Extreme devotion, p.6
Extreme Devotion, page 6
Another guy chuckled. Pearl’s cheeks reddened.
“Somebody’d better be dead,” Jex growled. “Interrupting a man’s morphine like that.”
“Sorry, but you’re close to dead, man,” Brandon said. “Come on, let’s get you to a hospital.”
Pearl noticed Brandon and the other men’s eyes flickering to Jex’s leg. Reluctantly, she withdrew from Jex.
He reached out a hand to her. “Stay close, please.”
“I will,” she assured him.
She watched helplessly, wishing she could ease his pain, as they transferred him to the backboard. They carefully repositioned his leg, and Jex grunted, panting and clutching the edges of the backboard. His face went white, and Pearl was certain he would pass out again. Maybe that would be better, though, if he could sleep through all of this and they could get him to the hospital and some real morphine.
Chapter Seven
Jex was in and out of consciousness as they carried him down the trail and onto the helicopter. He felt worse than anything he could recall from previous injuries. His head hurt, his leg was on fire, and his body was scratched and scraped. Worst of all, he felt helpless. He hated that feeling, almost as much as he hated that Pearl had to see him broken and useless.
No. He couldn’t be negative. He’d heal quickly and be back doing tricks, flirting with Pearl, kissing her nonstop, and talking her into marrying him. He clung to those thoughts. He was going to be okay, stronger than ever, and soon this would just be something to joke about.
They made it to the hospital and started shooting him full of something that made him even drowsier, but at least numbed the pain. He clung to Pearl’s hand as they rushed him down a hallway. “Don’t leave me,” he slurred out.
“I won’t, Jex. I’ll be here. You’ll be okay.”
He hated being so needy, but he needed Pearl. Everything besides their connection was fuzzy and disjointed. He closed his eyes and could feel her slipping away from him. “No,” he tried to yell, but it came out as a croak. “Pearl, Pearl,” he pled.
The world went black.
Pearl paced the small hospital room where they’d brought Jex to recover after hours of surgery. Her stomach churned and her heart raced. Sweat pooled in her bra and slid down her back. She wanted Jex to wake up from the anesthesia, but at the same time, she didn’t. How was he going to deal with this news? His whole life had changed in a split second. Of course Jex knew what he did was dangerous, but he also thought he was invincible, was always joking about specializing in miracles. Despite various minor injuries, he had seemed to live a charmed life. Well, they needed a miracle now, and she didn’t know that the good Lord really worked the way she wanted Him to.
Jex stirred, groaned, and blinked his eyes open. “Pearl,” he croaked out.
Tears sprang to her eyes. She wanted to be strong for him, but she was deeply touched to know that he’d called to her first. “I’m here.” She hurried to his side and took his outstretched hand.
“You said you wouldn’t leave me,” he muttered.
“They wouldn’t let me in the operating room—something about a medical degree, I don’t know,” she tried to joke, but her voice was uneven.
Jex chuckled, then coughed.
“Do you want some ice chips?” she asked. “They said you could have those when you woke up, then progress to water. If you’re a good boy, you might earn a juice box by tonight.”
He smiled up at her. “You’re so pretty.”
Pearl grinned weakly. She wished with everything in her that she didn’t have to deliver this news. Could she wait until his family arrived? They were en route, but a private jet took a bit longer than commercial to fly from Boston to Kauai. Well, the flight speed was a bit slower, but they didn’t have security or layovers to deal with. She released his hand and spooned some ice chips in his mouth.
“Thanks,” he murmured. He let go of her hand just long enough to push the button to lift his bed up. He rotated his head and said, “I’m feeling pretty good. Clear, just a little headache. Guess the head injury wasn’t too bad?”
“No.” Hopefully her face wasn’t blanching, because she suddenly felt lightheaded. “You bled a bit, but the head injury wasn’t too bad. You do have a broken rib, but they said that will heal well.” They’d cleaned up a lot of his surface scratches and wounds.
He took another bite of ice chips and smiled. “Sweet. Yeah, I’m feeling really great, especially considering the crash and that I was out for a while.” He looked to her as if expecting her to confirm that he was fine.
