Page 97 of Somebody to Save
“I was going to come get you, but we’ve been really busy. It’s been vibrating constantly since it turned back on.”
My heart plummeted, and I couldn’t grab my phone from him quick enough. I didn’t move from my spot, just spun around and peered down at the screen. My notifications were flooded with missed calls and texts. With shaking hands, Ipressed the first notification my finger landed on, which was a text that sent my heart into freefall.
Like I was floating above my body, I looked up and immediately locked eyes with Beckett across the room. Like he instinctually knew something was wrong. I could feel my legs giving out, and I tried to stop it, but I didn’t have control over my body anymore.
Later I’d be embarrassed about possibly making a scene, but I was too in my head to consider that now. My arm fell, and my phone slipped from my fingers as Beckett broke out into a sprint across the room.
He caught me just before I hit the floor.
FORTY-SEVEN
SOMEONE WAS MISSING
Beckett
I promisedAddison her heart was safe with me, but I was watching it break right in front of my eyes. And there was nothing I could do to mend it.
When I spotted her across the dance floor, all the color drained from her face, and my heart dropped. Her legs gave out, and I caught her just before she collapsed. She was so pale, and her expression was nothing I’d ever want to see again marring her beautiful features.
It hadn’t taken long to realize what was wrong. She was almost catatonic as I held her and scrolled through her notifications.
Nana was gone.
Nothing in that moment mattered more than taking care of my baby girl. My parents were very understanding when I quickly explained why we were leaving. They’d all but shoved me out of the room and expressed their condolences to Addison. I don’t think she heard them, though. She was utterly silent and expressionless throughout the entire drive to her grandmothers’ house.
With my hand resting on her thigh, I tried to show my support because no words felt right in the moment. I grew more and more concerned the closer we got to the house. She didn’t say anything and barely even blinked.
When I pulled up outside, I saw one single tear fall in the dim streetlight.
She didn’t speak as she threw open her car door and climbed out or when she went straight inside, past Mary and into their bedroom, where Grams was sitting on the bed next to Nana’s still body.
It wasn’t until she rounded the bed and dropped to her knees beside her grandmother that she began to really cry. She laid her head onto the bed and grabbed Nana’s hand, holding it tightly in her grip as she sobbed into the sheets.
And there wasn’t a fucking thing I could do to take away that pain. It was a broken, brutal sob that I could feel through every inch of my body.
Grams reached over and placed a hand on Addison’s shoulder and held her wife’s in the other. I brushed away the few tears that fell and felt Mary stop beside me. She pressed a comforting hand against my arm, and I gave her a weak smile.
“I called the coroner, but they won’t be here for another half an hour. They all have time to say their goodbyes,” she whispered. “And whenever Addie’s ready, you can tell her that Helen passed peacefully in her sleep. And that we spent the evening talking about her favorite memories with Addie.”
Unable to form words, I just nodded, and she understood.
Addison and Grams sat by Nana’s side until the coroner arrived. When she finally stood from where she was crouched beside the bed, her makeup was running down her face and her eyes were bloodshot. When the coroners entered the room, Addison placed one final kiss on Nana’s forehead and made her way over to me, where she collapsed into my arms once again.
It was painful to watch them wheel away the body of such an inspiring, spitfire, and kind woman. One I would have givenanything to get to know more, but one I was so grateful to know at all.
Addison sobbed into my chest, and I held her as tight as I could. I’d be strong enough for both of us for as long as she needed.
Grams followed the coroners out of the house and stopped to speak to Mary. Grams was stoic, whispering to the coroners and holding it together long enough to make sure everything was right.
The house was eerily quiet. And like something—or better yet,someone—was missing.
FORTY-EIGHT
SOMEBODY TO LOSE
Addison
I wokeup with a pounding headache. One that put all my previous hangovers to shame.
