Jane's Surrender (Hard World Tour #2) (36 page)

“
I’m pregnant.” Whoa, where did those words come from?

She snapped her eyes at me, shocked, and then smirked. “You should see your face. It’s an ‘Oh, shit, I blabbed’ face.” She took my hands in hers. “You happy about that?”

It was weird to have this conversation with her. It wasn't that we weren't close. We were; all of us were. But if anyone from the band would have been first to know, I always imagined it would be Ariel, because she was my girl.

“
I feel weird, too. I promise to tell you once I’m pregnant too,” she joked, and we giggled.

“
Yeah, it was unexpected.” Boy, was it. “But I’m happy I guess. We are in a good place.”

She nodded. “And in love. Not that bad for a kid. Plus, you’re already married, which makes everything else easier.” Her words made me pause and think.

In love.

I knew he loved me. I had no doubt that he did, but I had reservations about my feelings. I didn't want to name my emotions for him, because they made me vulnerable, out in the open, but the truth was that ship has sailed already.

I loved him. I really, truly loved him, and that made me so happy. The kind of happy I never expected in my life, the kind of happy that probably happens once in a lifetime. The emotions I once had felt for Jeremy were nothing compared to this.

Before I could think anything else, a loud crash came from my side, made me slam back. Sam’s scream filled the car. My pain was so intense that it was impossible to keep my eyes open. Darkness welcomed me.

Ariel

Everyone was sitting at the table having fun, while I wondered where the hell the girls were. It wasn't that it was taking them so long, but I wasn't born yesterday. It had little to do with muffins, and more with the whole Candace situation, who was now sitting next to Jeremy and rubbing his leg under the table, while he tried to push her hand away subtly.

What an ass, and here I thought he was one of the good guys. I really didn't appreciate his behavior toward my friend. And since he was sitting right in front of me, I kicked his leg under the table, and since he wasn't expecting that, he jumped slightly and narrowed his eyes. I was wearing heels, so it was a painful experience for him.

“
Problem?” he asked carefully, but we both knew what that was about. He needed to man up and just claim Sam like a Neanderthal, and he needed to stop bringing his flings, or whoever those women were, to our private meetings.

Before I could voice any of my concerns, Drake’s phone rang and he picked it up immediately. His face paled and shouted at the phone, “Where? How? I’ll be there as fast as I can.” The whole table grew silent and worried looks glanced his way, but he was already running to the elevator, Ryan hot on his heels.

“
Where are you going, Drake?” He tried to reason with him, but Drake kept on pushing the buttons, and it didn't make the ride appear faster.

“
Fuck,” he screamed, and then turned to all of us who stood in front of him. “There was an accident. The girls were inside the car when another one crashed into them. They are both in the hospital and it doesn't look good. That’s where I’m fucking going.” His words made everything inside me freeze in dread and desperation, and for the first time in my life, I decided to pray and beg God to make sure my friends were alive. Losing them was not an option.

It was my last thought before my body became too heavy for me to hold up, and some strong hands grabbed me from behind as I was slowly claimed by the numbness inside me.

Drake

The waiting room was quiet. Only the ticking of a clock could be heard as everyone sat deep in thought.

I wanted to scream in frustration, to hit something, to do anything, but I sat my ass here and waited.

For some news, for some good fucking news about the girls…about the love of my life. I couldn't lose her. I just fucking couldn’t.

We arrived as fast as we could, and the nurses let us know Jane and Sam were in the OR and it didn't look good. They couldn't give any details to us, so we had to sit in the waiting room and wait, which we had been doing for six hours. For the first time since we had arrived, I raised my eyes from the floor and looked around at our family, and it was devastating to see.

Bella sat on Ryan’s lap, her face in his neck, and her body shook slightly. She probably remembered what happened a year ago with Nick and tried not to sob.

Jane’s parents and mine were sitting next to each other, but her parents were holding each other tightly. Their son, Ben, arrived several hours after us. Her mom cried silently while both males from her family tried to comfort her, but it was evident they were breaking apart as well.

Jeremy was by the window, his arms on the glass, frustration evident in every movement he made. He didn't say a world, but he didn't have to. The women we loved were in there, and he felt probably as fucking bad as I did.

Ariel sat next to me, finally some color back in her face. She fainted back at the penthouse, and the moms made sure to watch over her. She was pregnant, and all this stress wasn't good for the baby.

Baby.

We were supposed to pick up Hope, but that wouldn't be the case. Jeremy called some people and they worked out something with Dad. I had no clue what, and right then, I didn't care, no matter how selfish it sounded. I knew they would have the kid’s best interest at heart, but at that moment, the woman who was the love of my life was behind the closed doors of an OR suite, and that knowledge gutted me.

Eventually, a doctor wearing blue scrubs came out, his face exhausted, and by his expression, it was easy to know he was bringing bad news.

Everyone stood up at once, and we all waited for him to speak up. His eyes roamed over us and he took a deep breath.

“
Who is the immediate family?”

“
I’m Jane’s husband.”

“
I have authority to handle emergencies involving Sam,” Jeremy replied, and the doctor nodded.

