The Beginning of Us (12 page)

"Jax, I've loved you from the beginning," I whispered, struggling to form the words. His face was being erased right in front of my eyes, black quickly covering my sight.

"No. No! Dammit Teegan! Baby please stay. Please." His face twisted into a sad grimace.

And then the world became completely black.

***

Teegan - June 2030

The only thing I could see were my eyelashes letting in little slivers of light. Opening them was a struggle, as if I were drugged and unable to function. I opened my cracked, dry lips, my tongue lying thick on my palate.

"Oh my God, she's opening her eyes," a male voice announced.

"Teegan? Teegan, baby wake up." The voice belonged to Jax, his deep voice piercing my heart and jolting me awake.

My eyelids cooperated and Jax's face was in front of mine. Just like it had been in the accident.

Only it was adult Jax, the man he had grown into.

"Jaxon?" I slurred.

"Oh my God, you're awake. Oh my God. Oh my God," he reiterated. I felt his thumb rub over my face and I tried to smile.

"Where am I?"

"You've been in a coma for three months, Teeg.” He took a deep breath. “Baby, I've been so worried. I'm so sorry, so sorry for everything." Jax's eyes glistened with tears and it tugged at my heart. "Do you need anything baby?"

I nodded and whispered, "I
really
have to pee." Jax smiled, his beautiful lips curving up and those dimples that I loved showed.

Doctors and nurses came in and there was so much movement and talking. All I wanted to do was close my eyes and ignore it. There was such a feeling of loss that swept over me. It was so disorienting to be back into my adult self. It was tragic that my teenage experiences were gone.

Nothing but a dream?
Something in my mind came up with while my body was put in limbo. The idea was depressing because it had felt so real. So entirely real.

My mom visited the next day. She was so overcome with emotion that she couldn't even speak. All she did was cry and kiss my forehead. The pain of not having my dad around was reopened. It became a fresh loss that stung my being. Even my brother Axel and Jax's sister Roxy were there. Everyone had paused their lives to help Jax take care of Josie.

Jax must have noticed I was getting agitated because he ushered mom out and asked the doctor and nurses if I could just rest. He softly closed the door behind everyone.

"'Darlin', I know waking up like this is hard. I can tell by the look on your face. It's gonna be okay. Everything will be fine. I promise." He sat gingerly on my bed and held my hand. "I love you, Teegan."

"I love you too, Jax. When can I see Josie? "

He bit his lip. "Soon baby. Your mom will probably bring her tonight. She's been so worried, but so brave Teeg. Such a trooper.” He paused. “I have to tell you something. If I don't get this off my chest it going to make me go crazy.

The heart monitor soft and steady beeps started increasing. I took a deep breath and asked, "Is it about the divorce?

Confusion marked his face, "What? No
. No
Teegan. No, baby. I'm sorry about that night. I truly am. But that's not what I wanted to tell you."

"No?"

He shook his head, "Teegan, I'm gonna sound crazy, but I had some really strange dreams almost while you've been in here. They feel so real to me. I call them dreams, but really they were like memories. Things that I don't have any recollection of, but felt like they've happened."

Happiness flooded me. "Like?"

"Like I have memories of us together as teenagers, Teeg. In high school, even though I know we didn't attend the same school. Or even lived in the same damn town. But they are so damn real." He shook his head and scoffed at himself. "So damn real," he repeated.

I nodded and let the tears flow, breathing a heavy sigh of relief, "Jax you're not crazy. Did we go to a barn party? Went to prom together?"

Jax's eyes went wide, his color paling slightly. He stared at me for seconds that felt like hours. "How did you know?" he finally whispered.

"Because that's where I was, while I was here. I was there with you as teenagers. I can't really explain it. I really can't."

Jax squeezed my hand, "I can't either. The memories would come to me at random, but they were always chronological, always following in order right after the other. And I just remember having such a strong love for you. Like I would do anything and everything for you, to keep you. And we were
good
, Teegan. All the reasons why I fell in love with you magnified when I wasn't remembering." He reached over and wiped my tears away. "I love you Teegan and I haven't stopped. It's not over. It'll
never
be over.”

"Ditto," I whispered. "Now, please kiss me." Jax smirked and leaned down and obeyed. We kissed for a long time, my body rejoicing at the taste of his lips once again.

“And when I get you home,” he whispered, his dimples popping out, “I'm going to make love to you just like we did when we were teenagers.” His husky voice sent shivers down my spine and I kissed him again.

A knock at the door broke us apart. And all I saw was red hair peeking in the door.

My heart quickened and Jax looked up. "Oh, hi," he greeted nonchalantly.

"Hello! I heard sleeping beauty was up. Hi honey, my name is-"

"Raegan," I interrupted her. Surprise crossed her face and Jax's.

"Yes. I've been your nurses – well, one of them while you were asleep. I'm glad to finally meet you." She held out her hand, her nails painted lavender purple.

“You have no idea how glad I am to see you,” I stated, elation flooding my entire body. That one missing link was finally answered.

Epilogue

Teegan

It's been three years since I traveled back in time. That's what I call it anyway. Because while it may not be technically correct, it's what best describes my experience. Jax and I haven't told anyone. It's been our secret.

A secret that saved our marriage and brought us closer together. He's told me his dreams, the ones I lived through. We've looked up numerous websites trying to get a true explanation of what we went through.

