Page 65 of Blue Moon Love

“He was involved in a traffic collision. The information I have is that Sam was on the side of the highway when he was hit by a vehicle going one-forty.”

“Is he okay? Did you talk to him?” I asked as I pulled my phone out of my purse.

“No. Betty called to let me know.”

I tried to call him, but it went right to voicemail. I hung up and told Taylor, “I have to go.”

“I’ll drive you,” Kane offered.

“No. It’s fine. You should stay here,” I insisted.

“Go. Both of you.” Taylor waved us off. “Let me know when you hear anything or if you need anything.”

I nodded as we rushed back to Kane’s brand-new truck, which was parked by The Barn two blocks down. On the way, I tried him again, but again, it went straight to voicemail.

“He’s not answering.” I heard the panic in my voice as I climbed into Kane’s Ford F150. “When did this happen?”

“I don’t know. I had my phone turned off for the rehearsal.”

I nodded and tried to call Sam again. It went straight to voicemail. I tried to call again. It went to voicemail again.

“What else did Betty say?” I demanded.

“Just what I told you. She hadn’t had an update from the hospital. Do you want me to call there and see what I can find out?” he offered.

“Yes!” I exclaimed. If that was an option, I didn’t understand why he hadn’t already done it.

I was hoping that he’d call on speaker, but instead, he put his air pods in.

“Hi, this is Officer Kingston. My partner, Sam Whitlock, was transpo?—"

He stopped talking, and I couldn’t breathe. Why had they interrupted him? Was that bad? Was that a bad sign? What if it was? What if they were telling Kane the worst possible news that anyone could hear? What was I going to do if Kane was hearing the worst possible news anyone could hear?

Tears filled my eyes.

I’d spent the past two weeks avoiding Sam. I’d been so wrapped up in my feelings and not wanting him to know how strong those feelings were, so he didn’t feel responsible for them. But that all seemed so trivial now. What if I’d just wasted all that time and I’d never told him how I felt? What if he thought I was mad at him?

“Right. Okay. Okay. Sure, this number is great.”

“What?” I asked, before he even disconnected the call. “What is it?”

“They’re dealing with an unrelated twelve-car pile-up with two fatalities and over twenty in critical condition. The E.R. is slammed. She doesn’t have an update, but she’ll call back when she does.”

I nodded as more tears fell down my face. Two fatalities. That meant two people’s families and loved ones were going to find out that their lives had changed forever. I knew it was selfish, but I prayed that their fate was not going to be mine. I just needed Sam to be alive. I couldn’t imagine this world without him.

30

SAM

“If wishes were fishes, I’d be swimmin’ in riches.” ~ Archie “Witty” Whitlock

This morning, when I woke up, I would have never expected that the day would end with eight stitches on my forehead, a dislocated shoulder, and two fractured ribs. I’d always heard people say that they felt like they’d been hit by a truck. Well, I actually had. Let me tell you, I wouldn’t recommend it.

The thing was, I knew it could have been worse. While I was being treated in the E.R., two people flatlined. Two people, I’m sure, would love to be sitting where I was sitting right now. Well, maybe not exactly where I was, which was on Kenna’s porch waiting for her to get home, but whatever their equivalent of Kenna’s porch was.

My shoulder screamed in pain as I ran my hands through my hair. If this were a few weeks ago, I’d let myself in, let Winnie out, make myself at home, and chill on the couch while I waited for Kenna to get home. But it wasn’t a few weeks ago.

Truth be told, I didn’t know where I stood with Kenna or what the boundaries of our relationship were. I did know that I loved her. Right before I blacked out, her face was the last thing I saw. And the second I regained consciousness, her face was the first thing I thought of.

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