Always His (Crazed Devotion #1) (23 page)

“I wish you two could make it, but believe me, I understand the military life. We go when they say.” I was a little down that I would be marrying the girl of my dreams without my two best friends being able to stand at my side. It wasn’t like they could just hop on a plane or bus and come to Alabama for the weekend. Germany was a long way to travel from for just one weekend, especially after they’d only visited a month and a half ago.

“Sorry, brother,” Ben said. “But I do have some news.”

“Oh yeah?” I wasn’t sure if I should brace myself for something bad. “What news?”

“I’m not reenlisting,” he replied.

“I know you were debating it. When did you decide?” I asked.

“I’d been thinking of getting out anyway. We’ve talked about that. Besides . . .” He paused, and I detected the humor in his voice as he continued, “I thought I’d relocate to Alabama.”

I couldn’t help but chuckle. “A certain brunette wouldn’t have anything to do with that, now would she?”

The idea of having one of my best friends here in town would be great. But Liz and Ben trapped in the same town permanently? Lord help us all.

“I just need a change, man,” he said. “And some pretty women to look at doesn’t hurt, either. Plus, Luke got transferred.”

“What?” Just like that, the excitement of Ben’s news had faded. “Where is he getting transferred to?”

“Jacksonville,” Ben replied. “He leaves in three weeks. I got four months left, and then I’ll be heading that way too. You need to keep a lookout for a place for me.”

“There’s an apartment available downstairs from our place. I can get you the number,” I assured him as I headed out my front door to get the number on the sign in the window. After I rambled it off, he told me to put a good word in for him with my boss, and I assured him I would do it first thing Monday.

But even as we hung up, I still couldn’t help thinking of Luke. It would be nice to have him closer, but the guy only had Ben and me as family. He’d spent his life living in one foster home after another until he was old enough to join the Marines. When I first met him, he was a hardheaded fool who felt like he didn’t need anyone but himself. It took Ben and me months to break him down, but once we did he became one of the best friends I could ask for. I hated the knowledge that Ben was leaving too and he would be alone.

Visiting him on the base was something I would definitely be doing as often as I could.

“T
onight couldn’t be more boring,” I complained as I sat down in the booth that gave me a clear view of the entrance to Lucy’s. “I already sent Elle home. It’s just me and Greg, and he’s at the bar smashing it on Angry Birds, so that should tell you how shitty tonight has been.”

“Then close down, come home,” Ryker said in a husky tone. “Victoria just crashed, and I’m getting ready to jump in the shower. I could wait for you and we could take one together.”

I wouldn’t lie and say his proposition didn’t tempt me. “I still have some lingering squatters,” I said with amusement. “I can’t just kick them out.”

“Sure you can,” Ryker insisted. “Just tell them your fiancé is horny and it’s dangerous to leave him alone like that. I require immediate assistance.”

“You’re insatiable,” I said with a laugh.

I was just about to tease him further when the front door flew open so hard it bounced off the wall with a thud. There in the doorway stood Keegan with a look of panic on his face, and my stomach tightened instantly.

“Hey, let me call you back,” I said as I began to climb out of the booth.

“Everything okay?” he asked.

“Yeah,” I replied even though I honestly had no idea if that was true.

“Okay, I love you,” Ryker added, but his tone told me he still believed something was wrong.

“I love you,” I said in a rush before I ended the call.

As I approached Keegan, I saw the blood staining his shirt and his dark jeans. His eyes were reddened and glossy with tears. My stomach rolled as panic set in. “Keegan?” I wasn’t sure what to say, what question to ask. It wasn’t like he and I were friends, but I knew him showing up here in his current state meant something was very wrong.

“It’s bad, Nic.” His voice was low, filled with such pain. “The truck came out of nowhere. And he couldn’t stop.” His throat bobbed as he swallowed. “There was so much blood, and he wouldn’t wake up.”

“Keegan,” I whispered as I stepped closer and took his hand. “Please tell me what happened.”

“It’s Tyler.” His lower lip trembled. “He’s been in an accident.”