“
Do you want to go somewhere private?” He probably wasn't sure if we wanted to discuss it with everyone, but we both shook our heads. They had the right to know it as well, and I had a feeling I wouldn't want to repeat it myself.

“
Right, okay. I’ll start with Sam. Her head took a hard hit. The car was impacted on the side, so they both received massive trauma. Sam has a broken leg and hand, as well as bruised ribs.” Jeremy winced and his face grew darker. “However, as bad as it sounds, those are her less severe injuries. As I said before, she hit her head hard, which resulted in swelling on the brain, and we were forced to operate to relieve the pressure. We lost her a couple of times on the table.”

Bella sobbed in Ryan’s arms, but the doctor continued, “She’s in an induced coma until the swelling is resolved. Sam has another serious injury. One of the windows shattered, sending glass shards into her eyes. Although we removed all the glass, the injury was too severe. She likely won’t be able to see again. Not now, maybe not ever. She’s blind,” he finished, and silence greeted his words.

Blind.

She was fucking blind for life.

“
No, no, no,” Bella chanted. “That can’t right!” Ryan held her once again when she wanted to lunge at the doctor, and we all hurt for her.

Jeremy, red from anger, spun around and hit the wall hard with the roar. “Tell me there is a chance,” he said quietly as he turned back to the doctor. “Tell me there is a chance for her.”

The physician shook his head. “I’m sorry, but at this point, I can’t promise you anything. I know she’s a guitar player, and unfortunately, even the prospects for her hand don’t look good. I hope it will heal properly, but her sight…I can’t promise or predict. We need time for that.” He was silent and it made me restless.

“
Jane?” I asked hoarsely, and he nodded his head.

“
Her injuries weren't as severe as Sam’s. However, because of the crash, she received a violent blow to her abdomen, which was dangerous in her condition. She had internal bleeding and we were unable to save the baby. I’m so sorry.” Everyone grew silent and I just gulped.

“
The baby?” My voice was careful, and his eyes showed surprise.

“
You didn't know? She was five weeks, to be precise.” Pregnant, she was pregnant and never told me. We had a baby, our baby, that was forever lost to us, and I had no idea about it before it was too late?

I felt a strong hand on my arm. I had no doubt it belonged to my dad, but I shook it from my shoulder. No fucking way I needed comfort.

“
There is more,” the doctor continued. “She had an ectopic pregnancy. Basically, the embryo attaches itself outside of uterus. Based on my notes, she never went to the doctor, so she had no clue about it. As harsh as it sounds, your baby didn’t have a chance from the very beginning. She still has one more tube, so there is a chance for her to have a baby, but it’s a small chance. Jane is young and healthy though, so I wouldn’t lose hope. I’m so sorry.” Both regret and sadness were heavy in his voice, not that it made me feel any better.

“
Will you take me to her?” I barely recognized my voice.

“
Sure, let’s go.”

Without glancing at anyone else, or waiting for their reactions or questions, I followed him to Jane’s room and stopped when I saw her.

She was lying on the bed, several wires hooked to her. She looked so small and fragile that it took all my willpower not to break something.

I sat in the solitary chair by her bed, not taking my eyes from her.

She was still beautiful. The doctor left, giving us some much-needed privacy. For the first time, I allowed the tears to come as I lay my head down on her bed and wept.

Our baby was dead, and I felt the pain deeply. Some people might not understand my despair, because it was just a tiny blip inside her, not even the size of a peanut. Nevertheless, it had been there, and then she or he was gone, forever lost to us. My beautiful Jane had less chances at getting pregnant again than most women, and my heart hurt for both of us. Not that it mattered to me, I loved her anyway, and there were other options.

However, as I sat by her, my heart broke in tiny little pieces for what happened, and I mourned for what never would be. She would have been an amazing mother to our little peanut; she had so much love in her to give, and the baby would have been her universe. She would have given everything to that little soul, and just imagining what our life would have looked like if the baby stayed with us gutted me.

While she slept, I could be weak, but once she woke up, she needed every ounce of my strength. I had won her over. My love won her over, but somehow, I knew I still had a big battle to win on my hands.

She’d try to push me away, and as usual, I’d have to stop her from doing it.

My beautiful, broken angel.

Laying my head on her thighs, I prayed for peace that, unfortunately, never came.

Jeremy

Sam was broken. It seemed like there was no place on her body that wasn't bruised, broken, or touched by that damned accident.

Her lifeless-appearing body lay on the bed. The mask on her face for oxygen, and various wires hooked to her, made her look nothing like the vibrant girl she used to be.

Blind.

She was blind. She’d lost her sight, and that would kill her. I loved her more than life itself, and I didn't care about it. But it broke me to know I was the reason she was here. She wouldn't have gone to get those fucking muffins had it not been for Candace. I wasn't stupid or oblivious. I had known how uncomfortable she was, but I had done it anyway.

A small, petty part of me enjoyed putting her through the same thing she did to me all those years. I’d never so much as kissed Candace, never wanted to. However, with Candy’s attitude, it probably seemed like we had a sexual relationship. I was an ass for hurting both women.

Both my love and the girl who was like a sister to me had been hospitalized. I would never forgive myself for it.

I was certain she would be devastated when she woke up and believed all her dreams had been crushed.