Page 44 of Accidental Love

“She isn’t, actually.” Where could she be? She couldn’t have left for somewhere else already right? My one fear was that Jenna would leave New York. Then I wouldn’t be able to find her. My heart sunk, as did my head. “But she is at the diner,” Candy said a second later.

“Diner?” I perked up, standing straighter.

“Yeah the diner where she worked, or works, I guess. She got her old job back at Ruby’s.”

Oh right, the diner! I forgot she worked there before she moved in with me.

“Where is it?” I demanded. “Sorry, I mean, do you know where it is?” I noticed she was trying hard to fight a smile.

“Yeah, I do. It is about three blocks from here. When you leave the parking lot here, turn left and it should be on the right hand side and down a little ways,” she instructed. Just as she finished, another voice piped in.

“Liam!” I looked down and saw Sky standing there grinning at me, showing her two front teeth. “Are you here to take Wenna away to your castle?” Sky asked. I quickly glanced up at Candy, who just grinned. Sky’s blonde hair was sticking everywhere in her two pigtails, and she was wearing an Elsa shirt and matching blue skirt. Her doe-like blue eyes were staring up at me expectantly, awaiting my response.

“I am,” I said.

“Good, because she has been crying a lot wately. She needs her pwince.”

I couldn’t fight my grin any longer.

“Well, her prince is here to save her. I would love to stay, but I have another princess to go see. Thank you, Candy,” I said sincerely. With another smile toward Sky, I turned and quickly made it down the stairs back to the car. Hopefully Julie was still here.

“Bwe, Liam!” I heard Sky yell. I smiled, then spotted Julie’s car parked in the same spot. Quickly I made my way over there and jerked the door open. Julie yelled and hit me for frightening her. I ignored her and buckled in.

“Ruby’s diner! Three blocks away. Take a left right up there and it will be on the right hand side,” I said quickly, remembering what Candy said. Julie didn’t even question me as she backed out of the parking spot and headed in the direction I mentioned. Please be there, Jenna. Please be there.

***

Jenna

“I’m going to fight for Liam. You two are right. I need to be selfish for once in my life,” I said. As soon as I said it, I felt a wave of determination wash over me.

“Really?” Devon asked, sitting up and grinning at me.

“Yes.” I had never felt so sure of something before. I was going to go get Liam, even if his mother didn’t want me to. I deserved to be happy for once in my life. Liam made me happy and I couldn’t just let him slip away when I had a chance to have him.

“Good! Are you going to go to the hospital then?” Grayson asked.

“Yeah, I just hope he is still there.” I glanced around, looking for the other waitress. I didn’t care if my shift didn’t end for a few more hours. Pete, the owner, would understand. Plus the other girl was here, so it wasn’t like I was leaving the place unattended. The next rush wouldn’t come until five or so, and by then, I would be gone anyways.

“Stacey!” I yelled across the diner. Her head snapped up from a table. “I have to go. Sorry to leave you here, but Monika should be here in an hour or two. Sorry,” I said one last time before getting off my stool. I quickly made my way to where I kept my bag, all the while taking off my apron. Behind me I could hear Stacey protesting about me leaving, but I ignored her.

As I set my apron down and grabbed my bag, I looked around quickly to make sure I didn’t leave anything. With everything in my hand, I turned back around. Devon and Grayson stood there grinning widely at me. I just noticed that they were both wearing matching sweaters and pants. Relationship goals.

“Okay, wish me luck, you guys,” I said, starting to feel slightly nervous even though I wasn’t even at the hospital yet.

“Good luck, Jenna,” Devon said, grabbing me and pulling me into a tight hug. Pushing back the pain, I hugged him back before pulling Grayson into a hug as well. They both were way taller than me, so my forehead hit their collar bones.

“Good luck,” Grayson whispered in my ear. As I pulled away and grinned at them, the bell dinged once more. I ignored the sound as I stepped back, getting ready to head out the door. Still looking at both guys, I heard my name being called softly by the front door. The sound of the voice had me instantly pushing past Devon and Grayson.

Standing no less than three feet away from me was none other than Liam Stanford, the man who I was supposed to be leaving to go see. What is he doing here? I wondered as I took him all in. I noticed he was wearing a dark blue cast that was in a sling, and a simple white t-shirt and jeans. His brown hair was disheveled and looked dirty, like he hadn’t showered in a few days. But none of that mattered. Here he was, staring back at me.

We stood there for a good few minutes just staring at one another. I took him in as if he was the last drop of water in a desert. I could feel him doing the same to me. It felt like I hadn’t seen him in so long, and now that he was here I didn’t know what to do. All different kinds of questions flashed through my head. What is he doing here? How did he get here? Shouldn’t he still be in the hospital? After those questions came the mental yelling. He was here! He came back for me! He wasn’t angry! It was like a battle scene in my head.

“Liam,” I breathed. The moment his name passed my lips, it was like time had started again. Not caring that Stacey was staring at me or Devon and Grayson, I felt my legs moving underneath me. In a matter of seconds I had thrown my bag to the ground and was running toward him. Everything else faded away.

My body crashed into his a second later, almost knocking him down. His good right arm wrapped itself around my waist tightly as I wrapped mine around his neck. I pushed my body hard against his, shoving my face into his chest. I felt his head dip down to my shoulder as he hugged me against his body. Instantly tears came to my eyes and my body shook. My grip continued to tighten around him, probably hurting his neck, but I didn’t care. Liam was here, in person, hugging me. Liam didn’t seem to care about the pain either, as he held me just as tight.

“Jenna,” I heard my name being chanted softly into my shoulder. My tears soaked through his white t-shirt as I cried against him. His scent wrapped around me, making me cry harder. Even though I could tell he hadn’t showered in a little while, I couldn’t have cared less. I had missed everything about him. I missed how my body fit perfectly with his. I missed his smell and touch. I missed him.

---