She hurt, too. It was the one thing she’d wanted to avoid, and yet here she was.
Sporting a damn cracked open heart.
The rain finally slowed to an immeasurable drizzle as they drove back the way they’d come to get to the highway. Lizzy couldn’t take her horrified eyes off the destruction. Houses had taken on up to ten feet of water depending on where they were and how high the foundations were elevated. There were bricks knocked off retaining walls, fences down, roofs missing. Entire streets gone.
“I can’t believe it.”
Jason managed to get them heading north along the coast with no mishaps.
And no words.
“Jason?” She hesitated. “Are we still friends?”
He gave her an inscrutable glance. “Is that what you want?”
It was the least of what she wanted. “I understand if you don’t,” she said softly.
“Really?”
“Yes,” she said slowly, thrown by his disturbingly polite voice. “I realize I’ve confused things, Jason. Muddled up the relationship.”
“Which was…what, exactly?”
“Uh…”
At her inability to put it into words, he let out a breath, revealing more frustration and a measure of temper. She’d finally busted through his infinite patience, which was quite the feat.
“You don’t want to answer?” he asked. “Or you don’t have an answer?”
She squirmed. Okay, so this whole talking thing had been a bad idea. “Here’s the exit,” she said, gesturing to the first off-ramp for San Luis Obispo.
“Code for shut up, Jason.” He got off the freeway and drove straight to the hospital’s emergency room entrance. “Go ahead,” he said wearily. “I’ll find you.”
“Jase—”
“Go.”
Right. She ran out of the car and into the hospital, thinking about his words. I’ll find you. She knew it would always be true. If she needed him, he’d find her. If she wanted him, he’d find her.
Bottom line—he was there for her, through thick and thin and storms and panic attacks. He was there for her for anything.
Who was there for him?
At the registration desk, she was directed to a room where she found her sister sitting up in the hospital bed, wearing a gown and a wrist bracelet signaling that she’d been admitted.
“Lizzy.” Cece’s eyes went bright with unshed tears.
Lizzy rushed forward, so full of anxiety and worry she could hardly breathe as she reached for her sister, hugging her. “You had the baby.”
“Yes. I had her.”
“Her?” Lizzy’s heart leaped into her throat. “It’s a her? Is she okay? Are you okay? Where is she?”
“Right here.”
Lizzy turned toward the tall, built, biker guy.
Holding a baby.
He looked at Cece, who nodded, and then he held the baby out to Lizzy, who took the bundle from his warm, solid arms.
“Meet Hope,” Cece said, her voice soft and thick.
Lizzy stared down at the sweetest, most serene little face, at the perfect bow lips and bright eyes. “Oh, Cece,” she whispered, awed beyond words. “It’s your mini-you.”
“Told you,” the man murmured to Cece, and then with an undeniable familiarity, stroked his hand down her arm.
Cece didn’t sock him. She didn’t shove him away. She didn’t flinch.
Instead, she smiled with her entire heart in her eyes.
Lizzy stared at the admittedly amazing-looking biker. “I’m sorry, who are you again?”
“My angel,” Cece said.
“You’re not the doctor,” Lizzy said.
“No,” he agreed. “I’m Hunter Bryant.”
Cece entwined her fingers in his and gave him a sweet smile that blew Lizzy away. “Hunter delivered Hope,” Cece said.
In Lizzy’s arms, Hope cooed, and Lizzy stared down at her, heart melting into a little puddle at her feet. “Hope,” she whispered, smiling as the baby yawned and stretched.
“Seemed fitting,” Cece said.
Hunter smiled down at the baby, then at Cece. “It sure did.”
“Okay.” Lizzy divided a look between them. “Okay, what exactly happened out there in that cursed storm?”
“It wasn’t a cursed storm.” Cece smiled up at Hunter. “It brought me a miracle. Two miracles.”
Jason appeared in the doorway, looking rumpled, edgy and exhausted. And yet when he saw Lizzy, his mouth curved, the smile reaching those gray eyes, softening him.
And Lizzy’s breath caught. Cece was right. It hadn’t been a cursed storm, not for her, either. Not even close…“Jason, come look.”
Pushing away from the door, he moved close, shoulder to shoulder with her as he looked down at Hope. “She’s beautiful.” He touched the baby’s cheek, his face softening even more into a sweet smile. He looked up at Cece. “Just like mom.”