“You did lose consciousness,” she squeaked out.
“My right leg feels weird, but that’s probably just the anesthesia wearing off.” He shrugged. “So I know how you work, sweet Pearl. You’ve rescheduled this week, already scheming which older stunts you can replay to keep the fans happy. Maybe next week we double up the tricks so we fit in all the Kauai stuff before we move on. Is it Switzerland on the schedule next? Man, I’m stoked for that trip.” His grin became intimate and he squeezed her hand. “Especially now that my beautiful manager and I are on kissing and I-love-you terms. If you were a betting woman, and I bought a really huge diamond ring, how long would you bet it takes for me to talk you into changing your last name?”
“Um, uh …” Pearl was choking. She had to tell him. She had to.
Jex’s face clouded. He set the ice chips down. “Please, Pearl. Don’t get all freaked out because you finally admitted you’re gone for me and then I got hurt. I’ll be more careful.” He smiled gently at her, as if she were unstable and he needed to tread carefully. “Everything that happened before the accident is still true. I still love you; you still love me. You can trust me to always be there for you. It’s all going to be fine.”
No woman on earth would be able to resist his brilliant, charming smile. Even lying in a hospital bed, he was so confident, so attractive. She did love him, but his optimism might not continue once he knew.
“Jex, it’s not about us.” She could hardly choke it out.
“What is it, then? The sponsors are upset?”
“N-no,” she managed.
“Oh! My leg. It’s broken, isn’t it? I’d totally forgotten how bad it looked and how much it hurt before. It’s all numb now. Did they have to set it? Am I going to be longer than a week’s recovery?” His grin grew. “You know what? Maybe this is fate, beautiful girl. I’ll buy a huge diamond, talk you into marrying me, and we can elope tomorrow.” He winked cockily. “What does it take a bone to heal? Six weeks. A six-week honeymoon will be incredible. Just me and you, holed up on a private beach. I’m so happy you finally admitted to desperately loving me.”
His dark eyes seared into her with a smoldering look that made her week in the knees. A six-week honeymoon? Their own private beach? She wished. Oh, she loved him more than desperately, but love wasn’t going to conquer all when he found out the truth. She wrung her hands together, her neck tight, her stomach churning.
Maybe she was underestimating how great Jex was. Maybe he’d take this news like the patient, laid-back, optimistic guy he was and just soldier on. Maybe the months of recovery and the fact that he’d never do a stunt again wouldn’t faze him. And maybe if she prayed hard enough, a doctor or his family would rush in and Pearl wouldn’t have to be the one to break the truth.
“Please, sweet Pearl. I love you. Say you’ll marry me.” He waited with an expectant smile on his handsome face.
Pearl licked her lips, swallowed hard, clung to his hand, and finally knew she had to spit it out, “Your leg’s a mess, Jex. Irreparable damage is what the doctors said. They put rods and screws in to straighten and support it, hoping the shattered bones will someday heal. They used donor ligaments for your knee that should heal in four to six months. The nerves are … destroyed. They should reroute, but Jex …” She couldn’t even look at him. “Even with extensive physical therapy, you may never walk normally again, let alone run, bike, or do most of your other stunts.”
She forced her gaze to meet his. Jex’s dark eyes were full of disbelief and shock. He looked down at his leg, which was covered with the white sheet, then back up at her. Blinking as if trying to see through the fog, he released her hand and ripped the sheet off, revealing that his right leg was tightly wrapped in Ace bandages. His face blanched and his lips tightened. “No,” he murmured.
Pearl pulled in a shaky breath, her body trembling. “Jex, I’m so sorry.”
“No!” He roared. “No!” He leaned forward and started ripping at the bandages.
“Jex, stop.” Pearl hurried around the bed so she could restrain him, grabbing on to his hands. “Jex!” she begged. “Stop.”
Jex stared at her, his eyes wild and unfocused. Pearl felt fear trace through her. Jex was strong, much stronger than her. Would he hurt her? The Jex she’d known and fallen in love with over the years never would have, but this Jex didn’t even look like the man she loved. He looked out of control, horrified, and desperate.
