Chapter Two
"And I'm telling you someone from the hospital called me because I'm the emergency contact."
He looked at Justin. "You're cleared. She isn't."
"She's with me," Justin replied.
"If her name's not on the list, she doesn't get past." His eyes were as cold as his tone was stern.
Justin sent me an apologetic look. "Sorry. I've got an appointment back there. I’ll see what I can do from back there."
I nodded and watched with envy as he slipped past the human barrier and walked down the hall. Rose had convinced him to meet me and help me get through as many barriers as he could. I was grateful; he’d made it easier to get past the outside security that was doing its best to hold back the fans that had turned out, and he’d gotten me up to the correct floor without any trouble. But as soon as we tried to get past the nurse’s station, we’d hit a roadblock.
I turned back to the team that was staring back at me with disinterest. "Look, I appreciate that you're doing your job. But I promise I'm not here to make trouble. I'm friends with the band." I turned on my most charming smile, the one that had opened doors in the past.
One of them smirked. "Sure, lady. And I'm friends with the Queen of England. Look, I got a job to do. If you ain't on the list, you don't get past without a band member vouching for you. Listen, lady. This ain't my first rodeo. I don't know what you had to do to get the floor pass with the good doctor," he ran his eyes over my figure suggestively, "but it won't work with me."
"Are you saying you think I... oh, my god! He's my brother-in-law!" I sucked in a deep breath and blew it out slowly. It wouldn't help to climb up the mountain of a man who stood before me and smack the crap out of him for his lewd comment and look. I hadn't driven two hours in the dark to be deterred now. I blew out my breath and said as calmly as I could, "If you would just go back and ask a band member, or better yet, find the doctor who called me, I'm sure someone can clear this up."
His only response was to cross his arms and glare at me. Justin had warned me when he handed me the pass that allowed me on the hall where the band was quartered that it wouldn't be as easy as just walking up to them. But I hadn't counted on my name not being on an approved visitor list. After all, someone from the hospital had called me.
An idea hit me. "Wait, look. I got a pass sent from them." I fumbled in my purse and saw them stiffen and reach toward their holsters." They didn't relax until I waved the ticket and pass in front of them.
"Look, lady, this ain’t no concert. No name on the list, no getting past. Now, you need to leave before we have someone escort you out."
I was trying to decide if screaming bloody murder or faking some kind of medical condition might be a viable option when I heard a voice from behind the guards.
"Let her through."
I gasped as I stood on my tiptoes to see over the human blockade. A tall, dark-haired man stood with one forearm in a cast and his other hand in his jean's front pocket. Despite the various cuts that marred his handsome face, I'd know him anywhere.
"Rick! Oh, thank God you're okay!" I brushed past the guards and stopped short of jumping into his arms, uncertain of his reception. Almost two years had passed, but I knew only too well that time doesn't cure all wounds.
Shrewd eyes looked me over. Then they softened. "Get your ass over here." He held his good arm wide, and the moment I stepped close, he wrapped it around my waist lifting me in a tight hug. "EmmaBear. I'm glad you came," he whispered in my ear before putting me back on my feet.
I clutched his good arm. "I wasn't sure, but I couldn't stay away. I had to know for myself how you boys are."
He grinned. "Boys? Grab with both hands next time, baby."
I wrinkled my nose. "Ew, and thanks for proving my point." I shifted my eyes to his cast. "Let's start with you. How are you, honestly?"
He shrugged. "I was just thrown around a bit. Just a tiny break in my arm, but I'll be fine."
"And the rest?"
Rick smiled. "Why don't you come see for yourself? Ryan and Andy will be glad to see you."
I noticed the name that was missing in his statement. "And Drew?”
His smile faltered. "Let's start with the others. Then you and I will have a little chat."
My knees felt weak. "Is he..." I couldn't even say the words.
Strands of dark hair fell over his forehead as he shook his head. "He's in bad shape, but he'll live. Might wish he hadn't for a while, though."
Relief flowed through me alongside an anxiousness to know more. But Rick was already pulling on my elbow to guide me down the hall, away from the prying eyes of the staff. Knowing I should be grateful I was even here, I followed quietly. I should have felt relief at the warm greeting from Rick and his promise there was more to come. Instead, I felt cold and nervous about his 'chat' comment. Had I misread the gift of tickets? Maybe they weren’t a peace offering.
Rick lead me to what looked like it might be a small conference room that had been turned into a private waiting room for people associated with the band. Another guard stood outside the door. He nodded to Rick as he approached, but this time my presence wasn’t questioned.
"Look who I found," he said as he led the way into the room.
"Please tell me it's a hot nurse here to give me a sponge bath," another familiar voice responded.
