Lucy

“So, I have a surprise for you,” Jaxon said as he twirled a set of keys in his hand.

Lucy was hobbling slowly along side him as they headed to his truck to go to their sketch artist appointment at the precinct. Jaxon had offered to carry her again, but she was determined to get the hang of her crutches so she didn’t make a fool of herself when she went back to class tomorrow.

“I feel I should mention I’m not really big on surprises,” Lucy replied. “And I’m pretty sure my car accident just fulfilled my lifetime quota.”

“You’ll like this one,” Jaxon said confidently. “Meet your new ride.”

Jaxon swept his arm gallantly in front of him and Lucy found herself staring at a shiny blue golf cart waiting in front of her dorm building. She turned to Jaxon. “Um, a golf cart? I’ve actually seen one of those before.”

“I know, but have you ever had your own?”

“Are you serious? This is for me?”

Jaxon’s confidence flickered for a moment. “Yeah. I mean the school owns it, but I asked if I could borrow it to help get you around campus for a while. But if you’re not comfortable with it . . .”

“Are you kidding? I love it. But how the heck did you get a golf cart?”

“I asked the Dean.”

Lucy felt a bubble of air expand in her chest. “You did that for me?”

Jaxon shrugged like it was no big deal. “Sure.”

“Jaxon, thank you. This is amazing.”

“Don’t thank me yet, Smalls.”

“Why not?”

“‘Cause you’re stuck with me chauffeuring you around for the next few weeks, and that means you’re stuck listening to my music.” Jaxon winked and hopped into the golf cart and turned the key.

Achy Breaky Heart, wailed to life and Lucy looked around, mortified. “Good Lord, turn that down. Or off. Off would be better.”

Jaxon smirked but turned the radio down. “I told ya not to thank me.”

Lucy slid into the seat next to him and tucked her crutches in next to her. “Is this seriously the kind of music you listen to?”

Jaxon looked appalled. “No! But there’s a freaking cassette tape jammed in the player. A cassette tape! I didn’t even know they still existed.”

Lucy laughed. “Me either. But thank God you’re not a country music fan or I was seriously going to have to reconsider our friendship.”

“Damn, Smalls. Tell me how you really feel.”

Jaxon

Jaxon was relieved Lucy liked the golf cart. She hadn’t even hesitated getting in. He was impressed by her strength. He hadn’t wanted to get near anything with four wheels after his accident. A golf cart wasn’t a car, but still, it put his mind at ease that maybe Lucy’s accident hadn’t messed her up as badly as his had. That, or she really trusted him.

Jaxon tried to push that thought away. He already cared about her more than he should. His near panic attack at her door moments ago proved that. He didn’t need to let himself go thinking she trusted him or he’d never be able to distance himself—which was still the plan. She had a boyfriend. Me and Lucy are just friends, he reminded himself.

The golf cart jostled a little when Jaxon eased it off the paved campus path to climb the gentle slope to the parking lot where his truck waited. Lucy immediately tensed, her hand flying to his leg for something to hold on to.

Her touch was like pure electricity. Jaxon tried to tamp down the desire it stirred within him, but it was useless. He gripped the steering wheel harder and focused his eyes straight ahead, trying to ignore the way her fingers felt on his thigh.

“Sorry,” Jaxon murmured when they came to an awkward halt next to his truck. “Guess I’m still getting used to the way this thing handles.” Lucy’s hand was still gripping his thigh. Jaxon lowered his eyes to where it rested and grinned. “Should I have handle bars installed or is my leg good enough?”

Lucy drew her hand back as if suddenly realizing she were touching a hot stove. “Sorry,” she said flushing scarlet.

“Don’t worry about it.”

Still blushing, she sheepishly looked up at him through her thick lashes. Her bruises looked a bit better today. The purple was fading to a lighter shade. A breeze kicked up, blowing her auburn waves into her face.

Lucy reached up to pull it back but she missed a piece. Without thinking, Jaxon reached across and brushed the strand of hair gently away from her face, his hand lingering delicately against her bruised cheek. “This looks better.”

“It does?” she asked breathily.

Jaxon nodded, transfixed by how soft her skin felt beneath his fingers. He watched her eyes drop to his mouth and he realized what he was doing. It was his turn to pull away. He figured apologizing might make it sound like he meant to caress her face, rather than just being spontaneously sucked in by her beauty. He cleared his throat and decided to play it off. “You ready to go talk to some sketch artists so we can track down the S.O.B. who did this to you?”

Lucy nodded, giving Jaxon a smile so big her whole face lit up.

Jaxon’s heart thumped louder in his chest. Well goddamn, Smalls certainly knew how to complicate things by smiling like that.

