Page 27 of Doctor Do-Over

The car slams into the back quarter panel of mine as the gun fires again. A sharp, burning sensation erupts in my side, and suddenly my car is airborne.

“Fuck,” I yell seconds before the darkness of the water slams into the hood of my car. Airbags deploy, causing me more pain, and then the coldness of the ocean overwhelms me. “I’m sorry, kitten.”

I fight with my seat belt, pushing the airbag away from my face as water rushes in through the open window. As soon as I can, I slip out and make my way to the surface. In the darkness, I can’t see anything at first. Then I spot the lights on the road above, stopped and looking down. I pray he can’t see me as I let the waves carry me toward the cliff. Just before I slam into it, I see a small ledge.

I’m pulled back out by the wave, and this time, I kick hard and grab onto the ledge, dragging my body up onto it.

“Hey, is anyone down there?” a male voice yells, but I don’t respond. I’m not sure if it’s him or someone else. I force my eyes to stay open as I check over my injuries.

Wryan

I wake up and see Browser on his phone. His body is tight, and he’s typing away on his laptop.

“There is no camera on that stretch of road, but I have the vehicle’s GPS. Give me a moment.”

“What’s going on?” I ask softly, and he quickly turns toward me. His eyes are frantic, and panic hits me. I look around the room and don’t see Tanner.

“Where is he?” I ask.

Browser doesn’t answer me.

“She just woke up,” he says to whoever’s on the phone, and I sit up.

“Where is he?” I raise my voice, not caring if I wake up Noelle. I shake my head when Browser doesn’t answer me. He moves toward me, and I shove my fist in my mouth as I cry out. “No.” I shake my head back and forth. “No, don’t say it.”

“We don’t know,” Browser finally answers me. “He went to get a change of clothes, your bag, and the baby’s car seat.” He pauses. “Someone ran him off the road.”

“Is he okay?” I ask, calming slightly. He was just in a car accident, but the look in Browser’s eyes says so much.

“We haven’t found him. His GPS stopped before it crashed into the ocean.”

My head swims, and my eyes roll back. As darkness pulls me under, I know it’s not due to my heart, but because I can’t face the reality that Tanner is gone. I’ll never be the same again.

Epilogue

WRYAN

NINE DAYS LATER

The Christmas tree is well over twelve feet tall. You can see it from the second-floor landing. It’s decorated in bright silver and red, with lights twinkling in the darkness of the room. I sit on the sofa, cuddled under a thick blanket, as snow falls softly outside.

I only have one wish for Christmas, and I got it. Tanner slides onto the sofa next to me, his uninjured arm wrapping around my body. Our daughter is asleep in her bassinet next to us, and Eddie is curled up on the floor beside it. He’s as enamored with her as I am. Tanner hasn’t left my side for long since he woke up in the ER after his rescue.

He remained on an outcropping of rock on the cliff face until he heard gunshots and then Julian shouting his name. They had to call in a rescue unit for ropes and a gurney to get him. My attacker was killed that night on a dark road, his body lying on the icy ground as he uttered his last words. Tanner was saved, but he sustained a gunshot wound to his upper left shoulder and suffered from hypothermia due to exposure.

My Christmas wish was the do-over we’ve had several times now. The chance to be together again, and this time, the do-over where Tanner didn’t die the night our daughter was born.

He kisses the top of my head, and I snuggle closer to him. I’ll never take for granted the feel of his arms around my body or his love. He is the reason I’m smiling right now—him and our daughter.