I couldn't help but grin on hearing Ryan’s familiar southern drawl that somehow made his comment sound less crude. "Not a nurse and definitely not a sponge bath. Maybe a bar of soap for your mouth 'til you learn some manners,” I teased.
Ryan's mouth dropped open as he spun around. "Well, shit. Ems, is that really you?" He took three steps over and swung me around in a bear hug. "For fuck's sake, it is you! You're a sight for sore eyes. Go ahead and add to that sore arms, legs, head, di--"
"Shut your mouth, asshole." Andy gently pulled me from Ryan's arms into his own. "Hey, Emma. He's right, though. It's good to see you, again." He kissed my forehead. "It's been a long time."
I stretched up to kiss his cheek. "Too long," I said. I'd missed these guys, but I'd never thought they might have missed me. Things were strained the last time I saw them, and communication between us had been sporadic before it just stopped, mostly on my end. I was more than grateful for their warm welcome.
Andy assessed me. He was the quiet one of the group, the most thoughtful whose eyes didn't miss much. "How've you been, Emma?"
"Okay."
While most people would have taken my answer at face value, it was if Andy could see through me. "You look as beautiful as ever. You've done well, Ems.” I noticed Andy stopped short of saying he was happy for my success.
I turned to survey the rest of the small room, made smaller by the number of people in it. I didn't know anyone else but assumed they were part of the record label. One of them had his head tilted back on his chair, his mouth sagging open as he napped. I couldn't blame him; it was late at night and had been a long day for everyone. The rest all seemed to be busy on their cell phones. Despite the large group, it was still obvious a vital person was missing - Drew. Before I could ask about him, a pretty, petite blonde left her chair in the corner and approached Rick, who put his arm around her shoulders and kissed the top of her head.
"Hi," she said, sticking her hand out. "I'm Miranda."
"My wife," Rick stated, pride and love evident in his statement.
While I'd known he'd gotten married from the massive media coverage, she was after my time. It must have been quite a whirlwind romance. Of all the women I thought Rick might hook up with, Miranda was the polar opposite, at least by sight. I'd always figured he'd be drawn to a woman with a more of a biker-chick vibe, not the conservatively dressed, innocent-looking girl in front of me.
"I'm Emma. It's nice to meet you."
"You, too. We're all glad you're here." Her smile was warm and genuine, and from her comment, my name wasn't new to her. That was interesting.
I finally decided to tackle the elephant in the room. "How's Drew? Can I see him?"
All of their faces grew serious.
"He regained consciousness for just a few minutes a couple hours ago, but he slipped back into it," Miranda said, her voice a wobbly. Clearly, she was shaken by the event.
"That's good, though, right?"
Rick pulled me to a chair and made me sit.
I tried to read his expression. "What aren't you telling me?"
"He's pretty banged up, Emma. The rest of us fared better because we were in the back of the bus catching up on some sleep. We got tossed around and banged up, but Drew was up front. He said he wanted to work on some lyrics while there were on his mind. The front end took the brunt of the impact. Our PR manager and bus driver died at the scene, probably on impact. It's amazing Drew wasn't killed, too. He's got a concussion they're monitoring, and they had to do surgery to remove his spleen and insert a rod into his leg which was broken. He's also got a broken wrist. They've got an orthopedic guy in there now to see how bad it is, and if he’ll be able to play at the level he does now.”
I swallowed hard. Music was his life; he'd be devastated not to be able to play. "I'd like to see him, Rick."
He hesitated. "It kills me to ask this, but why are you here? I mean, why now and not before? We won’t allow this to be turned into a publicity stunt for whoever you are working for."
My shock must have shown on my face. At least he had the grace to look ashamed, but he held my eyes none-the-less. He was serious.
I held his gaze without flinching. "I understand why you're protecting him, but I swear to you, Rick, I'm only here because I care about him. About all of you. I was a mess when I heard the news. I... I can't not see him. I thought maybe he was also ready since he sent me the ticket and backstage pass. I promise I’m not here to stir up trouble for him or you guys."
"He was in bad shape when you left, Ems. It took him a long time to snap out of it. I'm not sure he ever got over you, though."
"I can relate to that."
His eyes flickered in surprise, then studied me. Finally, he nodded. "I'll take you to him."
"Thank you." I wasn't sure if that meant Rick was truly on my side, but at least he trusted me enough to take me to see his best friend. Not that I would've let even Rick stop me at this point.
As we stood, I grabbed his arm. "I know you probably don't believe me, but all that happened, it wasn't the way I wanted it to end. I tried."
Dark eyes held mine. "I believe you. Don't worry about it for now. We'll figure it all out. I think it's good that you're here. Really good."
I hoped he was right.