Lucy

Jaxon’s brother met them at the station and introduced them to the sketch artists. Conner was very professional, explaining the whole process and how it worked, asking if they had any questions. But everything was pretty cut and dry. They just had to relay all the details from the accident they could remember to the artist. The only thing that surprised Lucy was that she and Jaxon were each meeting separately with different artists. But Conner assured them it was actually helpful to have two artists so they could compare sketches and come up with a more accurate composite.

“Whatever helps us find him,” Jaxon said.

Lucy nodded in agreement.

“Come find me when you’re done,” Conner said, clapping Jaxon on the shoulder.

Then he turned and gave Lucy a wink. “See ya on the other side, Smalls.”

Lucy laughed. What was it with everyone calling her Smalls? Maybe it was a Bradburn brother term of endearment. She decided she didn’t mind. Honestly, the nickname was sorta growing on her.

“You ready to get started?” a curvy female officer asked.

Lucy nodded.

“I’m Officer Hart. I’ll be working with you today to create a facial composite.”

Lucy shook the officer’s hand. “I’m Lucy Adams.”

“Right this way, Miss Adams.”

Lucy followed the policewoman into a small beige room with the shades drawn. Officer Hart shut the door behind her and gestured for Lucy to take a seat at a table with four chairs in the center of the room. The only other things in the room were a small beige love seat and a water cooler. At least the extra furniture made it seem less like the interrogation rooms she saw on TV.

Lucy sat down and the officer joined her, taking the seat directly across from her. Officer Hart had dark, shoulder-length hair. She pulled it back into a ponytail and began pulling some art supplies from a briefcase she set on the chair next to her. Once she had all her items arranged neatly on the table, the officer flipped her sketchpad to a blank sheet and attached it to a clipboard, facing it away from Lucy so she couldn’t see what Officer Hart was going to draw.

“Alright, Miss Adams. We’re ready to begin. If you feel like you need to stop and take a break at anytime please let me know.”

Lucy swallowed against the fear that was beginning to prickle its way up her spine. “Why would I need a break?”

“Sometimes reliving a traumatic event can be stressful. It’s important to remember you’re in a safe space and that you’re here of your own accord. We can stop at anytime.”

“Oh, okay.” Lucy hadn’t really thought about that. She’d been so focused on wanting to find the jerk who thought he was going to get away with leaving her for dead that she hadn’t realized it might be stressful to relive every detail of the accident over again. But now that she did, she worried she wasn’t prepared.

“Are you ready to begin?” the officer asked.

Lucy swallowed back her fear. “Yes.”

“Good. Now, close your eyes and tell me the first thing you remember from the accident.”

Lucy closed her eyes and tried to call forth the memory. At first nothing came. She clenched her hands into fists under the table and felt her fingernails biting into her palms. “I-I’m not sure,” Lucy said, frustrated that she couldn’t recall the life altering event that happened only a few days ago. What the heck was wrong with her?

The officer seemed to sense her irritation. “Don’t worry. It’ll come. Let’s start with something else. Close your eyes again. Can you tell me where you were driving from?”

Lucy closed her eyes. That was an easy question. “Swim practice on campus.”

“Where’s campus?”

“Saint Andrews Prep.”

“Good. And where were you driving to?”

“My boyfriend’s soccer game at Riverside Stadium.”

“Good, and what route were you traveling to get there?”

“I got off the 405 and cut through Bel Air to avoid traffic. I remember because I had to drive through my old neighborhood and I haven’t been there in a while.”

“What neighborhood is that?”

“Stone Canyon in Bel Air.”

“What was the weather like? Was it a nice day?”

“Yes. The sun was just setting when I was pulling onto North Glen Boulevard and then . . . and then . . .” An image slammed into Lucy’s mind stealing her breath.

“Tell me what you see,” Officer Hart prompted.

“The sky. It was where the ground should be.” Lucy’s hands began to sweat. “My Jeep . . . rolling down a steep hill.”

“Good. Now back up a little. What did you see just before that?”

“A flash of silver.”

“A silver sedan?”

“Yes . . .” Lucy clamped her eyes closed tighter, gripping the edge of the table. She could feel herself shaking as images flashed through her mind with alarming speed.

“What kind?” Hart asked.

A flash of sunlight off a windshield, a silver emblem, . . . “Chevy.”

“Good. Keep going. Can you see the driver?”

Fear jackknifed through Lucy so swiftly she could taste it. She was back at the scene. Heart pounding, lungs screaming, her hands flying up just before impact . . . Frightened blue eyes stared back at her. “Yes. I can see the driver,” she panted.

“Is it a man or a woman?”

“A man,” Lucy gasped. She suddenly felt like her lungs were full of smoke. She heard screaming, the sharp sound of wrenching metal and breaking glass. Suddenly, there were hands on her, big and strong, yanking her out of the wreckage. But she couldn’t stop screaming, she couldn’t get enough air into her lungs.

