Crushing (25 page)

They lifted the gurney and put her in the ambulance. Her mother climbed in the back with her, and they closed the doors.

I took a deep breath and let it out. She was going to be okay. I said a prayer thanking the Lord for saving her. God is good.

I made my way back to my parents, who were now standing with the Rossis. The police had rescued Holden from the backseat of Dominic’s truck. They had questioned him and had him in the back of the police car. They were getting ready to take him in for questioning, when an officer made his way over to us.

“Miss Atherton, Holden Cosgrove is asking to speak to you. You don’t have to go if you don’t want to.”

“Absolutely not.” My dad looked like his head was going to explode.

“No. Way.” Gage, who had been standing nearby with Nathan and Wilson, moved in behind me.

“Thank you all for your concern,” I said while trying to control my eye roll. Holden was handcuffed, for heaven’s sake. “It’s fine. I’d like to hear what he has to say.” I followed the policeman to where they had him in the back of the police car. The officer helped him to stand and stayed there listening. Holden looked pale and skinny. I hadn’t noticed before, but he really didn’t look well. He was looking at me, and all I could see was fear and remorse.

“Rory, I…” He looked down, and then into my eyes “I’m so sorry. I can’t believe I did that to you. Of all people. And then my dad . . . Did he hurt you?”

“No, Holden. I’m fine.” I didn’t know what to say to him.

“That’s good. I’m getting help now, and I don’t know if you can ever forgive me. I’ll understand if you can’t. I . . . I messed my life up and made so many mistakes.” He was staring at his feet some more.

“Holden? I’ll forgive you if you promise to do everything you can to get better. Can you do that?”

“Yes, yes I will.” He looked a little relieved. “You know that was me, right—on your balcony? I’m sorry I scared you. You weren’t supposed to be home. That time I came in and the alarm went off? I thought you were out with Dom. I was trying to figure out what to do. You always do the right thing, Rory.” He was rambling a bit.

“What are you talking about?”

“I found those things of Lindsay’s with some other stuff of my dad’s. The ID and the necklace. I saw her wearing that necklace on the posters, when she went missing. I knew he had done something bad. I gave you the ID. I left you the necklace. I thought if you had them, you would know what to do. It got all jumbled up in my head. I’m so sorry, Rory.”

I reached out and gave him a hug, even though it gave me a bit of the willies. He had been my friend almost my whole life. I couldn’t really be scared of him now. This poor kid was so messed up. He was going to have a lot to deal with besides getting sober.

“You’re going to be okay, Holden. Work hard to get better, all right?”

He nodded. “I will.”

I stepped back, and the officer helped him back into the backseat of the police car.

I turned around and smacked facefirst into Gage’s chest.

“You’re too nice,” he said.

I tried to take a step back, but his arms came around me before I could.

I buried my face in his chest and took a deep breath. He smelled so good. How did he do that?

“Well, I’m pretty sure that’s the first time you’ve said that to me.”

“Well, you’re not nice to me. Just to everyone else.” He laughed.

It was kind of true. I loved him, but he was so aggravating. “Sorry.”

“It’s okay. It makes me feel special.” He gave me a squeeze. I squeezed him back.

He stepped back like he needed distance all of a sudden. “I need to talk to you, but I don’t want to do it here. I know it’s late, but can you meet me at our dune later?”

“Sure, there is no way I’m going to sleep anytime soon. I’ll text you when I’m home.”

“’K.” We started back to the crowd that was our families.

“Hey, why is that creeper guy here?” I’d been meaning to ask about him.

“Creeper?”

“Yeah, you know—him.” I pointed at Wilson. “I thought he was the one kidnapping girls.”

“Are you kidding?” Gage cracked up. “That’s Nathan’s security.”

“His what?”

“You know, like, bodyguard-chauffer.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, he has to have it in his business. International finance. His board of directors insists. Wilson’s cool. I can’t believe you thought he was a serial killer.”

“Well, he never smiles.”

“Yeah, well, he does when he beats Nathan at poker.” He grinned. “I can’t wait to tell him. He’ll think it’s funny.”

I smacked him in the arm. “Don’t tell him!”

“See you in a bit.” He hugged me again and made his way to his uncle.

I got back to my parents and the Rossis. Dominic was there looking agitated.

He grabbed my hand and pulled me to the side. “I need to talk to you.”

“What, Dom? Are you okay?” I asked.

“I want you to know I’m okay with you being with Maddox. You’re my best friend, and I want it to stay that way. I’m already losing one friend, and I’m not ready to lose another.” He looked at me with that sweet face.

