Wrecked (Clayton Falls) - By Alyssa Rose Ivy Page 0,4

but I was drawn to him. I wanted to know his story. I wanted to know if his voice matched that ridiculously deep one from my dream. My dream. I still couldn’t believe I’d dreamed about him. At least it was only once. Any more than that and I would have been seriously worried.

The third night I had to do the daily awakening to see if he was ready to come off the vent. Unfortunately, I didn’t know in time to tell his family to stay. I waited for the medication to wear off, and I was alone in his room when he squeezed my hand. It was a gentle squeeze, but it affected me in a way it shouldn’t have. It warmed me. I kept my hand in his to see if he would do it again. He did. His eyes flickered open and struggled to focus on me. I waited to see if he’d wake up more, but he didn’t. After the doctor came by, we restarted his sedation.

***

The next night they started to wean the medication before I came in. His family was on pins and needles as we all waited in his room to see what happened, and whether he was ready. I’d told them about the hand squeeze and that his eyes opened. The relief on his mother’s face was incredible.

“Is it always like this?” the mother, who I now knew was named Mary, asked me quietly.

I wasn’t exactly sure what she was asking, but I didn’t think it really mattered. She just wanted to talk. “It’s always hard.”

“He’s a good kid. He’s made some bad decisions, but underneath it all he’s got a real great heart.” She started to tear up, and her other son, Ben, walked over to put an arm around her. They looked like such a tight-knit family. I vaguely remembered when mine used to feel that way. I brushed that thought aside.

“I’m sure he is.”

“He’s handsome, isn’t he?” Then she probably remembered who currently had his arm around her. “Both my sons are.”

I smiled. “Yes. They both are.”

The blonde, Molly, left her chair and came to join us a few feet from the bed. “How long does the medication take to wear off?”

“A few hours, so it should be anytime now.”

***

Mary was the one holding Jake’s hand when he woke up that night. He managed to keep his eyes open longer, and I could have sworn they searched our faces until they landed on mine. It shouldn’t have sent a thrill through me—but it did.

Chapter Three

Jake

Beautiful. That’s the only way I can describe the angel leaning over me. Everything was hazy except for her face. She had pretty, green eyes that watched me intently. I wanted to talk. I tried but couldn’t. Something was stopping me. She leaned closer, but then the haze got worse, and my angel disappeared.

***

I didn’t see her at first. I searched until I found those green eyes. She smiled, and the haze took me again.

***

She held my hand. I could feel her small hand in mine, and all I wanted to do was get closer. Why couldn’t I talk? Why couldn’t I move?

***

Every inch of me hurt. I tried to move my arm, but it felt stiff. After one more try, I gave up. I forced my eyes open and nearly closed them again. I had to have been dreaming—either that or I was dead, because there was no other explanation for the angel sitting next to me. I recognized her, but not from anything real. It was more like little pieces of a dream.

Gorgeous, green eyes stared back at me. They were only matched by this incredible reddish-brown hair that had just a slight wave to it. If I could have made my arm move, I’d have reached out and touched it.

“Jake?” She said my name softly. It had never sounded better coming from anyone else’s lips. And those lips—they were perfect.

I pushed through the fog and smiled at her. Dream or not, I had to try.

“How are you feeling?” She held up a cup with a straw. “Are you thirsty?”

What was this? I looked down at my arm and there was a damn IV stuck in it. “Where am I?”

“You’re at New Hanover Regional Hospital. You were in an accident.” She said it so calmly, like she was talking about the weather. “I’m your nurse. My name is Emily.”

As soon as she said it, everything came back to me. Being at Tom’s house—Daniela