I assured him I could withstand this. I promised him I was stronger than his mum. This is not the same kind of situation.
Caleb is not the same boy who went through that media nightmare all those years ago, either.
The man I love was in a terrifying accident. And I’m not only going to be there for him, but I’ll tell him how I feel.
Life can change in a second. I don’t want to spend my time hiding my feelings from Caleb.
I want to be with him whenever I can. Walking in the paddock. Getting dinner. Brushing my fingers through his hair or getting a quick peck on the lips before we part to do our jobs. I know he might not be in love with me. I swallow hard. It would be hard to hear, but I also believe he can get there. I am willing to wait for his feelings to reach mine, because this is the kind of love I’ve dreamed of.
This man is more than worth the wait.
I take off my headset. “I’m going with you,” I tell Catherine firmly. “I don’t care what anyone thinks. Even Caleb. I know he’s worried about what the media and keyboard trolls will do to me,but at this point? I don’t freaking care.Screw it. I’m strong. I’vegotthis. And Caleb will see that, too.”
A smile passes over Catherine’s face. “I knew there was a reason he picked you. Come on, let’s go.”
* * *
Catherine and I are escorted to the medical facility by Bethany Rossi, the chief communications officer for Collings Motors. She expressed surprise when she first saw me—after all, the last time we met was in Italy, when I was interviewing Caleb. I introduced myself as his girlfriend, and I definitely saw disapproval flicker in her eyes, but I really didn’t care.
At all.
Next to the facility, I see an emergency helicopter and a CT scan unit. Bile rises in my throat. I mean, I’m so grateful there are facilities like this on racetracks, but it reminds all of us how differently this accident could have ended.
When we step inside the facility, we’re greeted by personnel and take seats as we wait for the doctor to come out and update us. I look around and swallow hard. This situation could have been … I don’t even want to think about what it could have been.
Nobody talks. Bethany works on her phone, no doubt compiling the information that will be given to the media about Caleb’s accident and his health. Catherine takes a phone call from her mum, and she reassures her over and over that Caleb is okay, and as soon as he’s released from the medical center, she’ll call back. My phone is going off like mad—and I turn it off. I have no doubt there are a million messages from Hadleigh, Mom, and Dad, but I can’t talk to anybody until I talk to Caleb. We’re offered water or coffee, but we all decline.
Finally, a door opens and out walks a doctor. He’s in his forties, I’d say, and he gives us a reassuring smile that causes a second wave of relief to wash through me.
“I’m Dr. Bauer,” he says in Austrian-accented English.
“I’m Catherine Collings, Caleb’s sister.” She extends her hand. “But you may speak freely in front of all of us.”
“All right. First, I can assure you that Caleb is fine. Nothing is broken. Not even a concussion.”
“Thank God,” Catherine says, putting her arm around my shoulders and hugging me to her.
“The technology of the car helped him. He’s sore—and he’ll be very sore for the next few days. But if this were a qualifying day, I’d clear him to drive tomorrow.”
When I think of how his car looked—how it was destroyed by that accident—I can’t believe Caleb is walking away from it unscathed.
I’ve never been more relieved and thankful for anything in my life.
“Would you like to see him?” Dr. Bauer asks. “He’s getting dressed now.”
Catherine turns to me. “You go first. You’re the one he needs to see right now.”
I nod. I know I’m doing the right thing by being here, but I hope Caleb feels the same way. I don’t want to have an argument with him or upset him after he’s just been in an accident, but I am willing to plant my flag on this hill and fight for it if I need to.
I follow the doctor until he stops right outside of an exam room. “He’s in there.”
“Thank you,” I say. “And thank you for treating him.”
“My pleasure,” he says before walking away.
I open the door to the exam room, and there’s Caleb. His back is to me as he pulls up his racing suit so it’s hanging off his hips. As soon as he hears the door, he turns around, but when hesees me, his eyes widen in shock. “Isla!” he gasps. “What are you doing here?”
I hurry toward him, throwing my arms around his neck. And then I burst into tears.