Kelli
Rushing down the cold and sterile hallways of the ICU, Kelli brushed away the tears, irritated that they were unrelenting. She knew this was only the beginning. Just as she’d cried in agonized heartache the days after Isaiah’s call, she’d be crying endlessly now. Only this time that tiniest of hope was gone. This is what it would always be like with Isaiah and his family. She’d seen it in his eyes the entire time she’d explained her heart out. Seen it and heard it in AJ’s voice. The suspicion would always be there, no matter what she said or did.
As she pushed through the double door exit out into the waiting area, she saw how many people were there now. It wasn’t just his siblings anymore. There were more waiting, and she knew they were there for Isaiah because many were standing around his sisters and Nathan. The moment Nathan turned to see her he rushed to her.
“What happened?”
“We said our final good-bye. It’s over.”
Kelli kept walking because the tears didn’t subside even slightly after seeing all those people there. If anything, seeing the family that never had and never would accept her in Isaiah’s life made her more emotional. Angry even. She was not going to stand there and have this blubbering conversation in front of all of them.
“What?” Nathan kept up with her even as her strides quickened. “Good-bye? Why? You’re all he’s asked for since he woke up. What happened?”
The moment they turned the corner and she was sure they were out of sight from the others she stopped and turned to him. “Things between Isaiah and me have been doomed from the beginning. I don’t know why I fooled myself into thinking otherwise. Even in our most beautiful moments, there’s always been suspicion on his part. I know it was my fault. I know I screwed up by not returning his calls in the beginning, and then”—she shook her head, angry at her cursed luck—“of all the guys I could’ve met back then, it had to be you, his brother. It’s like the gods have been against us from the beginning. This was never meant to be.”
Nathan shook his head, searching her eyes. “Did you tell him what you told me? About you assuming it was my story they kept talking about on the news?”
“I did. I explained it all, but he still believes that . . .” She brought her hand to her mouth, unable to speak anymore, then took a trembling breath. “How can he honestly believe that I would willingly stay away, knowing what he’s been through? That I wouldn’t have been here day and night the moment I found out what happened to him? After everything we’ve been through, he actually believes that I’d be starting up another relationship with someone else just like that? And your whole family thinks the same. Anything between Isaiah and me is impossible, Nathan. I was kidding myself to think this would ever work once we were back in the real world.”
“No, Kelli, it was me!” Nathan said, reaching out and placing his hands at her shoulders. “I did that. I put that in his head. You saw how angry I was earlier today. I called him right afterward, and I was hot. I probably made it sound worse than it was, and AJ and Emi were there when he took my call, so of course they’d be just as mad.”
AJ came around the corner in a rush, nearly colliding with them. His eyes flicked back and forth between them as Nathan pulled his hands off her shoulders.
“Isaiah wanted me to come after you,” he said, still not appearing the least bit happy about that. “He wants to talk to you.”
Kelli shook her head immediately, just as Emi and Olivia turned the corner, and now she had all of Isaiah’s siblings staring at her. She wiped her eyes again, trying desperately to keep it together.
“I know it’s pointless.” She managed to force a pitiful smile because she was sure they’d be glad to hear what she had to say next. “I’d hoped this could be an exception, but Isaiah’s made it clear more than once now. You really never do get a second chance at a first impression, and I made a horrid first impression on all of you—on Isaiah—one he’ll never get over. It took me long enough to accept it. But I do now, okay? I should’ve known from the very beginning everything was against us being together.” Nathan started to say something, but she shook her head again. “I can’t keep trying to force something that had impossible written all over it from the start. I should’ve never kept pushing.”
“How did you keep pushing?” Emi asked. “You left.”
“I had to,” Kelli said, feeling defensive again. “He made it clear he wanted nothing to do with me.”
Emi shook her head, reaching her hand out to touch Kelli’s arm. “I didn’t mean it in a bad way, Kelli. What I meant is this didn’t just keep happening because you were pushing—forcing it. It happened because it was meant to be.”
Emi and Olivia exchanged glances; then Olivia spoke. “He told us about it—all of it. Emi and I have been discussing it ever since. What are the odds that you’d end up going on a date with Nathan and because of that be reunited with Isaiah again?”
Kelli felt the lump in her throat growing again, remembering the revelation she’d had that mortifying day at his uncles’. It confirmed that what she’d been feeling for him after just one weekend hadn’t been a fluke.
