Total pages in book: 57
Estimated words: 54287 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 271(@200wpm)___ 217(@250wpm)___ 181(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 54287 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 271(@200wpm)___ 217(@250wpm)___ 181(@300wpm)
She shakes her head side to side. “Honey, it’s okay. We’re so close to the ground, you’re going to be okay. I promise.”
She takes a deep breath, and I call down to Abby. “Abby, I’m going to hand Alexis down to you, okay?”
She hollers down from below, but I can’t see her. I hang on to the tree with one arm and then wrap my other arm around Alexis. “It’s okay. Your mom’s got you, okay?”
She nods, and I lift her one-handed away from me and dangle her down a little. I turn to make sure Abby has her, and she hollers up, “I got her.”
It takes all I have to let go of her, but I do, trusting that Abby’s got her.
As soon as she’s down, she’s crying in her mom’s arms, but she’s unhurt. I keep hanging here, trying to catch my breath.
Abby soothes her daughter and then passes her to Jamie’s mom, who takes the two girls around the side of the house while Abby comes to stand underneath me. “Davis, are you okay?”
I nod, sweat forming at my brow. “I’m fine. I need you to back up.”
She gasps and puts her hand to her lips as if she just remembered. “Your leg!”
I grit my teeth, hating the fact that she’s been reminded that I’m a cripple. “I’m fine. I just know the landing is going to be off. I need you far away, Abby. Don’t try and catch me; you’ll be hurt.”
She moves to the side, and her eyes are wide as she watches me. All I need to do is jump and land on my good leg. I may topple over, but that would be better than the alternative.
I try to go a few inches lower, but I lose my step, and as I start to fall, I push away from the tree with my good leg and accidentally land on my injured leg.
The pain of the prosthetic ramming into my stump is like a shock to my system. I go down with a loud thud, and there’s no way I can hold back the scream that escapes my mouth.
Landing on my back, I try to catch my breath. Instantly, Abby is standing over me, and I roll over, trying to get up, but the pain is too much. I lie with my face buried in the grass. I can feel Abby’s hands on my back, my arms, and my legs. When I groan, she stops and moves up by my head. “Davis, are you—”
I cut her off. “Go on, Abby. Alexis needs you. Go to Alexis.”
She’s sobbing now. “She’s scared, but she’s fine. I need to help you.”
“Go,” I tell her again.
“I’m not leaving you.”
I roll over on my back and look up at her. The pity on her face is too much for me to handle right now. “Please go, Abby. Please, I don’t want you here. Can’t you see that? Just leave me the fuck alone.”
She gasps and rears back as if I’ve hurt her, which I know I did. This is not her fault. I shake my head and soften my voice. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that, but please just go, Abby.”
She gets up and walks away, not looking back at me one time.
I struggle to get up to my feet, and when I do, I’m limping so badly, I’m afraid I’m going to have to crawl to get to my truck.
I walk around the opposite side of the house and finally make it to my truck. I get in and leave, knowing that the future I thought I could have is now not possible. There’s no way I can force myself on Abby and Alexis. I love them enough to know that they're both better off without me.
CHAPTER 22
ABBY
Two days and he’s not responded to any of my text messages. Zach is not any help. He’s not telling me a thing, so I do the only thing I know I can do. I left my brother hanging out with Alexis at the house, telling him I’d be back.
The whole way to Davis’ apartment, I planned out what I was going to say. I can only imagine what he’s feeling right now, but we can’t keep going like we are. Plus, Alexis is upset that she hasn’t seen him since the whole tree incident.
When I get to his apartment, the shades are drawn, and the front door is closed. I knock on it and step back, crossing my arms over my chest. He obviously doesn’t want to see me, but we can’t keep going like this.
I can hear someone on the other side of the door, but after a minute passes and it doesn’t open, I knock again.
Finally, Davis cracks open the door and peers out to me. “Hey, Abby.”