You and I Forever (24 page)

“
Call Bentley cell.” I scream, registering Aaron's panic the moment the voice responds;
Calling Bentley cell
. The phone rings through the speakers as Aaron frantically tries to end the call. It only rings one full ring before he finally figures out how to shut it down and the ringing instantly stops.

My phone immediately buzzes to life in my hand but Aaron is already acting before I can react. His hand connects with the side of my arm and my phone flies into the floorboard. I try to make a grab for it but he grabs my hair again, this time pulling me hard to the side so that I'm positioned in a way that I can't even see out of the car window.

“
Aaron please.” I plead, hearing my phone ring over and over again. It won't be long now. Bentley will call Andrea. He will know that I'm not with her and when I continue to not answer his calls, he will come looking for me. Of that, I am certain.

“
Shut the fuck up Anna.” Aaron screams.

“
Stop!” My voice screeches through the car and I pull up with every ounce of strength that I have. I can feel my hair pulling away from my scalp and know that he probably has a handful of it in his hand when I finally manage to escape his grasp, but I don't care.

Pushing against the car door, I try desperately to get the door open. I don't know what I am planning on doing but considering we are still in the city, there has to be a way to flag someone. Alert someone of what's going on. I fumble with the door handle but before I can even get a grasp on it, Aaron is pulling me back again. I swing in his direction, not even sure what I am swinging at just simply trying to fight him off.

He's so busy fighting against me that he takes his eyes off the road for too long. I look out of the window just in time to see my car collide with another car that is parked on the side of the street. The impact twists my car to the side and then it slams into a pole, the collision jarring my entire body.

The moment the contact is made, I can feel moisture on my face and I know I am bleeding, though I have no idea how bad it is or where it's coming from. All I know is that I am scared. Really scared. I try to push back but I'm so disoriented, I have no idea what's going on. My vision blurs and I feel like the car is shifting onto it's side though I am fairly certain we are sitting still. I hear Aaron's voice screaming but it grows fainter and fainter until eventually, it disappears all together.

Chapter

Twenty-Three

“
Anna. Baby. Can you hear me?” Bentley's voice breaks through the darkness but I can't seem to get my eyes open. They feel so heavy. Like they are being held in place by glue. “Anna.” I hear him again.

I try again, managing to get one eye open and then the other, squinting into the lights above me which make it impossible to make out anything. Everything is a blur. Blinking rapidly, I turn my head to the side, immediately groaning when a pain shoots through my entire side.

“
Don't move. It's okay.” I hear Bentley again but my eyes can't seem to find him. It takes a few more moments for my vision to clear enough that when I look up again, I can make out his beautiful face hovering over me.

“
Bentley.” I croak out, my throat so dry it feels like I swallowed sand paper. “Where am I?” I look around, still not able to add up what is going on.

“
You're in the hospital baby. You're okay.” He gently rests his hand on top of mine as he sits down on the side of the bed and turns his body inwards. Suddenly everything comes back. Aaron. Being in my car. The wreck. The disorientation.

My breathing immediately accelerates as I look around the room. “Where is he?” I can't control the panic in my voice but Bentley doesn't allow me to sit up when I try, though I'm not sure I really could anyways. My body feels like it has been run over by a truck.

“
It's okay. He's in jail. The police are wanting to talk to you but not until you're ready.” He reassures me, turning to retrieve a cup of water from the bedside table before facing me again. “Here. Drink this.” He sets the cup in my hand.

Tilting it to my lips, I immediately drain the contents and hand the cup back to him. “What happened?” I ask, relaxing back into the pillow, having no recollection as to how I ended up here.

“
You don't remember?” He questions, cocking his head to the side.

“
I remember being in the car with Aaron but how did I end up here and him in jail?” I question.

“
Aaron wrecked your car with you inside. When paramedics arrived they found you unconscious. Aaron was belligerent and had to be subdued by police before being brought in. Andrea was the first one to arrive at the hospital. They were able to verify what happened based on her and Collin's statements along with the security camera footage from the parking lot outside of the dorms. You will still need to make a formal statement. He's lucky the police arrived before I found you, otherwise it would be me in jail.” He pauses, taking a deep breath before continuing. “You've been unconscious for almost two days. I was so worried that you weren't going to wake up.”

“
Two days?” I take a shaky inhale.

“
You have a concussion, ten stitches on your forehead, a few bumps and bruises, but nothing too serious.” He says, his eyes telling me immediately that there's more.

“
What? What is it?” I ask, suddenly terrified.

“
Well. When you arrived they didn't know the extent of your injuries. They ran some tests and well....” He pauses for a long moment. “You're pregnant.” He says, squeezing my hand lightly.

“
What?” The word rips from my throat and I immediately feel like I have just entered some sort of alternate universe. “I can't be pregnant. I... I...” I start, but he reaches out and gently touches the side of my cheek, silencing me.

“
You are. They estimated you at about three and a half months.” He gently pushes my hair away from my face, his eyes not leaving mine.

“
And it's okay? The baby?” I choke, emotion thick in my voice as I try to blink away the tears welling behind my eyes.

“
The doctor said everything looks perfect.” He says, his own eyes glazing over.

“
But I don't understand. How am I pregnant? They did a test. I have had a period all three months.” I say, trying to make this make sense.

