yet again, and what’s worse, I forgot just what Brooklyn meant to me.

“I feel so stupid. I made a huge mistake. Can you ever forgive me? I knew all along you would never cheat on me. I just let my mind and anger take over,” I explain feeling so pissed with myself.

“It’s not your fault, baby,” she tells me kissing me again. “It’s my fault for leaving. I never should have taken the scholarship,” she adds, and my eyes widen.

“Don’t say that. It is a fantastic opportunity, and you will be a Broadway star,” I assure her.

“I honestly don’t care about any of that, Tyson. All I care about is being with you. I’ve missed you so much the last few months, and my heart hurts being away from you,” she tells me with sincerity.

“Brooklyn you have no idea how much I’ve missed you. The days have been unbearable.”

“Well, we don’t have to be apart anymore, Tyson,” she declares.

“It’s only eight more months, and we will be together,” I say, and it feels like an eternity.

“I couldn’t deal with any more days let alone weeks or months, so I’m moving back. I spoke to the dean at Indiana State University, and he has accepted me on as a late admission,” she tells me, and I can’t believe what I’m hearing.

She is moving back! No more long distance relationship!
But it’s her dream, dancing is her love, her life.

“You can’t throw away your dream for me, Brooklyn,” I declare to her truthfully.

“I’m not throwing away anything. The biggest thing in my life right now is you and me. Dancing is important, but it’s just something I do.”

“You, Tyson Caine, are a part of me, my every being, the first thing I think about in the morning and before bed. You are that feeling you get when you taste your favorite kind of ice cream. Dancing is a love of mine, and it shapes who I am. But you complete who I am. Without you, I feel broken and like a part is missing. I can dance here, I can and will still follow my dreams, but right now, all I dream about is you, and honestly, it’s been a nightmare not being in your arms every night.”