Page 41 of Accidental Love

Chapter Eleven

Liam

Two more days passed, making it a full week since I’d last seen Jenna. I wanted more than anything to go and find her, but with the doctor’s order to stay here for a little while longer, I couldn’t. If I had it my way, I would have left the moment I woke up. While I was here my father was off “investigating” the so-called accident. I didn’t know if I believed that it was an accident or not. Yes I was pissed that Jenna and I both got hurt, but I was more angry that Jenna was gone. Gone with no word to anyone this past week.

These last few days had been pretty quiet. Blake and Lennon came by a few times to check up on me, and to give me the same news about Jenna. They hadn’t been able to find her yet. My father came a couple of times, telling me about the car that hit us. Even Julie had come in once my parents called her I was up. She wasn’t as hurt as my mother when she found out the truth about Jenna. In fact, she seemed fine with it. And my mother, well, I hadn’t seen her since I’d yelled at her two days ago. I felt bad that I did yell, but it was her fault Jenna was gone. If she hadn’t said awful things to her, Jenna would be right here beside me.

Currently, I was sitting up, staring down at a piece of paper with Jenna’s handwriting. Lennon had brought it with her a few days ago, after going to my house. She said she found it on the bed, along with most of Jenna’s stuff gone. I couldn’t think my heart could have broken anymore after reading the note, but it had. Every time I re-read it, my heart sank lower in my chest.

She wanted me to move on and forget her. Like hell I would or could! How could I just simply move on after being with her? There was no way I could ever forget Jenna, and I didn’t want to. Come hell or high water I would find her and have her be mine again. Even if she resisted, I would remind her. The moment I was free from this hospital I would find her. She couldn’t have gone far.

A knock on the door and the sound of footsteps made me glance up from the piece of paper.

“Liam?” a familiar voice called. My mother’s head came into view a second later. As she came closer I noticed she looked tired. There were big bags under her eyes, and her blonde hair was pulled into ponytail; something she never did unless she was cleaning. I looked away as she came to a stop in front of my bed. I shifted so I was sitting up with my arm against me in a sling.

“Liam, I…” my mom started to say, but stopped. I knew I couldn’t hate my mother forever, but I couldn’t help that I was still angry. “I am sorry.” I glanced up at her. Her expression was pained and I could see tears starting to form in her eyes.

“I know I shouldn’t have said those things to Jenna. I was so upset that you got hurt. This was exactly how I felt when you got really hurt playing football. I can’t lose my only son. Jenna just happened to be the person I took my anger out on. This last week has given me plenty of time to think about what I did, and I couldn’t be more sorry.” She came around to the side of my hospital bed. I watched her, my own heart aching as I saw her start to cry. No one liked to see their mother cry.

“Liam, I am so sorry. I know that doesn’t make things better, but I hope this will.” She quickly wiped away a tear running down her cheek before grabbing a piece of paper from her pocket.

“What is this?” I asked gently, taking it from her.

“It’s where Jenna has been staying.” As the words left her mouth, I was up and out of the bed. Thankfully, yesterday the IV I had was taken out. “She’s been staying with some girl named Candy, about twenty minutes away from here.” I should have thought of that!

“How did you find this?” I asked.

“A mother always knows. Go and get her, Liam.” She sent me a smile. “And don’t worry. I will apologize to Jenna as many times as it takes.”

“But I can’t leave the hospital,” I said, looking around the room.

“I took care of it. Here is a change of clothing, so change quickly and go find Jenna.” My mom handed me a pair of jeans and a t-shirt. Not even hesitating, I quickly stripped out of the PJ bottoms I was wearing and the old white t-shirt; well, as fast as I could with a broken arm. After I was changed and had shoes on, I turned to my mom.

“Mom…thank you.” With one big step I was in front of her, wrapping my arms around her small form. “I’m not mad at you anymore.” I whispered down at her. I felt her relax against my body.

“Make sure not to let Jenna go,” she said, leaning back to look at me.

“I don’t plan on it.” I let my mom go and stepped back. “I love you, Mom,” I said, sending her one last smile before I turned and left the room. Time to get Jenna.

***

Jenna

After my mother left Candy’s apartment, I felt like a small weight had been lifted off my shoulders. I felt lighter and slightly happier than I had over the past few days. Candy and even Sky could tell I was feeling better while we ate dinner. I actually contributed to the conversation, instead of just sitting there silently eating. I couldn’t say that I was feeling one hundred percent better because I wasn’t. There was still a huge hole in my chest that could only be filled by Liam, but I knew that wasn’t going to happen.

I knew that my mother told me I should do whatever I could to stay with Liam, but I just couldn’t see a way. His mother didn’t want me anywhere near him, and at this point, I bet he didn’t want me to either. My life had turned a 360 in a matter of minutes, and I was still trying to land back on my feet. I knew everyone said that in order to have a relationship work you had to stay and fight for it, but how could I when everyone, including me, knew that I would just lose? My fairy tale wasn’t going to have a happy ending. This was real life, where everything didn’t go the way you wanted it to. I wasn’t the princess that would end up with the prince.

Currently, I was staring blindly out at the empty diner. It was two in the afternoon on a Monday, right after our big lunch rush. Today’s lunch rush was so busy that I was fine sitting on a stool with nothing to do for a little bit. I had gotten used to not being on my feet for hours on end, so I was having a hard time trying to adjust. Another waitress was cleaning the tables to pass time, and I made no move to help her. She was slightly new and had nothing to say to me. The only time she talked to me the entire shift was to tell me to get food for a table. She thought I was new and had no idea what I was doing. But after I successfully handled practically all the filled tables, she shut up. I was the veteran here.

I let out a sigh, then instantly winced. I had kind of forgotten my ribs were still bruised and cracked. I have been doing pretty well at not irritating them and wasn’t taking as many pain pills anymore. I was due for a refill in a few days and a visit to the hospital, but I wasn’t sure if I would go. I was doing okay and my injuries were slowly healing. No need to go for another visit and have to pay the huge fees along with it. I still hadn’t figured out who paid for the work I had done, but I was thankful I didn’t have to worry about paying it and working more shifts.

All the money Liam had given me when I first moved in still sat in my bank account, untouched. I was sticking to my word. I wasn’t going to use it. I could have easily spent it and bought myself an apartment and waited to look for a job for a little while, but I didn’t. The money just stood for what I’d done, and I couldn’t have that haunting me. Before Liam, I worked hard for everything I had and now I was going to do the same. Like today, I picked up a double shift, because the sooner I got enough money to get a place, the sooner I could get out of Candy’s hair and start over.

I looked away from the waitress cleaning the tables down to my hands. I smiled softly down at my ring, and ran my index finger lightly over it. The blue diamond shone back at me. I had quite a few costumers tell me how gorgeous my ring was, ask when was I getting married, say congratulations, and even raise the question of when was the wedding. To which I answered, “We want to have a long engagement.” I couldn’t deny the feeling I got when people complimented it. It was a gorgeous ring, and I couldn’t help but feel like I shouldn’t wear it at times—like it wasn’t really meant for me—but I couldn’t bring myself to take it off.

As I kept looking down at my ring, I heard the bell chime, signaling new customers. Glancing up, I froze, recognizing the two figures heading straight my way. What are they doing here?

“Devon? Grayson?” I asked as they came over to the bar, where I was.

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