Page 27 of Blinded By Forever
Junior and Easton are on the couch, playing Mario Kart, yelling at the TV, their voices overlapped with chaotic joy. I’m on the couch with my legs curled under me, smiling to myself while working on my laptop.
I have written two chapters today despite all of the noise and chaos happening.
It’s been a day since Natalia came over with Lilah. They are staying in a hotel nearby although I told them they are more than welcome to sleep over in the guest room. But they already got the hotel booked and they didn’t feel like canceling it.
I haven’t heard from Hayden since he texted me late last night. He said that if everything goes well today, he should be home tomorrow and all I’m thinking about is having him in my arms again and being the family we were before he got involved with Killian again.
Things were pretty calm today, the usual calm at least in my opinion.
Natalia and Lilah are coming over tonight for dinner but until then, the kids kind of just did whatever they wanted today which was play video games and for River it was just running around the house and begging her brothers to play with her.
My phone rings and I look down to see if it’s Hayden.
It’s not, it’s Rowan.
I stare at it for a second too long, heart doing that tight, painful squeeze as if something is wrong.
Rowan never calls unless it’s to see how me and the kids are doing or if it’s regarding Hayden.
“Hey,” I answer, trying to sound normal like my stomach isn’t already shrinking.
“Jaclyn.” His voice is calm, too calm. “Hayden’s been hurt.”
Everything around me drops out of focus.
“What?” my voice cracks.
“He was shot. In the stomach. He’s stable but unconscious. He’s at a hospital here in Oakland. I thought you’d want to know right away.”
I move my laptop and get up from the couch. “Is he-” I can’t get the words out as my lungs tighten.
“He’s alive, just in a light coma. Doctor says it’s a waiting game now.”
“What happened?”
Rowan sighs. “He called me last night, sounding like he was in pain. I called Killian and got a flight here with him. He’s been sleeping since I got here.”
“Killian’s there?” I ask, my hand clenching the phone in my hand.
“Yea.”
“I’ll be on the first flight there.”
Rowan is about to argue but I hang up on him.
My body moves on autopilot and I dial Natalia’s phone number.
She answers on the first ring. “Hey,” she answers, in her usual cheery tone.
“Hey, Hayden’s been shot in California. I’m taking a flight there right now. Can you-”
“I’ll be over in twenty minutes.”
I force myself not to cry. “You’ll stay with the kids for me?”
“Of course. Go be with my brother and make sure he stays alive and comes home. I’ll grab my bags and check out of the hotel early for you.”
“Thank you, Nat. I appreciate it a lot, seriously. You have no clue.” I hang up and go to the living room. “Kids.” All three heads turn to me, confused at the tone in my voice. “Natalia is going to be staying here to watch you guys while I’m gone.”
