Page 117 of Reputation
A ragged cry tore through her lips, tears spilling from her eyes.Her hands tightened on Sam’s arms as he held her still.It was all she could do not to rush over to Jax and yell at him to wake up.
Heart in her throat, her eyes categorized every injury she could see, and spun with what she couldn’t.He was so still, with a large gash that trickled blood down his forehead and onto his sharp cheekbones.She needed him to open his eyes, needed to see that he was okay.She couldn’t handle it if something happened to him, and the last thing she’d said was goodbye.
She wasn’t ready to say goodbye.She needed to talk to him again and try to figure everything out—shewantedto figure this out.
“We have to go, now,” one of the paramedics said urgently as they unlocked the wheels and lifted Jax into the waiting ambulance.
“Aaron,” said Sam, speaking to the team’s doctor.“Go with him.I’ll follow in my car and meet you there.”
Aaron nodded at Sam, then glanced at Eavie before stepping into the ambulance, where the second paramedic slammed the doors and made his way to the driver’s side.The ambulance roared to life and started out of the garage, lights and sirens coming to life as they pulled out the bay doors.
Eavie watched the ambulance disappear, and another wave of panic washed over her with Jax once again out of her view.
“Eavie,” said Sam, pulling her attention away.“Let’s go.”
Eavie nodded once before she and Sam jogged down the hallway to the parking garage.They slid into Sam’s Audi sedan, which he threw into drive and pulled out of the garage.
They followed the path the ambulance would have taken to the hospital only a few blocks away.They would take him to Wilson, where her brother had just been hired.It was one of the best hospitals in the world.Jax would be in good hands, Eavie told herself as they maneuvered through the city traffic.She stared out the windshield ahead as silence settled in the car.
She focused on keeping her breathing even, although it threatened to run out of control every time she pictured Jax lying unconscious on the stretcher.She kept reminding herself that he would be in the hands of some of the best doctors in the world.He would be okay.
Sam glanced over at her as he pulled the car up to a red light two blocks from their destination.“Did I ever tell you how Addi and I met?”he asked, drawing her attention away from the bright red traffic light.
Blinking rapidly to stop the tears threatening to fall, she said shakily, “No, I don’t think so.”
Sam turned to look back at the road, a small smile on his lips as he thought of his wife.“We met in university, where we were both getting our MBAs.We started the same year and crossed paths a thousand times.I remember the first day I saw her.I thought she was the most beautiful, perfect woman I had ever seen.Sometimes, in class, I didn’t hear a word of the lecture because I was too busy staring at her.”He laughed at the memory.The light turned green, and Sam hit the gas.“It took me two years to get the courage to ask her out, and she turned me down the first time.She said she didn’t have time to date and needed to focus on graduating at the top of our class.
“In the family she grew up in, she was determined to prove herself.With three older brothers, she had always been the baby of the family.She got top grades and landed her spot in business school without any help from her family.”Turning left, he continued driving through the dark city toward the hospital.“At the beginning of our final year, I asked her out again.She said no again, but I kept asking.Finally, she said yes and…we fell madly in love.After a few months, I knew I would marry her, but she was so focused on completing her MBA and getting a job offer that I knew I had to be patient.Toward the end of the school year, I bought a ring and planned to propose after graduation.
“I received an offer to go to Niagara and join the provincial team on the management side.Addi was sifting through multiple offers to stay in the city.”Sam turned left again at the next set of lights, the hospital now coming into view.“After our graduation ceremony, we went to a party with our friends to celebrate.When we left, we were walking back to her place when I stopped her and proposed.”He drew in a deep breath, shaking his head.“She said no.She walked away from me that night, ring in hand.”
Eavie watched Sam as he told her the story and felt a sadness in her chest, even though she knew they had ended up married.Turning into the hospital driveway, Sam followed the directions to the parking garage.
“A few days later, I was packing up my apartment when someone knocked on my door.I opened it to find Addi standing there, looking just as breathtaking as always.I remember the flood of relief that washed through me at seeing her.She stood in my doorway and told me she’d made a mistake and that she had changed her mind.She said she realized there was more to having a fulfilling life than proving herself to her family.She’d rejected all three job offers and wanted to come with me.We loaded the moving truck two days later and moved to Niagara.”
Sam pulled the car into the first parking space he could find and turned off the engine.He glanced at her as she watched him in confusion.It was a lovely story, but Eavie couldn’t understand why he was telling it to her.
Sam reached for his door and got out, Eavie following suit.After a few steps, he stopped and turned to her.“My point is,” he began, looking her in the eyes, “that it’s okay to take a risk if it means being happy.Addi gave up everything she had worked for to be with me, to have a family and careers we both love.She’s the most capable, intelligent, strongest person I know.I never thought any less of her for giving everything up to go with me.In fact, I admired her even more for having the courage to walk away from it all.She’s built an amazing career for herself, and her decision to be with me didn’t change the fact that she was capable and could do anything she set her mind to.Today, she’s the CEO of one of the world’s top health and fitness brands.”
When Eavie continued to stare at him confused, he shook his head, a gentle smile settling on his face.
“Eavie, you are the best assistant I have ever had, and I admire your work ethic.You have great instincts and a calculating mind.Actually, you remind me a lot of Addi.Nothing is going to change that.But you have to remember there is more to life than your career, and sometimes you need to take a risk to be happy.”He placed his hand on her shoulder, giving it a slight squeeze.“Don’t make a decision on whether to be with someone out of fear.Your job’s not going anywhere, so just think about what would makeyouhappy.”
He smiled at her again before dropping his hand and starting toward the elevator.Eavie stood where she was for a moment, letting what he said sink in.
Was he right?Could she have the career she had worked for, be respected professionally, and be with Jax?She had always thought it would be one or the other, but maybe that was her own insecurities talking.
She started after Sam and rode the elevator to the hospital waiting room, where they found Aaron waiting for them.
“They’ve taken him in for a CT, MRI, and X-rays,” Aaron said as they approached.“He regained consciousness in the ambulance but was very confused.I’m certain he has a concussion, but they’re running tests to see what other injuries he may have.It’s going to be a while before they have any news,” he finished, looking from Sam to Eavie.
Eavie swallowed the lump in her throat.The update felt like a blow to her stomach, and she nearly doubled over.She sat down hard in the nearest chair, dropping her head to her hands.
She sat in the waiting room, Sam next to her, staring at the wall for an hour and a half before someone called her name.Looking over her shoulder, she saw Eric heading toward them, dressed in scrubs and a white doctor’s coat.
She stood up and ran over to him, throwing her arms around his neck.He wrapped his around her waist, squeezing her tightly.
“I heard about what happened,” he said, pulling back.“Are you okay?How is he?”
