Only Trick (45 page)

I love that
we’re the couple that stays tangled in each other’s bodies all night. I love the way he fists my hair like he’s holding a security blanket when I bury my face in his neck. I love that he still wakes up most nights with his head wedged between my legs, like I’m a midnight snack, and that less than ten minutes later were both sated and right back to sleep, not feeling the least bit exhausted from it in the morning.

Slipping out of bed, I try to sneak out before he wakes.

“Darby,” his groggy voice calls.

“Go back to sleep. You’re not supposed to be awake. I’m going to surprise you with breakfast in bed. Just pretend this conversation never took place.”

His lips pull into a barely detectable grin, but he doesn’t open his eyes. I make quick work of toast and eggs while noticing on my phone I have thirteen missed calls from Tamsen and one message and another missed call from Jade. She’s probably wondering what to do with the stuff in my locker. I smile as I listen to Tamsen’s message while I butter and jelly our toast. I bet she’s dying to see my ring. I didn’t mention it’s a tattoo.

“Sweetie it’s me. I’ve been trying to reach you and Trick. Darby … I don’t know if you’ve heard or had the TV on …” The shakiness in her voice sends chills down my spine and when she pauses I hold my breath. “There’s been an accident. And since I haven’t heard from either you or Trick, I assume you haven’t been contacted yet. Your family’s been in a car accident. I don’t know all the details yet or their conditions, but it’s all over the news and it appears to be pretty serious. So call me and let me know when you get this message. Grady and I are both getting flights to Chicago; we’ll probably be there before you and Trick. I’m so sorry … I didn’t want to leave a message but I don’t know what else to do. Call me.”

With shaky hands and my heart in my throat, I listen to the message from Jade.

“Darby, it’s Jade. Your family’s been in an accident. I need you to call me as soon as you get this message.”

My phone crashes to the ground. “Oh my God …” The words are barely a whisper. I can’t speak; I can’t breathe. Thankfully my legs work without my brain, taking me up the stairs and straight into the closet to get my suitcase.

“Darby?” Trick calls but I’m still at a loss for words. “What are you doing?” He stands at the door, watching me toss random items into my suitcase. “Darby!”

I jump and look up, with one blink the flood gates open.

“Baby, what is it?” He hunches next to where I’m kneeling on the floor and pulls me into his body.

“The-there’s b-been an a-accident,” I sob. “I n-n-need to g-get home.”

“What happened?”

“C-car accident. I-I have to g-go.” I wriggle out of his hold.

He stands, lifting me to my feet. Then he bends down to look in my eyes. “Get dressed. I’ll pack our stuff and get our tickets. Okay?”

I nod, my lower lip trembling.

*

Everything’s a blur
until we land at O’Hare. I’m certain Trick has had to drag me everywhere until this point. I’ve seen him on his cell phone and mine too, but I haven’t been able to formulate the words to ask who he’s talking to, and there’s been this eerie silence in my ears. I see people’s lips moving, but it’s as if someone hit the mute button.

When we get to the hospital, I don’t wait for Trick or help him with our luggage. I fly through the emergency room doors, straight to the nurses’ station.

“Darby.” Jade sees me before I reach the counter. She pulls me into her arms “I’m so sorry.”

I pull back, confused by her somberness.

She looks at me then something over my shoulder catches her eye and she gives a small nod. I turn.

Trick takes my hand and pulls me aside so we’re not standing in the middle of the normal chaos. He cradles my face and takes a deep swallow. “Darby …”

I blink releasing tears because he’s scaring me.

“Your father didn’t make it.”

I swallow and just … stare. The voices around me are nothing more than distant echoes. “Where’s Nana?”

Trick furrows his brow. “She’s upstairs. Her injuries were minor.”

I turn and head for the elevators.

Trick catches up to me just as the elevator doors close.

“Darby, look at me.” He grabs my arms. “Did you hear what I said?”

I nod as the elevator doors open. “What room is she in?”

Trick shakes his head as I once again pull away from his grip. I get Nana’s room number and run down the hall. Her friend, Mary, is sitting in the chair next to her bed.

“Darby.” Mary frowns with sympathy in her eyes.

“How is she?”

“She’s fine, just a concussion and a few minor cuts and bruises. Doctor said she can go home tomorrow morning.”

Mary rests her hand on my back as I watch Nana sleep. “Sweetie, I’m so very sorry about your father.”

“When was she last awake?”

“What?” Mary asks looking at me and then at Trick.

“Has she eaten anything today?”

“Uh … well, yes.”

Trick’s hand slides up my back underneath my hair, and with gentle strokes he massages my neck.

“You must be Trick?”

