Page 68 of All Because I Found You

“Not surprised. Raelyn is headstrong,” Sergio said. “You’ll never win a fight with her.”

Ryder thought back to the first time they met and how persistent she had been. He thought about how she sat there in her little bikini, how she sang nonstop for hours, how she danced in the sprinklers.

“The EMTs showed up and put her into the ambulance, and I came straight here. No one has told me a damn thing since.”

“She wasn’t conscious when you saw her?”

Ryder shook his head. “No.”

“Fucking Robbie didn’t tell me that. Just said she’d be in an accident, and I needed to get here.”

Sergio fell into the chair beside Raelyn’s parents, his head falling into his hands.

“Raelyn is strong. She’ll be okay,” Adalina said, but even Ryder could detect the doubt in her tone.

The doors opened and everyone jumped up. A doctor glided out and Ryder noticed a tiny bit of blood splattered on his scrubs. Was it Raelyn’s?

“Are you here for Raelyn Shaw?”

Ryder swallowed, the world spinning around him as the doctor moved closer to them. His knees weakened and just when he thought he was going to pass out, Sergio cupped his shoulder and held him in place.

Chapter 26

Raelyn awoke with a killer headache. She lifted her arm, but it was tied down to a million wires. What in the world? Her other arm hurt like hell and was weighed down by what felt like a cast. She forced her eyes open, and the light momentarily blinded her. She blinked a few times, and when her vision cleared, she immediately saw Ryder. His eyes were closed, arms crossed over his chest, leg kicked up on his knee. He looked like hell, and she imagined she didn’t look much better. She grabbed a small carton of orange juice that was beside her and chucked it at his head.

“What the—” He jolted up right and dropped to his knees next to her. “Oh, thank god.”

“How’s the baby?”

He closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, a tear slid down his cheek. She braced herself for his words. The baby had been unexpected, but in the few days she learned of its existence, she already loved it.

His hand brushed her hair off her face. “The baby is just fine.”

She punched his shoulder with her cast free arm. “You jerk. I thought you were going to say—” Her words cut off, unable to say them. She leaned her head back. “Thank God.”

Ryder kissed her, then rested his forehead against hers. “I thought I lost you. Both of you.”

“Both of us? I thought you didn’t… you didn’t want…”

“I’m an idiot.”

“Tell me something I don’t know.” She smiled, but the gesture sent sharp pains through her brain. “Ouch.” She pressed a hand to her temple.

“You’re pretty banged up.”

“I can tell. How’s the other driver?”

“The asshole is lucky to be alive.”

She shook her head, even though the effort hurt like hell. “No. It wasn’t their fault. I remember. I was so angry. I remember looking, but then when I pulled out. I must not have seen them.”

“He was high and speeding. You did nothing wrong.”

“Do my parents know?”

He nodded. “I met your entire family.”

Her eyes widened. “Entire?”

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