“What are the odds that you’d be the one he was assigned to watch over a whole year after you two thought you’d seen the last of each other?” Emi added.
“He told us he never once stopped thinking of you that entire year,” Olivia said with a hopeful smile.
“He’d originally turned the assignment down,” AJ said, his expression not so harsh anymore. “I was there the morning his original assignment was cancelled. Hell, what are the odds I’d insist he take the job in New Mexico because he still didn’t want to?”
Nathan cleared his throat and they all turned to him. “I know my brother. He’d sacrifice anything for us. I’m sure it’s the only reason why he stayed away from you that whole year. Because he thought he might be hurting me.” He shook his head. “You and I both know that’s not the case, Kelli. And I take full responsibility for putting so much shit in Isaiah’s head. It’s why he’s been so paranoid.”
“I’m guilty of it too,” Emi said with a wince. “I just didn’t know the whole story, so I was being protective. It’s what we do in this family. And it’s why I really wish you’d consider giving my stubborn brother another chance. At least hear him out.”
AJ raised his hand with a half smirk. “I sure as hell haven’t held back saying what I thought of this whole thing. I still don’t know the whole story. All I know is I’ve never heard my brother sound so desperate. It’s why my ass came charging around that corner, in spite of all my misgivings about this.”
“Only reason I never said anything negative to Sai about this,” Olivia said, “is because I didn’t even know what was going on until he told us. But let me tell you something, Kelli. When he told us about how he met you . . . That first impression you made on him before any of us met you is the one he’s held on to all this time. Regardless of everything that happened afterward, it was that first weekend you two spent together that he’s never gotten over. It’s clear that, now that he’s spent even more time with you, he won’t be getting over you any time soon—if ever. I hate to break it to you, but even if you don’t go back and hear him out now, you’re not getting rid of him so easily.”
To Kelli’s utter surprise, AJ chuckled. “Shit, he has me chasing after you, and I’m not even fully convinced—” Emi smacked his arm. “What?” He turned to Emi. “I’m just saying. You guys know the whole story. I don’t.” He brought his attention back to Kelli. “You may as well go back in there now because Olivia’s right. Just like all the other times, you haven’t seen the last of Sai.”
Kelli felt her lip quiver as she tried to smile. “And here I thought he was the one who couldn’t get rid of me.”
“So you’ll go back in there?” Olivia asked, her eyes going bright with excitement.
Kelli nodded. Within seconds, she had both his sisters’ arms hooked into hers, and they all started back to Isaiah’s room. She tried to focus on everything they filled her in on as they made their way back to his room. They told her how they feared, even before anyone knew anything, that Isaiah might’ve been in or around the area of the terrorist attacks. Valerie had called Moe, not wanting to alarm Isaiah’s immediate family, to inform him that Isaiah had left her office just forty minutes prior to the attacks and had been on his way downtown to the county offices. How inconsolable they’d all been when at first the doctors had told them to prepare for the worst.
It was almost a relief that she hadn’t known about it from the beginning. The way his sisters told it, they’d been through a horrifying ordeal. At least by the time Nathan told her about it, she knew Isaiah was going to be okay. But even hearing all this couldn’t take from the fear that maybe she was setting herself up again for heartache. Regardless of everything his brothers and sisters had just said to her, that phone call, the things Isaiah had said to her that fateful day, and the way he acted before she stormed out of his room earlier were still too telling of how easily—how quickly—he was to turn on her.
“Make sure he’s decent,” Emi said to AJ as they reached the door.
AJ knocked softly on the door before opening it and peeking in. He turned back to Kelli and nodded. “We’ll give you your privacy,” Olivia said, squeezing Kelli’s arm.
“No.” Kelli shook her head. “I want you guys in there.”
As expected, they all appeared a bit perplexed. AJ may have been the only one who’d actually admitted it, but Kelli knew better. She’d seen it in Nathan’s eyes, and he’d been perfectly clear about how he still felt about her when he confronted her in New Mexico. It was obvious Isaiah’s family loved him and like him would sacrifice how they really felt about this if it meant it would make him happy. She knew they all must still have their misgivings about this. And like Isaiah, she was certain they were all still wondering about her date with Zach and that bottle of wine he’d ordered just before her and Nathan’s war of words. She needed them all to hear this—needed them all to know just how wrong they were to jump to the worst imaginable conclusion.