“Lucy! Open your eyes, Lucy.”

She wanted to, she wanted to see Jaxon’s big blue eyes peering into hers more than anything in the world. He’d saved her then and she knew he’d save her now. But she couldn’t see him. Her vision was filled with smoke and her lungs were sucking it in. She couldn’t breathe. She was trapped in her mind. Panic stiffened her limbs and she heard more screaming. It was getting louder and louder and she felt like her chest was going to burst from lack of air.

“Lucy! I need you to open your eyes.”

It was Jaxon’s voice again. She was sure of it, but she still couldn’t find him. “Jaxon?” she whimpered.

“I’m right here. You gotta stay with me, Lucy!”

Stay with me. The words echoed though her mind, cutting through her panic like a life raft in a storm. “Stay with me,” she murmured back to him.

“That’s it. Stay with me, Lucy. Just breathe, I’m right here. You’re safe, I promise.”

Her chest loosened and she felt herself take a breath. Her eyes fluttered open, meeting Jaxon’s.

“Hey,” he whispered, a relieved smile lighting his face. “Welcome back.”

“Huh?”

The room came into focus and Lucy realized she had a crowd of spectators. Jaxon knelt next to her chair, his one hand holding hers while the other rubbed circles on the back of her damp t-shirt. She could feel sweat clinging to the rest of her body as the eyes of three more police officers took her in. Conner was among them, nodding to whatever Officer Hart was whispering to him.

“What happened?” Lucy asked Jaxon quietly.

“You were having a flashback, but it’s okay, I got you out.”

“You did?”

“Yep,” Conner said butting into the conversation. “Nearly got himself arrested bowling over Officer Hart to get in here when he heard you screaming.”

Lucy’s chest constricted. “That was real?”

“The screaming was real,” Officer Hart said. “But the rest was in your subconscious. We had to go deep to get the details of the accident. But you were doing so well. A few more minutes and I think we would have had everything we needed.”

“A few more minutes and she would’ve had a panic attack,” Jaxon growled.

Officer Hart glared at him. “I’m just doing my job.” She turned back to Lucy and offered her a box of tissues. “Miss Adams, you did great. Why don’t you take a few minutes to collect yourself and we’ll start again when you’re ready.”

“She’s had enough for the day,” Jaxon warned.

Lucy felt Jaxon’s whole body tense next to hers when Officer Hart opened her mouth to argue. Luckily, Conner stepped in. “Why don’t we give Miss Adams a little space,” he said directing Officer Hart and everyone else out of the room. Conner turned back to give Jaxon a warning look. “Check your attitude, baby bro.” Then he shut the door behind him.

Lucy pushed her chair back from the table and stood once they were alone.

“Whoa. Where are you going?” Jaxon asked putting his hands out to steady her when she wobbled.

“I don’t know. I-I just feel like I need to move.”

Lucy was exhausted but at the same time she felt the tingle of pent-up energy coursing through her. She’d always hated being the center of attention and having that many eyes on her just then made her wish she could run away. But thanks to her stupid broken leg the best she could hope for was a hobble.

Jaxon’s voice pulled Lucy’s attention back to earth. “Are you alright?”

“I think so.”

“Are you cold?”

“No.”

Jaxon frowned. “You’re shaking.”

She realized he was right and shut her eyes cringing with embarrassment. She was a freaking mess. She couldn’t understand what the hell had just happened and she felt like an idiot for apparently screaming like a lunatic and disrupting the whole police department.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered, her voice cracking.

“Hey.” Jaxon put his hands on Lucy’s shoulders and lowered himself to her level. “What do you have to be sorry for?”

Lucy had to look away from his piercing blue eyes. “For being weak.”

“Smalls, listen to me. You might be tiny, but you are not weak.”

That did it. Lucy didn’t even know why, but she burst into tears. The exhaustion of reliving the excruciation details of her accident took over and her body sagged against Jaxon’s as he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her tight against his chest. He felt so warm and safe, and Lucy just wanted to melt into him and disappear.

His hand rubbed her back in slow circles as her body shook with sobs. Jaxon murmured words of reassurance into her hair while she cried. She could feel his lips pressed lightly against her scalp when he spoke and it made her heart hurt. She felt like a complete idiot crying all over him like this, but she couldn’t help it.

It scared her how her flashback had taken over like that. That had never happened to her before, and she hated the feeling of not knowing what was real or fake. And despite what Jaxon said, she did feel weak. If she couldn’t do what it took to give the sketch artist an accurate portrayal of the driver who did this to her, he might get away.

That thought made Lucy cry harder. There was so much in her life that she had no control over, but she had at least thought she could do this. If she couldn’t rely on herself, who could she trust?