We don't, and probably will never, have the answers we need to understand what happened. We finally gave up trying to figure things out. The doctors couldn’t even tell us what caused the coma.

 But we both agree, that is was our second chance. The second chance we needed to make a new beginning.

Other Titles by the Author

Love, Kinsey

Again

Sneak Peak

Masquerade by Robyn M. Pierce

Coming: March 4, 2014

Darius

The party was in full swing, and Chastity and Marie were near the thrones, giggling their little hearts out. Marie's boyfriend was nowhere to be found, but Lazarus was on the dance floor, with none other than Felicia.

The two were having what looked like a light conversation, and my friend threw her head back in a laugh after Lazarus said something. So Felicia had managed to at least make friends with the prince. "Well, I'll be damned," I murmured to myself, unable to take my eyes off them.

"You already are, are you not?" a teasing voice asked from behind me. I turned around quickly and bared my fangs at whoever had sneaked up on me. Chastity took a step back, hands raised. Her eyes were wide in surprise, and I immediately retracted my fangs, giving her an apologetic look.

"Sorry," I mumbled. "I think I’m just a little bit on edge tonight," I lied. I just didn’t like or appreciate someone sneaking up on me, even if it led to having a flirty conversation with someone who I was slowly manipulating into liking me.

She shrugged one shoulder. "I react the same way when people catch me off guard," she admitted.

‘I bet you do,'
I thought, eyeing her closely.

The dress she wore looked like she couldn’t possibly be concealing anything of use beneath the fabric, but knowing Chastity – and knowing she had passed whatever test there was in order to become one of Lazarus's dogs – I thought her to be a bit more thrifty than I would be in regards to hiding weapons in a tight gown.

Suddenly, I realized she’d spoken when she approached me so silently. "What did you say when you walked up behind me?" I asked, narrowing my eyes at her. All I remembered was a distinctly teasing tone and a giggle.

The girl before me flushed a pretty red and turned her gaze elsewhere. "Well, you said 'I'll be damned.' I said that you already are, are you not?" She chuckled and I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion. She looked at me as though I were an idiot. "Because you are a vampire," she said, enunciating each word as though she was talking to a child.

I scowled at her and rolled my eyes. "Very funny. Maybe I would have understood it quicker if you had chosen a more sophisticated or fun type of vampire joke," I said, grinning. She narrowed her eyes at me and stuck her tongue out. "My, how very grown up of us, Chastity!" I said, using the voice that I reserved for babies and pets.

Chastity punched me in the chest and began to walk away, but I reached my hand out to grab her arm before she could slip away. "Not so fast," I rasped; the woman could hit hard. "You owe me a dance for that little bit of rudeness."

She suddenly looked slightly scared, and angled her body away from mine as she, I assumed, thought about it. She sent me a glance, biting down on her lower lip, and then sighed. "I suppose one dance won’t kill me," she said, and I released her arm, straightening up.

"Good choice," I said, rubbing the spot where she punched me. I led her out onto the dance floor and set my hands on her waist; the song was a very slow one, and it couldn’t have come at a better time. She, being so short, couldn’t put her arms around my neck without having to stand on the tips of her toes, so she settled for setting them on my upper arms. I pulled her in close to me and she hesitantly rested her head on my chest.

A minute or two into the dance, I glanced down to find that Chastity was staring up at me. The lights had been dimmed, so I couldn’t place what she was thinking just by looking into her eyes.

"This isn’t so bad, hmm?" I asked quietly, lifting one hand to tuck a strand of her hair back behind her ear.
'Such persistent and stubborn hair she has,'
I thought, chuckling inwardly.

No matter how dim the lights were, I could see the blush on her face, and she gave a one shouldered shrug. "It hasn’t killed me," she murmured in agreement. I smiled.

"Yet," I teased. She glared up at me, and I lowered my head so I could whisper in her ear. "No, I’m serious, Chastity. I know your secret," I said, breathing my declaration into her ear.

Acknowledgments

“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms.” 1 Peter 4:10

Always, my first thanks goes to my Heavenly Father. He gave me a love and talent for writing and for that I will be forever grateful. The ability to put my work out there for others is also His doing.

To Josh: My husband of almost five years, I've loved you since the beginning.

JJ & Lexi: My darling, precious babies. Thank you both for ignoring me enough so I could write this story. I love you both with everything I have. J, I'm sorry this wasn't about Star Wars or Legos and Lex, I'm glad you thought the cover was pretty.

To my very first fans: Mama, Daddy, Jamie and Amy. I am blessed to have you four apart of my life.

To Stephanie White of Steph’s Cover Design: Once again, you have given me a beautiful piece of art to cover my story with. Thank you!

Robyn M. Pierce: I am always a little more at ease getting closer to a deadline, because I know you will take whatever I give you and produce exceptional work. 2014 will be OUR year!

Courtney S., Kristine E., Colleen W., Kristina W., Rosemary H. and Jennifer H. Anna T., Kay E. Wendy V. and Tina D.; you are some of the most beautiful friends a girl could have. I love you all!

Finally, to the readers: thank you for taking a chance with me, for reading the words that have come from my heart and spending your precious time with the characters I create. I love you!

XOXO

Brandy

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