I may not love the guy, and on most days I wanted to strangle the dumb right out of him, but he was Tori’s father and the man who took part in giving me my greatest gift. I cared for him in the sense that I truly wanted him to one day see the error of his ways. I wished him no harm.

“Where is he?” I asked.

“Marshall Medical Center.” He let go of my hand and ran his fingers through his hair, pulling at the ends. “He wouldn’t wake up, Nicole. And they had to cut the truck apart to get him out.” There was a long pause before he looked back at me and those tears that had pooled in his eyes only moments ago began to fall. “I don’t know if he’s gonna make it.”

The reality of how severe the situation was hit me hard. I nodded and turned to find Greg standing only a few feet away.

“I’ll lock up,” he said. “It’s just Will and Gunther here, and they’re harmless. I’ll lock the doors, and when they decide to call it a night, I’ll be sure they’re okay to drive. Go take care of what you need to.”

He held out my purse and keys, and I nodded as I took them. I turned back to face Keegan and jerked my head toward the direction of the door, and when he swiveled around I followed him outside.

“I’ll be right behind you,” I assured him as I walked toward my car. As I climbed in behind the wheel, my head was spinning. So many times I cursed Tyler for the way he was. I wished he would just leave and stay away, but I never wished for this. I suddenly felt guilty for all the harsh things I’d said to him, even though deep down I knew he deserved most of them. But knowing that didn’t ease the guilt even in the slightest.

I dug through my bag and found my phone, then quickly dialed my father’s number.

“Hey, sweetheart, everything okay?” he asked.

I knew he was referring to the bar, but in that moment I lost it. Tears began to fall as my chest ached. “Tyler was in an accident. Keegan said it’s real bad, Daddy.”

“Where are you?” he asked.

“In my car. Greg insisted I take off, and I’m going to go to the hospital.” I started the car as I tried to calm down.

“Does Ryker know?”

His question only made me feel even guiltier. I was torn between what I should and shouldn’t do. “No,” I replied. “I just need to get there, and after that I’ll deal with the rest.”

There was a long silence before he spoke again. “I’ll be there soon.”

I needed him to be there right then and was relieved I didn’t have to ask.

Tyler and Keegan’s parents were ridiculously unreliable and always had been. They had always cared more about partying and whether their liquor cabinet was fully stocked than if their boys were safe and taken care of. I had always believed they were the source of their sons’ alcoholism and long line of poor judgement calls.

Both Keegan and Tyler learned long ago that they would have to learn to survive on their own, and neither was doing a very good job at breaking the Murphy pattern.

My father arrived shortly after I did, and we sat in the waiting area of the emergency room with Keegan by our side. We knew nothing at the time, just that Tyler was in the operating room and they would update us once they had some news.

Time faded as I stared at the wall across from me, focusing on the abstract painting. I was lost in my thoughts when my dad interrupted me, causing me to jump in surprise.

“I’ll be right back. Did you need anything? Coffee maybe?” he asked. I just nodded, then watched him turn and walk away.

I’m not sure how much time passed, but when he returned with a Styrofoam cup of coffee, I gave him a gentle smile. “Thanks.”

He took a seat next to me and leaned back in his chair. “I called Ryker.”

I turned to him, unsure if the feelings rushing through me were irritation or relief. Him calling had saved me from trying to explain what I was doing here, yet in a way I thought that news should have come from me.

“I told him that in an hour or so I would head over to your place so he could come here to be with you,” Dad added. “He’s worried about you. I could almost feel his need to be by your side.”

“Did he sound mad or upset?” I asked. I had to admit I was worried he would be.

“No,” he replied, and relief washed through me. “But he did ask why you didn’t call him and let him know.”

I had planned to, I really did. But time just got away from me. “Truthfully,” I said as I focused on the cup in my hand, “I thought he would insist I not come.” My father didn’t say anything, only sat quietly and listened. “I know he and Tyler don’t get along, and that dates back even before me. But I couldn’t not come, Dad. Regardless of the problems between Tyler and me, he’s still Tori’s father. And at one time, he was my friend.”