Can't Slow Down - Lizzie Hart Stevens Page 0,30
like you’ve ruined mine. All I had to do was make a phone call. You see, Coen, not all of my ex-girlfriends hate me. The girl I was with before Lexi just happens to work for the adoption agency in this lovely small city of ours, and when I explained to her what I needed and why, she was more than happy to help.”
I can’t listen to this shit anymore. I can feel the warm breath from him on my neck, so I know he’s right behind me. I slam my head back, crashing mine into Patrick’s. He sweeps his leg under mine knocking me on my ass. Punches are thrown. And then it happens. The dumbass remembers he has a gun. I reach for his hand to try and knock it away, but I’m too late.
Suddenly it feels as though time is standing still. The shot is too close. My ears are ringing and the right side of my chest is excruciatingly hot and wet as the crimson fluid pour from my body. Everything is in slow motion as I fall back onto the ground. My head falls to the side and I just want to close my eyes. The last thing I see is Derek and the cops charging at Patrick. The blackness starts to swallow me whole as I smell Lexi’s perfume as she kneels down, screaming in tears beside me.
WHEN I COME TO, the smell of anesthetic and bandages fills my senses. Lexi is there, sitting beside me on the bed. Her beautiful freckle-dusted cheeks are tear-stained and she looks exhausted, but still just as gorgeous as the day I met her.
“Hey, sweet cheeks.” I clear my throat. “Are you okay? Where’s the asshole? Where’s Derek?”
She slugs me in my good arm.
“What the hell, woman? I’m injured here.”
“You could have gotten killed, Coen!”
I place my finger under her chin and urge her closer to me, gently pulling her into a kiss.
“I didn’t think he would have a gun, Lex. I’m sorry. Are you okay?”
She sighs.
“I’m fine now that I know you’re okay. Derek went to get us some food.” She places her hand on my cheek for a brief moment and then runs her hand through my hair and places a kiss on my forehead. Her caresses are better than any modern medicine. This girl is my drug. “Derek called the cops the moment we saw the gun and they pulled in and caught Patrick as he was trying to escape the scene after shooting you. He’ll be gone for awhile with all the charges pressed against him.”
Lexi gets up and walks over to the window. It’s dark out now, the city lights shine off in the distance and I hear her sniffle.
“Lexi, I’m okay.”
“I know. I was just so scared that I lost you. I don’t want to go back to a life without you, Coen.”
“Marry me and you’ll never have to.”
She turns to look at me with tear-filled eyes.
“You’re on pain meds, you don’t know what you’re saying right now. We’ve only known each other a little over a week.”
I laugh. “I’m serious, Lexi. I don’t want to go back to a life without you, either. I obviously don’t have a ring right now, and I know we haven’t known each other long, but I will ask you one day. I love you, sweet cheeks.”
She hops up onto the bed and straddles me; being mindful of the tubes and wires I’m hooked up to, and devours me in a deep kiss.
“I love you too, Coen Walker.”
DEREK WENT TO Sarah’s house the day after Coen was shot and explained everything to her—about how Patrick lied about being her son, and everything that he put Coen and me through. She immediately came to the hospital and apologized. They’ve both decided that the past is just that and they are both ready to move forward. Their relationship still isn’t perfect, but it’s definitely a lot better than it was before all of the craziness with Patrick.
We even helped her track down her real son who was put up for adoption. His name is Tyler. He is a couple years older than Coen and he is a dentist in the city about an hour away from here. He and Coen share a love for fast cars and tattoos. Tyler has a wife named Gwen and she is pregnant with their first child. Coen is so excited about meeting that baby; he’s already started talking about giving it driving