My hands gripped the steering wheel as I stared ahead, finding it difficult to breathe. Ryan didn’t even see me, I thought miserably. He had been so wrapped up in her; he hadn’t even noticed my car parked across the street. My car was hard to miss in such a neighborhood. There were fancy, expensive cars parked everywhere and mine was the exact opposite; a rust bucket on wheels.

I gulped, fighting back tears as I replayed everything I had just seen. A gorgeous woman, an exotic looking amazon with amazing legs had slid out of a car and ran into Ryan’s arms. He had embraced her, with joy and love.

Why couldn’t he look at me like that? I never made him laugh the way she had. Then, she had kissed him, and for the life of me, I couldn’t look away. Ryan obviously adored the woman. He had moved from one beauty to another in no time, all the while sleeping with me.

What was I, a rebound? Something to pass the time until that woman came back to him? It was then I realized that I was chasing the wind. Ryan would never look at me the way he looked at Julie or that stunning brunette. I watched them until they disappeared into his house, his arms still around her.

I glanced back at the homemade cookies and decorating supplies I’d planned to surprise Maxi and Becky with and sighed sadly. I’d envisaged us all having fun and getting messy in the kitchen, icing and decorating the cookies but I couldn’t go in there now. I drove off, with no set destination in mind, trying for as long as I could to keep my tears at bay.

I’d called it before Ryan, and I slept together the first time. I would get my heart broken, and low and behold I did. I supposed I had to deal with it and move on. By the time I was a few blocks from Ryan’s house, my tears had streamed down my face, nearly blinding me. I sniffed and wiped at them, and decided to head home.

There, I could curl up in bed for the rest of the day and bawl my eyes out. After my pity party, I could call a few girlfriends that I hadn’t hung out with in a while and arrange a girls’ night out. My social life had been on hold for a good year while I tried to get my business off the ground. It still remained at ground zero to that day, so my efforts were wasted. That only made me cry harder.

Blinded by tears, I didn’t see the truck that ran the stop sign and aimed right at my car until it was too late.

My last thought before everything went dark was that it was just my luck to die with a broken heart.

* * *

For a while, I felt like I was floating and then I found myself at Ryan’s place. How I got there, I have no idea, but I wanted to stay there. I was living the life I wanted. Ryan and I were together and happy. There was no Julie, no hot mystery brunette, just Ryan, Maxi, Becky and I. Even Eric was there, and he was fine with Ryan and I being in love. We were all celebrating Christmas together, a happy family.

I was at peace, but a nagging headache reminded me that it was a fading illusion. Disappointment coursed through me as my fantasy world began to disappear and an incessant beeping sound became louder. Then, I heard a distant voice.

“Lucy.”

Eric?

“Luce, come on, open your eyes. You can’t do this to me; it’s almost Christmas for goodness sake.”

What was he ranting about? I groaned as my headache became more intense. “Eric? What’s wrong?”

“Oh, thank God. She’s awake! Nurse!”

“For the love of God, Eric, can you stop shouting?” My eyes opened, and I blinked when bright light pierced my retinas. “Ugh, and turn the light off, will you?” When my eyes landed on him, I was surprised to see tears in Eric’s eyes. “Who died?”

He laughed. “And she’s back. Welcome back, little sis. Don’t ever scare me like that again.”

I attempted to sit up, my brain muddled, but a sharp pain in my right arm stopped me. I sucked in a breath and glanced down. My arm was in a cast. I finally managed to glance around my surroundings. A hospital? Then, everything came rushing back. Ryan with another woman, my heart shattering, a truck, and then the physical pain that followed.

“Oh, no, my car.”

Eric grasped my uninjured hand. “Don’t worry about your car, Luce. The important thing is, you’re alive.”

“No, you don’t understand,” I croaked. “I need my car… I can barely make the car payments or pay my other bills. My business is in the dumps, and now I have car repairs to worry about?” I broke down. I wasn’t one to cry about everything, but I was overwhelmed.

He stared, stunned. “Lucy, why am I just hearing about all of this?”

My mouth snapped shut. Crap. I had given myself away. Just then a nurse rushed in followed by Charlie and Ryan. My eyes stayed on Ryan as the nurse fussed over me. I didn’t hear a word she said to me. Everyone else faded away as he took long strides toward me. I was surprised by his appearance. His hair was a mess, his clothes wrinkled, he sported a five o’clock shadow that only made him sexier—damn him! But even though his eyes were bloodshot, he was a beautiful sight. He had broken my heart, and I couldn’t take my eyes off of him. I must have sustained massive head trauma in the accident.

I was vaguely aware of the nurse saying I could only have one visitor at a time, and Charlie gently gripping my hand. She said something, but I didn’t hear. I was too dazed as Ryan got closer and I realized his intention. My eyes widened, and my lips parted on a gasp just before he kissed me, long and deep, yet gentle. He cupped my face, and I melted into him, instantly forgetting that I was supposed to hate him. When he finally broke the kiss, I was breathless. He wiped a thumb across my cheek, dashing away a tear. I didn’t even remember why I had been crying. Something about my life falling apart. But, one kiss from Ryan and all other thoughts fled.

My eyes finally left his face to see that everyone else was gawking. Eric, however, didn’t seem too surprised. He merely cocked a brow, and I’m sure my entire face went crimson.