Now or Never

him.”
    Grayson let the information sink in. If they didn’t currently have a thing going why had he led her to believe they did? None of it made sense. And now, she might never know.
    “Is there any way I can talk to him?”
    “Not now. Grace, don’t get your hopes up. It’s a miracle they could revive him. If he lives he owes his life to Marcus—the medic.”
    “I just need to tell him something.”
    “They sent him to Germany and are operating now. If he wakes up and can take calls I’ll let you know.”
    “Thank you.”
    “You can’t tell anyone . All the family members of the one who got killed haven’t been notified yet.”
    “I understand,” Grayson said and clicked off the phone. So many emotions were running through her. Elated that Derrick was alive, confused about the girl, and terrified he wasn’t going to make it.
    She hadn’t even asked what his injuries were. Worst case scenarios raced through her mind, but none of that mattered. If he would have her, she would stick by him no matter what.

CHAPTER 32

    Three long days later her brother called her with a phone number.
    Grayson’s hand shook as she dialed the number. A woman with a southern accent answered the phone. Maybe it’s a nurse she thought, or his mother. However, a bigger part of her feared it was Megan and her brother was wrong.
    “Can I speak to Derrick?”
    “He’s asleep. If you give me your number I’ll tell him when he wakes up.”
    Grayson rattled off her number, and wondered if he would call.
    Two days passed, and he didn’t return her call. She was miserable. Grabbing the phone she took a chance to call again. This time he answered. He sounded groggy. “Hello.”
    “It’s Gray.”
    “Oh. Hey.”
    She couldn’t help it; she started crying. “I’m so sorry Derrick.”
    “Don’t be.”
    “Derrick. I know this isn’t the right time to say this, but I need you to know. I’m in love with you and I have been probably since our eyes met in the coffee shop.”
    She was met with silence, and then he said, “It’s funny how tragedies make people say things they wouldn’t normally say.”
    “I mean it, Derrick,” Grayson told him while she rubbed her nose with the back of her shirt, “I wanted to say it before you left, but I never got the chance.”
    “I need to go. I’m tired.”
    “Derrick? Please.”
    “I’ll call you later.” And he clicked off the phone.
    Grayson sat staring at her phone in disbelief. She poured her heart out to him and he basically hung up on her. Although, what did she expect? She still had no idea how extensive his injuries were. One of his friends had just been killed. She shouldn’t have said anything about her feelings. It wasn’t the right time.
    Idiot.
    A week passed before he called. She had no idea how she made it through the week. It passed painfully slow she just went through the motions.
    “I’m in Washington, DC, at Bethesda hospital.”
    Grayson’s pulse raced. “Thank god. I’m going to leave tonight and come see you.”
    “Don’t bother.”
    A lump formed in her throat. “Derrick, you don’t mean that.”
    “Yes, I do. I don’t want to see you or anyone else. I just want to be alone.”
    Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath. She had to do this on his timeline. Grayson spoke when she finally found her voice again, “OK. I’ll respect that, but if you change your mind, I’ll jump in the jeep or on a plane. I really want to see you.”
    “I don’t want anyone seeing me like this.”
    Grayson braced herself. She had asked Ethan, but he had been vague. “What are your injuries?”
    “I’m alive and have all my limbs that’s all that matters. Andrews wasn’t so lucky.”
    “I’m sorry,” she said struggling to find the right words, but she had nothing. In this situation, there were no words that could be said to make it hurt less. He lost a friend, and almost his own life. She wondered if he was suffering from survivor’s guilt.
    “I wasn’t going to call you.”
    “I’m glad you did.”
    “You’re so deep under my skin it’s driving me crazy,” he said through clenched teeth, like it pissed him off.
    “I know the feeling,” she replied, her heart speeding up like crazy. Maybe, there was hope for them after all.
    “I don’t think you do.”
    “When can you come home?”
    “No idea. I have a long recovery ahead of me. Probably, months.”
    That took her by surprise. His injuries must be really bad if they wouldn’t