“Yes,” he answers.

“Hi, I’m Mary.”

“Nice to meet you.”

Mary steps back. “I’m going to go get some coffee. Can I get either of you anything?”

I don’t respond.

“We’re fine, thanks,” Trick replies.

“What happened?” I whisper.

Mary stops at the door. “They were on their way to dinner and a driver ran a red light. They hit the back half of the vehicle on your father’s side.”

“Nana must have been sitting upfront with the driver. She always sits upfront.” I smile and squeeze her hand, so grateful that she was in a safer spot.

“Grady and Tamsen are on their way.” Trick kisses the top of my head.

I nod. “You should go back with them. I’m going to stay here with Nana tonight. You can come get us in the morning.”

“I’ll stay with you.”

“No, Grady and Tamsen are here to see you.”

Trick leans down, kissing the top of my head. “They’re here for
you,
Darby. We’re all here for you.”

“Nana’s going to be fine. Grady and Tamsen didn’t need to fly in for a concussion.”

Trick starts to say something just as Nana’s eyes creep open.

“Nana!” I squeeze her hand again.

“Darby, dear.” Her voice is rough and weak.

“I was so worried about you.”

She moves her head from side to side. “I’m sorry—”

“No, it’s fine, Nana. I’m just glad you’re okay.”

“It was my idea … to go to dinner … he didn’t want to go.”

I shake my head. “Shh … it’s fine, you’re fine. The doctor said you can go home tomorrow. I’m staying with you tonight.”

She narrows her eyes, looking past me to Trick.

“Hi, Grace. Glad to see you’re doing well.”

I turn to look at Trick. His expression is hard to read. It’s like the two of them are saying something that they’re not actually saying.

“We’ll get you home tomorrow and you and Darby can spend some more time alone…
talking
.”

Nana nods, squeezing my hand, her eyes glassy with tears. “Yes, dear, tomorrow we’ll talk.”

G
rady texts me
that he and Tamsen are in the waiting room, so I excuse myself. Turning the corner from Grace’s room I’m greeted with Rachel. She freezes, all color draining from her face. Just as quickly as it disappears it comes back. She glares at me. I don’t think she’s waiting for me to give my condolences.

“Visitors are restricted to family only,” she sneers.

“I was visiting my
wife’s
grandmother.” I hold up my left hand and point to the tattoo on my ring finger.

The color leaves her face again as she averts her eyes, brushing past me.

“By the way …” I turn. Her jaw’s clenched, eyes squinted at me. “I know what you’re doing and you’d better knock it off or I’ll bury you. Got it?”

I don’t “got it” or “get it” for that matter, but I’m not going to let her know it. “Darby’s in there. I don’t think she wants to see you. Besides, I think I’m actually considered family more than you are, given recent events.”

Her jaw drops.

There’s your fucking condolences, bitch!

*

“Hey …” Tamsen hugs
me. “How’s Darby?”

“In denial.”

“What?” Grady hugs me too.

“I told her about her father and several other people have tried to comfort her, but she won’t even acknowledge that anything about him is being said, let alone that he’s dead. Her only focus is Grace.”

“That’s not good,” Grady grimaces.

“No, but Grace goes home tomorrow and I’m hoping if they spend some time together Grace will be able to help her acknowledge and accept what has happened.”

“She’s in shock, that’s all.” Tamsen hands me a bottle of water.

“Yeah, I suppose.”

“We saw Rachel Hart walk that way, then she left as quickly as she came.” Grady sips his coffee. “We met years back, but I’m sure she doesn’t remember me, otherwise I would have given her my condolences.”

I shrug, gulping down the remainder of my water. “Don’t sweat it. I gave her condolences from all of us.”

Grady raises a suspicious brow. “Must have been why she was leaving so fast.”

“Hmm … I hadn’t noticed.”

I
insist Trick
go home with Grady and Tamsen. They all look me over with a careful eye. I glance down at myself. I got dressed in a hurry, it’s possible my clothes don’t match.

“What?”

Both Grady and Tamsen hug me before walking out of the room.

“Nothing, baby.” Trick pulls me into his arms, leaning down to nuzzle his nose in my hair. “I love you. Call me if you need anything. Okay?”

I nod, then he presses a soft kiss to my lips. “Goodnight.”

“Night.” I smile.

Nana eats her dinner while I sip a Green Lantern, compliments of Jade.

“So what do you want to talk about?” Nana asks.

I shrug, then hold up my left hand with a smile. “Trick decided to forego the traditional diamond and permanently mark me instead.”

Nana grabs my hand and laughs. “My Darby has a tattoo. Never thought I’d see that day.” She winks. “But I’m glad I did.”