Page 37 of Accidental Love

“Liam, I’m sorry! I just thought that—”

“Well you didn’t think!” I yelled, turning back around to her. “Jenna is probably hurt and only God knows where.”

“Okay, that is enough.” My father’s deep voice cut through the tension. “Everyone needs to leave right now. Liam and I need to have a talk.”

“I don’t want to talk.”

“Well you are going to. Honey, go wait outside, okay?” He kissed the top of my mom’s head before she, Blake, and Lennon filed out of the room. I had forgotten they were there.

“Liam,” my father started.

“I expected better from you, Dad.” I had my back turned to him.

“I knew.”

“You knew what?” I asked, facing him.

“I knew about the deal with you and Jenna,” he admitted.

“How? And why didn’t you say anything?”

“You don’t think I know what my son does? I knew it the moment you mentioned you had a girlfriend. You don’t do girlfriends, and it was clear when I met her. I just figured you would tell me when the time was right.”

“Dad, I—”

“I know, son. I know you didn’t mean to hurt anyone. Your mother is just upset that her son is hurt. What she said to Jenna wasn’t right, and I know she will apologize to her.”

“Dad, I really do love her,” I said, feeling tears starting to appear in my eyes. I never cried, but knowing Jenna left me and was possibly hurt because of me did not help.

“I know. I can tell by the way you talk about her and the way you look. Don’t worry, we will find her. She just did what she thought best at the time, and in that moment, emotions were high. I know she didn’t want to leave you.”

“Jenna was…is the greatest thing to ever come in my life. I can’t lose her, Dad.” A lone tear leaked out of my eye. I quickly brushed it away.

“You won’t. We will find her, but first you need to know something else.” At that, my body tensed.

“What?” All different kinds of ideas flashed through my head in a millisecond.

“The car accident wasn’t an accident. Someone purposely ran into you, and I think I know who it is.”

***

Jenna

Five days. Five days after leaving Liam in the hospital, five days after my heart was completely shattered. Over these last few days I had tried to forget about him, but everything reminded me of him—even the stupid coffee maker in Candy’s kitchen.

I would be lying if I had said these last five days had gone by fast. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d gotten a full night’s sleep. With nowhere else to go but Candy’s, I was sleeping on her couch for the time being until I could find or go back to my old apartment. Just the idea of moving on with my life without Liam made me want to burst into tears.

The moment I stepped into Candy’s place, I bawled. I couldn’t get out a clear sentence when Candy had asked what was wrong. When I finally calmed down enough to tell Candy some of the story, I was sobbing once more by the end. Even Sky couldn’t cheer me up.

But now, five days later, I was all cried out. Huge bags were under my eyes, and my eyes were back to their dull green color. I hadn’t realized how dependent I had become on Liam until I was forced to be by myself. I was used to sleeping beside him and having his heavy arm draped across my stomach. I missed getting up and having him make me breakfast and dinner. Candy and Sky had been great, but it wasn’t the same.

After I cried for three days and lay on her couch staring blindly at the TV, Candy forced me up to shower and at least get dressed. Of course that wasn’t the easiest thing to do with my ribs always being in pain. I couldn’t move around fast, couldn’t sit up or lay down that well, and when I tried to get comfortable to sleep, the pain kept me up. My body seemed to fight the medicine the hospital gave me.

Realizing that I was not helping the situation by crying every day on Candy’s couch, I went back to the diner, Ruby’s, and asked for my job back. Of course the owner, Pete, let me back immediately, and thankfully didn’t ask me any questions. I figured I should be at least trying to move on, or doing something to get my mind off of Liam. My plan wasn’t really working though. I was currently leaning against the counter, thinking about him. I had thought the sooner I got back to my old life the easier it would be on me, but it wasn’t. I didn’t miss working here or at the club. When I was at Liam’s I would sometimes complain about being bored and wanting to work again, but now I would give anything to go back to what I had before.

I hadn’t learned anything about Liam’s condition. A few hours after I left the hospital, the news got wind of the accident and started camping outside of the hospital waiting for further developments. Every morning, afternoon, and even in the evening, they would update everyone. It was always the same thing though. “Liam Stanford is still in a coma but we know his condition hasn’t worsened. The doctors say he should wake up any day now.” Blah, blah, blah. A few questioned where I was, but it was assumed that I was in the hospital with him.

“Hey, miss, can I get some more coffee?” someone yelled, bringing me out of my thoughts. I sighed before grabbing the coffee pot. After I poured the man his coffee, I came back to the counter. The glint of light hitting my ring made me look down at it. A sad smile graced my lips as I stared at it. I was still wearing it, even though I knew I shouldn’t. I just couldn’t bring myself to take it off aside from when I showered. I even slept with it, but I rarely slept so it was fine.

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