Jex pulled his hands free, wrapped them around her forearms, and very, very gently pushed her back. “Pearl,” he said in a much saner voice than she’d expected. “Please step back. I would never hurt you, but I am going to look at my leg.”
Pearl’s heart was thundering out of control. “Thank you for being in control, Jex. Can you let me get some help, and they’ll unwrap your leg and explain your prognosis better than I can?”
Jex stared at her for a few beats. Pearl’s pulse was calming down, but there was something more terrifying about him now than his craze of a few seconds ago. Now he was growing cold and detached. She could almost feel him shrinking away from her, from everything. He released his hold on her and leaned back into the bed. “Okay,” was all he said.
“Okay.” Pearl hurried around the bed, pushing the button for the nurse and explaining they wanted the doctor to explain the prognosis and unwrap the leg to show Jex what they’d done. She stood uncertainly next to Jex’s bed after the nurse assured her the doctor would be there as soon as possible.
Nodding in what she hoped was a convincing way, she said through her too-dry throat, “It’ll be okay, Jex. It’s going to be okay.”
Jex stared straight ahead. He didn’t look at her. He didn’t answer her. Chills started in Pearl’s spine and worked their way out as she shut her mouth tight, worried her lip, and wrung her hands together. There was no reason to lie further. Nothing was going to be okay.
Chapter Eight
Five of the most boring yet terrifying weeks of Jex’s life passed. That was about all he could say about them. Time dragged by as he had nothing to do but heal. His leg was such a mess that they hadn’t even started physical therapy yet. His family had arrived at the hospital in Kauai not too many hours after his pathetic state had been revealed to him by Pearl and then explained by the doctor. They’d all returned to the States two days later and gone to several specialists. Everyone concurred with the doctor from Kauai and said he’d done the very best he could.
His mom had begged him to come recover at their house south of Boston. He probably should’ve. At least Lottie, all the happily engaged or married couples, and his parents could’ve kept him company, but he couldn’t stand it. He couldn’t stand the pity in anyone’s eyes. So he’d gone home to his house in Boca Raton, Florida. He’d rarely spent more than a few days at a time here. It was a nice place, right on the river, a block from the beach. He liked it. And he was miserable.
Pearl had come with him. Of course his faithful Pearl hadn’t left his side. She was far too good for him, and he had nothing to offer her now.
Pearl had hired all kinds of help: nurses, housekeepers, and a world-renowned chef delivering their meals. The physical therapists, occupational therapists, and who knew what other therapists would come as soon as they got approval from the docs. What did it matter? Jex would never return to full health. He would never do another stunt again. What did anything else matter?
Pearl strode into the room, looking breathtakingly beautiful in a fitted pale blue dress and spike heels with polka dots on them. She mattered. She was the only bright spot in his life. He loved her. He adored her. He needed to let her go.
“Good morning, love,” she said, all bright and cheery.
Jex knew she was trying to bring him out of the funk he’d been in the past few weeks, but he couldn’t rise out of it, even for her. He was as independent as possible, getting around on crutches, even doing stairs so he could get up to his main level from his bedroom or gym. This morning, he’d already done the weightlifting moves he could do for his upper body and good leg in his home gym, which took up the space above his four-car garage, before he’d showered and gotten ready. He didn’t want Pearl worrying about him—or worse, being disgusted by him—but he was depressed, and even Pearl couldn’t bring him out of it. He’d tried so hard to stay positive and normal for the past five weeks, but nothing was going to change and he’d finally admitted it to himself: it was past time to let her go live her life.
“You look good.” She bent down and kissed his cheek. She smelled so good, like coconut and vanilla. He wanted to pull her onto his lap and kiss her until he forgot all about his aching leg and his lost future. They hadn’t shared a real kiss since he’d regained consciousness in the forest on Kauai. Her kiss had taken away all of his pain that day. He imagined it would help him now as well, but he couldn’t be that selfish.
“Thanks. You look beautiful as ever.”
