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He slammed the garage door shut. The Ducati was the first thing he came to. Screw the helmet. He
needed to get out and get some perspective. His heart pounded in his ears. Caleb had almost cost
him his future wife. He had followed her around, flirted, touched and played dirty. He would not sit
by and allow it to happen again. He revved the bike and tore out of the driveway.
The coast at dusk was a site to behold. The sun reflected off the ocean as waves crashed the shore.
Say what you will about Los Angeles, the beach was beautiful. Mark took a deep breath and pushed
the bike even faster. The fresh air cleared his head. It had been an awful day at work and an even
worse commute home. They had lost a large client today. In his heart, he knew his attack on Caleb
was misplaced. He needed to get over the harbored anger. His relationship with Sophie was
indestructible. It was time to let go of the past. He would apologize. Tomorrow.
He increased speed as he hit the stretch of road that ran along the ocean and by the time he swerved, it
was too late. The driver of the delivery truck was texting. He never saw him.
****
Layla, Sophie and Caleb ordered pizza and sat down for movie night. They had been shocked when
Mark had stormed out. Layla told Sophie what happened with the phone call and how Caleb had
followed her upstairs to talk. They giggled about Mark s overreaction and knew that when he got
home, cooler heads would prevail.
The doorbell rang and Sophie ran to answer it.
Rich stood on the porch in a pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt. He had dropped Molly off and didn t
think this was a phone call he could make. The drive over had been torture. He needed to tell Sophie
in person. His eyes were puffy. Sophie s smile fell as soon as she saw the expression on his face.
Rich? What s wrong?
Soph, can I come in for a minute?
Hearing Sophie s concern, Caleb and Layla walked to the door. Sophie knew in the pit of her
stomach it was bad. Rich s face said it all.
Honey. There has been an accident. You need to come with me.
Sophie fell to her knees. Layla ran to grab her purse as Caleb pulled her from the floor. What
happened, Dickerman? Caleb s eyes were wide.
It s Mark. It s bad. He wasn t wearing a helmet. Rich grabbed Sophie s trembling hand and led
all four of them to his car.
Chapter 7
Layla ran down the hall of the hospital. Her heart was pounding out of her chest and her head spun.
Caleb grabbed her hand to steady her. She needed to know what was happening. Rich and Sophie
were two steps ahead, Rich taking special care knowing Sophie s pregnancy could be in jeopardy.
Their pounding footsteps alerted everyone to their arrival.
Layla s stomach lurched. The smell of alcohol pads and antiseptic made her cringe. The overhead
lighting all ran together as they raced down the long hall toward ICU. She didn t know if he was dead
or alive. Tears streamed down her face. Caleb s hand in hers was warm and strong. She clung to it
like a lifeline. She would fall away without it.
The locked doors to the ICU swung open and Molly stepped out. Her face was pale. Her whole body
shook. When she saw her friends approaching, she let out one long sob.
Noticing Sophie s panicked look, Layla stepped forward. What s happening? Tears rolled down
her face.
Molly s eyes were vacant as Rich picked her up off the floor. He s in surgery. He... Oh God,
Molly stuttered. He fractured his skull. Deep breath. His brain is bleeding. Deep breath.
They said he wasn t responsive when& He wasn t responsive&
Rich pulled her into him. Sophie. We need to get you off your feet. You need to keep breathing.
Your baby needs you to be strong. Come sit over here. We all need to pray.
They all grabbed hands and prayed together. Layla knew she needed to be strong for Sophie. The
thought of losing Mark was unacceptable. But knowing that her beautiful, pregnant sister needed her
strength far outweighed any other thoughts. She had almost reached the end of her first trimester and
she knew this was going to be rough. They couldn t lose Mark now. Not when there was so much
ahead for all of them.
Noticing Kevin and Steve running toward them, Caleb s voice broke into the silence. Did anyone
call Ryan? He should be here. He stepped away from the group and pulled out his phone. He took a
deep breath and dialed.
It s eleven o clock on the East Coast and I need my beauty sleep. What s up C? Ryan laughed.
Caleb cleared his throat again. Ryan. He wiped the tears from his eyes and took a deep breath.
What s wrong?
Can you get home? Caleb s voice was barely a whisper.
Yes. One simple word was all Ryan could manage.
It s Mark. There was an accident tonight. He s in surgery but it s serious, Ryan. You need to get
home as soon as you can.
I m on the next flight out. I will be there in a few hours. The phone went dead.
****
Ryan frantically repacked his suitcase. He had booked two seats on a flight that left Boston in less
than an hour. There was no time to waste. His hands shook. It s serious. It s serious. The words
rang in his head. A single tear fell down his cheek. Wiping it away, he took a deep, steadying
breath. Stay strong. Get home. His brain was screaming at him.
Aria stepped out of the bathroom. Noticing Ryan s face, she froze. What are you doing?
Ryan s breath shook. Please put your shoes on. We need to go. There s been an accident back
home. I have to go to LA tonight. Please come with me. I can t do this alone.
Aria grabbed her shoes and threw her things back in her suitcase. Is it your dad? Your mom? What
happened? She ran to the bathroom and threw their toiletries in her bag. They could separate them
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