I never expected this to happen.
We got news from the nurses that his father was recovering nicely. He was in stable condition. They were just keeping an eye on him to make sure there weren’t any complications.
Kim cleared her throat and excused herself. I could tell she felt uncomfortable. I stood to give her a hug, followed by Austin.
“Thanks for coming,” he said. “And thank you for bringing Rebecca to me.”
“It’s no problem. Let me know if you need anything, and I’ll be back.” She squeezed him tightly and then grabbed my hands again. “Keep me posted. Okay? Mom, too.”
We watched as she left. Then Austin searched the room again. “Mom will stay back there until he is out of surgery and in the clear. There’s no waiting room, she’ll just stand in the hallway until they tell her to leave again.” His voice was bitter and loving all at once.
I reached for his hand. “That’s love, Austin. She’ll be there for him as long as she thinks that he needs her.” Our eyes locked.
He licked his lips slowly. I dropped my eyes to watch. I was a horrible person for thinking he was as sexy at a moment like this. How could I want him when his father was in the hospital, and I was struggling with his unusual methods of getting him help? How could I love him so much?
Austin pulled me to the corner where we could see anyone that came into the room. We sat down on an old couch. “I have something to give you.”
He reached into the pocket of his jeans. “Merry Christmas, Rebecca.” Austin handed me a small red box that was suggestive of a gift of jewelry. My eyes widened. He wasn’t kidding about the present, but what was it? I took it, and I gazed at him with a faltering smile.
I opened it, tearing the paper quietly. I hunched over it, not wanting to share this moment with anyone else. I pulled the paper off in a clean rip and looked at the black box before I opened it.
It was a detailed, sterling silver dolphin. I stared at it, not expecting such a simple and beautiful gift from a billionaire after hearing that he dropped millions in donations to get his way.
A memory hit me as I looked at the necklace. I felt tears in my eyes. Austin watched me tenderly as I played back the night years ago.
We’d been dating for just a couple of weeks. After a movie, we found a meadow to look at the stars from. Austin parked by a tree in his old truck that he drove back then. We sat on the bed of it, on a pile of soft blankets, and we looked at the flawless night sky. I loved the peace of the moment, as well as the way he made my heart pound in my chest. He reached into his pocket and handed me a wrapped blue box.
I glanced up at him in surprise. “What’s this?”
“Just a little something that reminded me of you.” Austin kissed my nose before I giggled and unwrapped it excitedly.
It was the same necklace he’d just given me. I remembered, biting my lip and sniffling. We were so new, but I was already so in love with him, and the small gesture meant the world to me.
I blinked, finding myself back in the hospital. I stared into his eyes. “Oh, Austin. I still have the first pendant that you gave me. I can’t believe you remembered that night.”
“I remember everything about you, Rebecca. I gave this to you in my truck just two weeks after we started dating. I saw things everywhere that made me think of you that I wanted to buy you. I still do, in New York.” I felt a tear slide down my cheek. “I remember the first time that I saw you when we bumped into each other in the hallway at school. I can’t believe that it took me that long to see you. We wasted so much time.” He stroked my cheek gently, his eyes softening as he stared at me. “I remember all of the dates, and I saved everything that I could to remind me of them. I have a box of movie stubs, menus, and all kinds of stuff to remind me of you. Not that I need the reminder since I can’t get you out of my mind.”
I watched Austin shake his head. I clutched the box to my breast. He was telling me he thought about me as much as I thought about him. My heart jumped in my chest. He was about to speak when his phone rang, and we both flinched. Austin took it out of his pocket and looked at the screen before he jumped up.
“Austin?” I asked as I stared at him. I knew that the moment was over. He glanced at the phone, at me, and around the room.
“I have to take this,” he said in a grim voice before walking away to take the call. I clutched the box in my hands and watched him leave before the tears streamed down my face. The necklace was such a beautiful promise of our future, but the moment was broken. I curled my arms around my knees and rested my face against them.
He came back after a few moments, telling me that he’s explained to his mother that he had to deal with something. He needed to go.
“What about your dad?” I asked in shock.
He shrugged with a painful grimace. “The doctor is on his way, and I’m coming back later. I just need to take care of something. Want a ride home?” He pressed a hand to his head.
“I guess. Is your mom okay?” I asked.
He nodded. “The police chief is here waiting for news, and I’m coming back.”
I stood to leave, and he led the way to the car, his pace fast and cold compared to how he acted earlier. He dropped me off and told me that he’d call me later. I walked to the door, quietly feeling as though it wasn’t even Christmas.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Austin