Tears started pouring down my face immediately. I was so relieved he wasn’t going to hate me now, and he was still willing to be my friend. I grabbed him and hugged him tight. “Thank you, Dom. Thank you for always being there.”

He squeezed me back. “You’re all right now, princess. We’re all good.”

I looked up at him. “You going to the hospital now?”

“Uh, yeah, I think so. Think I should?” he asked.

“Well, she asked me about you.” I smiled. He deserved someone nice like Lindsay. If anyone could help her move on, it would be Dominic.

“What did she say?”

“She wanted to know if you were available. I told her you were.”

“Huh. Well. I guess, yeah. I’m worried about her,” he said.

“Me too. I know you’ll be good for her.”

He nodded. “Thanks, Rory.” He gave me another squeeze and pulled away.

We walked back to the parents, and they herded us back to the cars.

My parents were quiet on the drive back. My mom sat in the backseat with me and just kept petting me and hugging me. My dad kept tight-lipped and silent, except for occasionally blurting out random medical questions.

My brothers were pacing in the foyer when we came in the door. They had obviously been waiting. I had heard my dad on the phone with them before we left the scene telling them what happened.

Jeremiah grabbed me into a big hug. “That’s it. You’re never leaving the house again,” he said, and then passed me on to Jackson. They looked a little worse for wear.

“Sassy, you gotta stop gettin’ yourself into trouble. My heart can’t take it,” Jackson insisted.

“I’m sorry I scared you. I scared myself too.”

He nodded and looked upset.

“Are you really okay?” he asked.

“It’s all over now. I’m okay, and Lindsay’s okay too. That’s the important thing.”

There was a pounding on the door, and all of us jumped.

Jeremiah opened the door, and Veronica came rushing in. “Oh, Rory. Oh my gosh.” She threw her arms around me. “I was so scared. Don’t ever scare me like that again.”

“I know, I know. I’m sorry.” I hugged her back.

She stepped back but kept rubbing my arms and touching me like I was going to disappear again. She needed to have a bunch of kids to fuss over. I looked at Jackson. He was watching her, but when he realized I caught him, he looked away. Sigh.

“Are you really okay?” she asked as we all started to make our way into the great room.

“Yeah, a little shook up, but in general, okay.” I nodded. “Can I use your phone? I told Gage I would text him when I got home, but I forgot . . . I, uh, I don’t have my phone.” My stomach got queasy, and I started to feel a little nauseated when I thought about everything that had gone on. My parents had told me the police found my car on the side of the road, but my purse and phone weren’t there. My car was being impounded to be used as evidence. It gave me the creeps, so I tried to push it out of my mind.

“Sure, here.” She handed it over.

I texted him quickly.

It’s Rory. Are you home yet?

What did he want to say? Was it over? He texted back almost immediately.

In ten?

How about 20? Meet me at the gate?

We’ll be there.

=)

“Hey, I’m going to go talk to Gage, okay?” I told my parents.

“I’m making breakfast. Please ask if he and Nathan would like to join us.”

“Okay, okay. I’m not sure if they will, but I’ll ask.”

“Don’t go far,” my dad called from the couch.

“We’re going to walk on the beach. I’m obviously safe with Gage and Bailee,” I pointed out. “Can you wait for me, Ron?” I didn’t want her to leave.

“Of course. I’ll just help your mom with breakfast. You go. Tell him thank you for me.”

“Okay.” I smiled. I was so nervous. I didn’t know what he was going to say.

“I’m going to shower and change real quick.” I felt disgusting, and I couldn’t wait to shower off the grime from the cellar.

I ran upstairs, showered quickly, and changed into old jeans and a sweatshirt. I felt a lot better being clean. I put my wet hair up in a messy bun and hurried downstairs.

“Back in a bit,” I told them as I rushed through the back door.

When I came through the gate, they were already there. Bailee jumped on me the second she saw me.

“There you are, sweetie,” I said as I knelt down and hugged her. “Thanks for saving me,” I whispered into her neck. I felt my eyes start to tear up.

“I think she thought she owed you one,” he said.

I gave her one last pat and stood up. “Well, I guess we can call it even now.”

We started to make our way out to our dune. Bailee ran ahead. I was starting to get nervous. What did he want to say? I hoped this wasn’t the last time we would do this.

We sat down on our dune and watched Bailee playing in the water.

The sun was starting to come up, and the sky was tinted with grays and pinks.

He hadn’t really looked at me since we sat down. His face was serious.

“Are you really okay? No anxiety or anything?”

“No, a little squirmy here and there, but . . . no.”

“Did he hurt you?” He finally looked at me, and his face was grim.