She smiled. “So I talked to the doc and told him you’d been lifting on your own with your upper body and … good leg. He was thrilled with how well you’re doing and that you’re maintaining your strength.”
How good he was doing? Maintaining what strength? His strength didn’t matter if he could never run, bike, hike, swim, wakeboard, surf, soar, or do any of his stunts again. He smiled encouragingly, knowing she saw straight through him, but not willing to drag her into his darkness.
“He recommended a physical therapist. I contacted the lady, and she’s going to come meet with us today. Is that all right?” She was so sunny and bright that Jex wished he could shield his eyes or put a curtain over her like he did the windows. She was too beautiful for him, and he wouldn’t constrain her to this life. It hurt to even look at her. How did he get her to leave him without hurting her? It would destroy him to lose her, but that was his life now.
“Of course. Thank you. You’re too good to me.” He winked. Anyone from the outside looking in would think he was reacting to his injury like a champion. What a joke. He could see the flicker of unease in Pearl’s eyes, but she didn’t want to delve into any of his issues either. Were they both just wimps who hated confrontation, or was this pain simply too deep to even try talking about it?
“I went through your finances last night.”
Jex jerked. Pearl had done so much for him over the years, and he trusted her implicitly. She had access to all his accounts and worked with his financial consultants to invest, donate, and manage his money. Maybe now that he had nothing better to do, he’d take a more active role in that crap. He’d always hated math, and reading, and science. Unlike his brothers, he’d barely limped through school. Limped. That was fitting. The only thing he was truly good at was being crazy and using his physical strength, coordination, and talent to show off. He was such a loser now. How could Pearl even stand to be around him?
“Am I still rich?” he tried to joke.
Pearl laughed shakily. “Very much so. But, um … you aren’t going to like this.”
Jex couldn’t help but let out a frustrated grunt of a laugh. Not going to like this? He didn’t like anything right now. Except her. “Lay it on me. I can handle it.” He pushed out his chest as if he were cocky and gave her what he hoped was his irresistible grin. He didn’t think anything about himself was irresistible anymore, yet Pearl stayed with him. Why?
“I’ve been pretty busy with setting everything up with the house and the doctors and responding to all the media inquisitions,” she began.
Jex pushed up to his feet—well, his one foot. He didn’t grab his crutches, but lightly held on to a side table for balance. He immediately felt a little better, not gazing up at Pearl like he worshipped her—which he did, but something was more wrong than normal and he didn’t want to take the news sitting down. “You’ve been amazing.” He wished he could add sweetheart or love, but he’d tried very hard to cut anything like that out of his vocabulary the past few weeks. He didn’t know why she stayed, but he didn’t want to influence her.
It hit him like a ton of bricks: everything she’d been doing had been setting him up so she could leave. He almost sank back to the chair, but he held his core tight and spread his toes to balance better on his good leg. Every muscle was tight. Pearl was leaving him. How had he not recognized it before now? It was for the best. It was what he wanted.
No, that was a blatant lie. He wanted Pearl, but he wouldn’t hold her to him when he had nothing to offer her. Sure, he was wealthy, but he had no purpose, no drive to succeed anymore, nothing in his future. He’d keep taking care of himself and pretending for the world that he was dealing with this injury like Jex Steele did everything: with a joking smile and a patient attitude. It would all be a lie. And he’d tell himself the hugest lie of all: that when Pearl left, he wouldn’t spiral into a hole so black and deep that it was impenetrable.
“Thank you, Jex.” She ducked her head slightly and bit at her lip, and he wished with everything in him that he could kiss her, really kiss her. Maybe when she left, he’d kiss her goodbye. That was at least something to look forward to.
“Lay it on me. I can take it. Wait, let me guess first. I’m going to lose all my money and have to go live on an island in the Caribbean with snakes.” He grinned and pumped his eyebrows. “Preston and Ally acted like it was so tough, but I think I could hack it.” He could hack anything if Pearl was with him. Well, anything but losing the function in his right leg. Over a month ago they’d finally admitted their love for each other, and within minutes his future had been stripped from him. The good Lord had a perverse sense of humor.