Arming herself with the strength she’d need to do this, she took a deep breath and walked through the door AJ held open for her.
“I’m sorry” was the first thing out of Isaiah’s mouth when she walked in.
As usual, just seeing him had her so full of emotion the sudden spark she’d picked up just before walking into the room was squashed. It took everything in her not to run to his bedside and fall all over him crying, but she stood her ground.
“I’m an idiot,” Isaiah said, speaking quickly and as desperately as AJ had mentioned, despite all his siblings being in the room too. “I could make excuses, blame it on the meds, say my heart’s been so shattered from the moment I woke and found out you’d left, that you hadn’t called even though there was no way you didn’t know, that Nathan saw you on a date with your boss, but you’re right. Bottom line is none of that should’ve mattered. After everything we’ve been through, I should’ve believed in us—known there had to be an explanation for all of it. You’re absolutely right to be angry, and I promise you I’ll work on it. I swear to God I will. But you have to know, Kel, I love you. I need you. There’s no way I’m letting you go. I may not be able to go after you now, but—”
“We’ll go after her for you,” Nathan said with a smirk.
His sisters nodded, and Kelli could see how much that surprised Isaiah, especially coming from Nathan. After eyeing his siblings, a bit bemused, Isaiah turned to Kelli again. “I won’t question New Mexico ever again. It doesn’t matt—”
“Zach chose to hire me specifically.” Kelli lifted her chin as Isaiah’s smile flattened. “He said my resume and interview were a breath of fresh air compared to all the other pretentious applicants he’d interviewed. He wasn’t really seeking a personal stylist or an image consultant either. The man is the epitome of style. Most would envy the image he’s worked so hard to build and maintain for years. The last thing he wanted was some over achiever image consultant or stylist trying to prove herself and making his trip a nightmare for him. He doesn’t even need an assistant; he just hates being alone, so he was looking for someone to travel with him—a companion.”
Kelli paused, swallowing hard as she waited for a response to that, for the accusations to come flying out of Isaiah’s mouth or even his siblings, AJ mostly, but there weren’t any. They all remained silent. The fact that Isaiah didn’t even seem annoyed said a lot about the effort he was already putting into keeping his promise of working on it. She’d purposely let him know that part first because she figured if anything would have him jumping to the ugliest conclusions it would be this. But when he didn’t say anything, she continued.
“He told me all this today over lunch. That business lunch we had wasn’t really for business either. He had me believe it was until after a few drinks when he worked up the courage to come clean.”
Emi cleared her throat, and Kelli caught how she and Olivia exchanged glances, as if maybe this was beginning to make them nervous. But even then Isaiah didn’t say anything, and his expression remained unaffected. With a sudden urge to be near him again, she started toward the bed as she continued to explain. She told him how Zach confessed that her being so under qualified on paper was what initially had drawn him to her resume and why he set up the interview in the first place, but it hadn’t been until after he met her and had such an instant connection with her that sealed it. She’d been his first choice for the job.
To her surprise, instead of reacting negatively to that, Isaiah reached out for her hand. She took it with a smile, beyond grateful that he still remained unspoken—patient.
“The bottle of wine today was his way of celebrating his coming clean about just wanting a travel companion.”
Now Isaiah’s lips pressed together a bit, but he still stared at her silently as if he knew she was expecting him to know there was a perfectly valid explanation for all this. So she decided to just tell him the rest.
“Just before Nathan got there, I’d already decided there was no way I wasn’t quitting. It’s why I’d excused myself to the ladies’ room to gather my thoughts. As polite and respectful as he’d been about his admission, the more I thought about it, the more annoyed it made me, and I’d had a few glasses of wine. I didn’t want to snap. That’s when Nathan confronted me.”
This time the corner of Isaiah’s lips lifted, and Kelli all out smiled, even though she could feel herself getting emotional again. “His showing up just when a wrench had been thrown in my plans to escape my heartache was like fate all over again. The moment he told me what was really going on with you, I knew what I had to do, where I had to be.”
“Holy shit,” Nathan said as she felt the others let out breaths they’d apparently been holding in. “I thought for sure shit was gonna hit the fan.”
Emi and Olivia both brought their hands to their chests. “Girl.” Emi laughed. “I kept thinking please tell me after we just dragged her back in here that she didn’t really just admit she agreed to be some guy’s hired companion.”