“No, it could have been much worse. Lindsay had it much worse than I did.”

He nodded. “It turns out it was good Rossi was there. When we found her, she clung to him like a spider monkey.”

“They’ve known each other forever. It must have been a relief for her to see him.”

We stared at the ocean. Why did it feel awkward between us?

“Thank you. I can’t believe you and Dom worked together like that.”

“Well, Mr. Perfect can be annoyingly stubborn when he wants to be.”

“Something you can relate to.”

The corners of his mouth lifted briefly, but then he sighed.

“I asked you out here, and now I’m not sure exactly how to say what I planned to.”

My heart started to beat fast. He was going to end it. Here and now. He was done. I had to try really hard not to cry. That would not be okay. Deep breaths were required.

“When I found out you were missing…” He looked down and shook his head. “I don’t think I’ve ever been that scared. Maybe one other time.” He looked at me. “When I found my mom.”

I sucked in a breath. He did remember.

He looked out to the ocean again. “I came in the kitchen. It was late at night. Their fighting had woke me up. I remember there was blood everywhere. My dad was standing over her with the kitchen knife.”

Oh no. I didn’t want to move or say the wrong thing and make him stop talking.

“He took one look at me and ran out the back door. I never saw him again. I remember finding the phone and calling my grandparents. I sat next to her and held her hand. I don’t remember much after that.”

“I’m so sorry.”

“It was a long time ago. I’ve never told anyone that before. When I was older, my grandparents and the therapists asked about it. I told them all I didn’t remember because I didn’t want them to worry. I was already a burden.”

“You aren’t a burden. Your family loves you.”

“Well, at the very least I was more than they planned on.”

“But family takes care of each other. That’s just the way it is.”

“Maybe.” He didn’t look convinced. “Did you know I look just like my dad?”

“Ummm, I would be lying if I said no. I saw the article they ran in the paper, but I didn’t read it,” I assured him. “I wanted you to tell me yourself, but I did see the pictures. Sorry.”

“No, it’s fine. My point was my grandparents raised me and had to look at someone every day that looked just like the man who killed their daughter.”

“Gage, you are your own person. You’re not your father.”

“Not yet anyway, but I sure haven’t been an angel either.”

“All the things you’ve done have been to help someone. It’s so different from what he did.”

“You can put a pretty face on it, but violence is violence, Rory.”

“We are going to have to agree to disagree on that.”

“The reason I’m telling you this is when I saw that creep with the knife to your throat, I wanted to kill him. It was like time slowed down. Just like in the movies. I could feel my finger on the trigger. I wanted to blow his head off.”

“But you didn’t.”

“No, but I could have. Easily.”

“But you didn’t. Pretty sure my dad or my brothers wouldn’t have hesitated if they’d had a shot.”

He was thinking; I could tell. “I don’t think I’m a good choice for you. I think I should stay away from you even if I don’t want to.”

“I think you’re wrong. You’re a very good choice for me. You don’t always let me have my way. You stand up to me. You call me on my bad behavior. No one else ever does that.”

He laughed. “Well, that’s true.”

I paused.

“Since you’ve been back, you’ve saved me from situations that could have been very, very bad. Three times. How could you ever think that you’re bad for me?”

“I don’t want to hurt you. I could turn out like him. I obviously have anger issues.” He looked pained.

“You would never do that. The only time you get that angry is when someone is hurting someone else. I’ve made you really mad many times since you came back, but you’ve never tried to hurt me, right?”

He sat quietly for a moment like he was seriously thinking about what I said.

“I couldn’t live with myself if I hurt you, Rory.”

“You won’t. You can’t. I think you should tell all this to your uncle. He needs to know what you’re going through. It might help to talk to someone.”

“Why would I bug him when I can bug you?”

I nodded. “You do like to annoy me.”

“But you like me, huh?” He nudged me with his elbow.

“Uh, sometimes.” I poked him.

He put his arm around me and pulled me into his side. “You dumped Rossi for me,” he whispered in my ear.

I tried to wiggle out, but he wouldn’t let me. “I didn’t dump him. Sheesh. And it wasn’t about you. You’re so full of yourself.”

“You know you like me.” He was nuzzling my neck.

“Maybe when you aren’t annoying.” I didn’t try too hard to get away.

He pulled my chin toward him so I was looking him in the eye. “I love you, Aurora.”

I sucked in my breath. “I love you too.”

He leaned down and brushed his lips with mine. “I knew it.”

I was about to let him have it, but he kissed me, and I forgot what I was going to say. I would annoy him later. Right now, kissing him was more important.

The End