Her heart answered by pounding wildly against Jaxon’s. His answered back, strong and safe. No. He’s not mine, Lucy reminded herself, shoving her desperate feelings down.

Jaxon

Jaxon couldn’t stand seeing Lucy so upset. His heart had felt like it was turning inside out when he’d heard her screaming. He’d rushed from his room and straight into hers without thought. Seeing her locked in her mind like that nearly broke him. And this was almost as bad. But at least he was with her. At least she was herself again. And she was letting him hold her. It probably brought him more comfort than he was giving her. But Jaxon couldn’t deny how much he hated watching Lucy hurt. He wished there was more he could do, but for now just being there for her and letting her cry was all he could offer.

“It’s okay,” he murmured into her hair. It smelled like coconut and he closed his eyes trying to shut his feelings out.

Lucy sobbed into Jaxon’s tear-drenched chest. “This is useless.”

“No it’s not. We’re in this together, Lucy.”

“No, we’re not. It’s just me and I can’t do this.”

Jaxon loosened his embrace so he could look down at her. Feelings be damned, he needed to make some things crystal clear. “Listen to me. You are not alone. I’m in this with you. And we’re not gonna quit until we get the guy who did this to you. I don’t care how long it takes. We’re in this together, do you understand? I got you outta that car and I’m gonna get you through this. You are not alone, got it?”

She nodded slowly.

“And I know you can do this. You’re tough, Smalls.”

“No I’m not,”

“Yes, you are. You survived that accident. Now let me hear you say it. You’re tough.”

“Jaxon . . .”

“I’m serious. I wanna hear you say it.”

“Fine, I’m tough.”

He smirked. She looked as tough as a kitten after a bath. “Say it like you mean it.”

“I’m tough,” she said with more volume, her lips almost smiling.

“That’s better,” Jaxon replied matching her grin. “You did great today. I don’t think I could’ve survived an hour with Officer Heartless grilling me.”

Lucy smirked at his joke, but then his words sunk in. “Wait. I was in here an hour?” she asked. She glanced at the clock and her mouth fell open.

“How long did you think you were in here?”

“I don’t know. Five minutes,” she said, sheepishly.

“Come here,” Jaxon said scooping Lucy into his arms. He carried her over to the small loveseat and gently set her down, taking a seat next to her.

“Lucy, this kind of thing is hard. I know. I’ve been through it. So trust me when I tell you that you are doing amazing and every day is gonna get a little better.”

Lucy blinked up at him, questions dancing in her beautiful hazel eyes. “How do you know?”

Jaxon sighed. He hadn’t meant to get here yet—maybe ever—but if it would help her to know what he’d been through he wouldn’t keep it from her. “Last year, something similar happened to me.”

“You were in a car accident?”

Jaxon swallowed past the pain that tightened his throat just thinking about it. “Yeah. Me, Conner and my mother. She didn’t make it.”

Lucy’s fingers threaded through his and squeezed. She didn’t say anything. She just held his hand and met his gaze. In that moment Jaxon felt more understanding and compassion than he’d gotten out of a year of therapy sessions.

Tears continued to slide down Lucy’s cheeks and Jaxon reached up to wipe them away. She pressed her cheek into his palm and closed her eyes. He could’ve stayed like that forever, lost in the strange bond the accident had forged between them, but a knock sounded at the door and they jumped apart.

Conner poked his head in. “Everything alright in here?”

Jaxon nodded.

“I was talking to your girl, knucklehead,” Conner said. “You okay, Smalls?”

“Yes, I feel better now, thanks.”

“Should I send Officer Hart back in or have you had enough for today?”

“She’s had enough,” Jaxon interrupted, but Lucy put a delicate hand on his knee.

“I think I can give it one more go,” she said.

Jaxon turned to her. “Lucy, you don’t have to do this.”

She took his hand and smiled. “I know. But I want to.”

“Good,” Conner said. “I’ll let Officer Hart know.”

He left the room and Jaxon faced Lucy. “I’m staying with you.”

She shook her head. “No, I can do this. I’m tough, remember?”

There was a twinkle in her eye and Jaxon couldn’t help grinning. He stood up shaking his head. This girl. She was throwing his words back in his face and he loved her for it. She had spunk and an inner strength he envied.

When he offered to carry her back over to the table she declined and reached for her crutches instead. Jaxon watched Lucy settle herself in the folding chair at the table. She took a deep breath and straightened her back as Officer Hart walked into the room. Jaxon could see Lucy’s strength and determined as she set her jaw. “I’m ready to go again,” she said, her voice strong.

Jaxon hovered at the door looking back at Lucy one more time before leaving. She gave him a wink and fierce pride swelled in his chest. He nodded to her once and left the room, knowing she was going to be just fine.