Page 16 of Finally Forever
They rush in with a stretcher and medical devices.
Xavier ushers me away from Sebastian.
Tears pour from my eyes, and my cheeks are sticky. I haven’t even brushed my teeth. “Is he okay?” I ask repeatedly in English as they talk in French about Sebastian.
“What are they saying?” I ask Xavier, my entire body shaking.
“They’re treating him. Let them work.”
Within a few minutes, he’s on the stretcher and heading out the door, an oxygen mask on his face and an IV in his arm.
I chase after them, but they won’t let me ride with him. I’m not family. I hate that we’re not married by law yet. I hate that I might lose him. Again. Despite Xavier assuring me Sebastian will be fine, I can’t believe it when he’s not conscious.
“I don’t understand. Sebastian is the strongest person I know. How could this have happened?” I cry to Xavier.
“Get dressed. I’ll take you to the hospital.” He leads me to the bedroom because I can’t think. I can’t do anything but cry.
The sirens grow distant as the ambulance leaves the villa. I race into my closet, pull on clothes, run to the bathroom to brush my teeth, then I’m out the door.
Xavier is waiting in the Mercedes for me. I hop in, sobbing so hard I can barely see. “I don’t understand. I don’t understand.”
We pull out of the garage and driveway, following the ambulance in the distance as it leads the way.
I will never ask for anything ever again, I pray to God.Just let him be okay. Please let him be okay.
7
Ainsley
Xavier hands me a cup of coffee. I sit with my legs bent, my feet perched on the edge of the hospital waiting room chair. I never thought I’d be in a hospital in France. Why would I?
Sebastian and I are both healthy—or so I’d thought. According to the neurologist, his head injury from the accident caused swelling that put pressure on his brain and caused his migraines.
The doctor took him into surgery a while ago to relieve the pressure. He can’t say if there will be damage as a result of the swelling. We have to wait and see.
I hate waiting. I hate being here. I hate that I didn’t force Sebastian to see a doctor sooner. The surgeon said the pain must have been tremendous. Sebastian is so damn stubborn—and tough.
I blame his father for raising him to ignore pain. We wouldn’t be here if Sebastian had had a normal upbringing. But then, I wouldn’t be here if he did. We may not have ever met. Would I give that up to have him healthy and happy? Yes. I would forfeit my life with him and his love for me if it meant none of this would have happened to him.
Silent tears fall from my eyes as I sip my coffee. I’m not a coffee snob, by any means. As long as the coffee has cream and sugar or sweetener, I’m good. This, however, tastes like burned coffee beans and mud.
“How much longer?” I ask Xavier for the umpteenth time.
He sits beside me, his massive body taking up the space of two chairs. His arm rests against mine. I like the comfort and connection. We are all Sebastian has. Xavier cares for him, too. He respects Sebastian.
“A few more hours.” He sips his coffee and wrinkles his nose.
“You don’t like it, either,” I state.
“It’s fine.”
Xavier wouldn’t complain. He’d drink his coffee even if it tasted like tar, I’ve no doubt.
“Do you want something else?” His dark eyes connect with mine. “They have tea.”
“No, thank you.” I set my coffee on the floor under my chair and return to my previous position with my arm resting against Xavier’s warm, muscular one. He must know I’m doing this intentionally and understand I need the connection, no matter how minuscule.
“He’s going to be okay, right?” I’ve asked this a dozen times, too.