“
I had the same questions. I guess it's not uncommon for women to continue to bleed especially during the first few weeks of pregnancy. The doctor said it's likely that you weren't far enough along to test positive when they did the initial test but based on the time line, you were pregnant when you came in with your knee injury. Which means.....” He stops when I cut in.

“
That I was pregnant in New York and this is that baby.” I say, my hand going up to cover my mouth.

“
When I found out what happened, I was so terrified that I was going to lose you. To get here and learn that not only were you going to be okay, but that we are going to have a baby, I can't even begin to explain the elation I felt.”

“
You're okay with this?” I ask, completely floored by how calm he seems.

“
Are you kidding? Of course I am. Anna, we are going to have a child together.” He smiles down at me, his thumb working gentle strokes against my hairline. “If you weren't laying in this bed right now, I would be spinning you around this room I'm so happy.” He laughs lightly.

“
Let's not get carried away.” I laugh, cringing when a pain shoots through my stomach.

“
Easy.” Bentley holds me in place. “You are going to be really sore for a few days. While nothing is broken, you have some severe bruising.” He says, his smile fading away. “Anna. I'm so sorry.” He breathes, dropping his eyes to where he is holding my hand in his.

“
Hey.” I say, waiting until he meets my eyes again before continuing. “This isn't your fault. There is no way you could have prevented this.”

“
No but had I not come at him at the bar....” He starts, but I immediately cut him off.

“
It wouldn't have changed anything. He was drunk and I was in the wrong place at the wrong time. That's all this was. Aaron is a heat of the moment type of person. He didn't plan this, nor would he have come looking for me had I not shown up when I did.”

“
You called me.” He pauses. “When I tried to call you back, you didn't answer. I knew something was wrong. I could feel it. When I called Andrea and she said you weren't there, I knew. Ethan had just confirmed the location of your car when the police call came through. You knew I would track you.” He smiles knowingly at me.

“
I hoped.” I laugh weakly. “I didn't know what else to do.”

“
It was smart. And brave.” He tacks on.

“
Since when have you known me not to fight?” I raise my eyebrows playfully at him just trying to lighten the conversation.

A light knock pulls my attention to the door just as an older, dark haired nurse pushes her way inside. “There she is.” She smiles at me the moment she sees I'm awake. “How are you feeling?” She crosses to the side of my bed and immediately starts taking my vitals.

“
I feel like I've been run over.” I say, following her finger with my eyes.

“
Close enough.” She says, patting the back of my hand. “You are very lucky.” She adjusts my bed so that I am propped into an upright position and can see around the room.

Bentley stands to the side and watches as she she checks my injuries. I don't miss the way his features tighten when she lifts my gown revealing bruises peppering my entire torso.

“
How's Tina?” I turn my head towards Bentley as the nurse continues to check me out.

He laughs lightly and shakes his head. “How do you feel about Tina number two?” He smiles. “I'm afraid Tina number one didn't make it.”

“
That bad?” I question.

“
I told you.” The nurse chimes in. “You are a very lucky girl.” Bentley nods his head in agreement, waiting until the nurse is finished before stepping back up to my side. “The doctor will be in shortly.” She says, just moments before disappearing out into the hallway.

“
I want to go home.” I turn inward to face Bentley the second the door latches closed behind her. “I don't want to be here.” I say, not missing the understanding on Bentley's face. The last time I was here it was with Patty. That wound is still too fresh. This room brings back too many memories.

“
And you will.” He promises. “But not until the doctor feels you're ready. You have someone else to think about now.” He reminds me, bringing the baby back into the conversation.

“
I still can't believe I'm pregnant.” I say, reaching out for his hand which he happily offers. Twisting my fingers with his, I look up into his beautiful blue eyes.

“
Sometimes life has a way of giving you exactly what you need. Even when you least expect it.” He smiles down at me.

“
Look at you getting all philosophical on me.” I laugh, shaking my head at him.

“
I just know it happens. It's what happened when I found you.” He leans forward, laying a gentle kiss to my mouth. “I know this is scary. I know that it's a lot sooner than either of us planned. But I'm happy Anna. So happy. There is nothing more I want than this. You and me. A family. A life together.” He smiles weakly.

“
Then why do you look like you are the furthest thing from happy right now?” I ask, taking in his sudden sad expression.

“
Because it's not possible that I get to have everything I want.”

“
Why isn't it?” I question. “I'm right here. I'm not going anywhere. This baby isn't going anywhere. I hate to tell you Mr. Reed, but you are stuck with me.”

“
Well I guess it's a good thing that I
want
to be stuck with you Mrs. Reed.” He chuckles lightly when I crinkle my nose at him.

“
A baby.” I say again out loud, just trying to make it seem real.

“
A baby.” He smiles, pushing my hair away from my face just as the doctor steps into the room.

****

“
Knock. Knock.” Andrea's voice pulls me alert just as I start to doze off. Jumping slightly, my eyes dart towards the door just as she steps inside. “Hey.” She says weakly, her eyes puffy and void of makeup. A dead giveaway that she has been crying.

“
Hey.” I clear my throat, pushing up a little in the hospital bed.

“
How are you feeling?” She asks, crossing the room to stand next to the bed.

“
I'm okay.” I smile weakly at her. “Tired. But okay.”

“
Anna I am so sorry.” She immediately starts, but I cut her off.