Isaiah pulled her closer with a smile. “Nah, I knew she had something up her sleeve.”
She leaned in and kissed him softly, giving into the emotion as he brought his arm around her neck. “Point taken,” he whispered in her ear. “I may not always be as patient as I was just now hearing you talk about the connection this guy had with you, but I sure as hell will work on waiting to hear the whole story before reacting.”
Kelli wiped the tears from her eyes as she laughed softly, for the first time noticing his siblings had made a quiet exit out of the room. “The moment what he was saying was clear, I knew there was no way. No matter how over our relationship was, I knew it’d be a long time if ever that I’d be over you.”
“So you quit already, right? You don’t have to call his ass back still, do you?”
She shook her head but smiled, the emotion from what had really happened today still sinking in slowly. “You know I never would’ve accepted the job in the first place if I knew I had the choice of being here with you. Mostly all I wanted was to run away from my heartache.”
Giving in to the emotion because she felt too drained to try not to anymore, she leaned against his hand as he caressed her face. He pulled her to him again. “I love you so much, Kel,” he whispered as he kissed her tears away. “You know I’d already begun to think before Nathan brought you in here today that I couldn’t live without you. But when you walked out on my dumb ass, I knew it. No way was I going to. Remember what I said I’d do if you ever disappeared on me again?”
Kelli nodded, staring into his beautiful eyes and smiling, even as the tears continued to fill her eyes. “That you’d hunt me down.”
He smiled, kissing more of her tears away. “You’re damn straight. And then spend the rest of my life begging you to take me back if I had to.”
Taking a deep breath, Kelli ran her fingers through his hair gently. “Your brothers and sisters said you’d do something like that.”
“Did they?”
Kelli nodded just as someone knocked on the door before pushing it open. An older nurse walked in and seemed surprised to see Kelli there. “I didn’t know you had a sweetheart, Isaiah.”
“I do,” Isaiah said as the nurse came around the other side of the bed and checked the machines monitoring him. “This is Kelli.”
Kelli nodded, smiling politely as she wiped lingering tears away. “Nice to meet you, Kelli,” the nurse said as she pushed buttons and wrote something down on a clipboard. “I’m Leonor.” She glanced up from her clipboard. “So how long have you been this stubborn man’s girlfriend?”
Kelli had only begun to think of an answer when Isaiah squeezed her hand. “Fiancée actually,” he said. He smiled, meeting Kelli’s startled eyes as his fingers toyed with the ring on her finger. Kelli had forgotten she’d slipped it on when she rushed to pack her things up at the hotel in New Mexico.
“We’ve been engaged for a few months,” Isaiah clarified then added, “but she’s owned my heart for over a year now.”
The way Isaiah gazed at her now made Kelli’s heart swell. He nodded as if to confirm what he’d just said was true.
“Well, congrats,” Leonor said with a big smile as she placed the clipboard back on the wall. “Have you set a date?”
“Not yet,” Kelli finally answered one of Leonor’s questions.
“But soon,” Isaiah added. “We don’t wanna wait too long.”
Isaiah finally took his eyes off Kelli, only to turn to Leonor and tell her to make sure he got her address before he was released so he could send her an invitation. Kelli’s heart pounded away in her chest, even as Leonor walked out of the room. He couldn’t be serious.
She stared at him for a moment without saying anything once they were alone, until he smiled big with a shrug and pulled her to him again. He leaned his forehead against hers. “I already told you I can’t live without you.”
Almost annoyingly, she felt her eyes welling up again. “I can’t live without you either.”
“So start thinking about a date.”
For the first time in days, Kelli smiled genuinely. “You haven’t actually asked me to marry you, Isaiah.”
“I can’t until I get you a real ring, but it’s coming soon, and you already know how I feel about long engagements, so start thinking about it.”
She lifted a brow with a smirk. “But what if I don’t say yes?”
He moved his hand just under her, and whatever he did made the rail on the side of the bed slide down. Instantly, she was pulled against his chest and she gasped, trying to pull away. “Isaiah, I’m gonna hurt you!”
“Only pain I know for a fact now I’ll never survive, is you saying no to being mine forever.” Kelli tilted her head, feeling her heart swell all over again. “Say you’ll love me forever,” he whispered.
“I’ll love you forever.”
“Good girl.” He kissed her softly. “You already know I’ll love you forever.”