The Perfect Ride

Chapter 26

***Sadie's POV***

Roz had met me outside the hospital, and we sat to talk. I was feeling better. We were about to walk back inside when we saw Ellie rushing down the steps to us.

"Sadie! Sadie's, he's awake! Jess is awake!" She exclaims. My heart dropped.

"Go!" Roz says. She couldn't run, but I sure could. Ellie and I took off. When I finally reached his room, tears started to flow again.

"Hey, beautiful" He says. I buried my head in his chest. Feeling his hand rest on back was one of the most amazing feelings in the world to me in that moment. "Hey, look at me". I look up at him. He wiped away tears from my cheeks with his thumb. "I love you, Sadie Rosen".

"I love you too, cowboy" I say. He kissed my lips softly. I missed the taste of his lips. He used a citrus chapstick that I loved. "Don't ever scare me like that again".

"Yes, ma'am" He says before kissing me once more time. Roz then comes over and kisses his forehead.

"Are you feeling okay?" Roz asks him.

"Just some neck pain. What happened?" He asks.

"You fell off the bull. Broke your neck. You had a surgery to replace then bone you broke" I explain.

"Will I ride again?" He asks.

"I don't know, babe. The doctor hasn't said" I reply. He nods.

"Well, I don't want to know yet. I just want to be here with you guys for a bit. Even you, Ell" He says. We all laugh.

"I'm glad you're okay" She says. I knew she was gegenuine.

"Sadie?" He asks.

"Baby?".

"I love you" He says. I kissed him again.

"I love you" I say back. I let my head rest on his chest and held back tears. I never thought I'd get to hear him say those words again. I was so grateful that he was okay. I don't know what I'd do without him.

***
A couple hours had passed since Jess woke up. It was now almost 7PM. The doctors prescribed him some pain medication and had talked to him about getting physical therapy. He was meeting with his therapist in the morning.

Currently, I was sitting outside the hospital. A few of the bullriders wanted to spend some time with Jess before they got on the road tonight. I was thinking about how everything could change tomorrow. It was so scary. And, I thought I was alone until I heard a voice.

"Need company?". I turn around to see Ellie. I moved over and let her sit. "What're you thinking about, Sadie?". She knew me all too well. I sigh.

"Jess woke up today" I say. She looked confused. "Before then, that was the only thing I worried about. I just wanted to look into his eyes. Those blue eyes that I fell in love with. Now, I'm worried he'll never get back on a bull again".

"Oh, Sadie" She says. "He's Jess Lockwood. He can't not ride".

"Do you think that matters? He broke his neck. He needs PT. He can't even turn his head to the side" I rant.

"You can't worry about it, because whatever happens is going to happen. You don't have any control right now" She says.

"Yeah, and that kills me" I say. I was used to always being in control of my life and things in it. My job at home, my riding, my horse even. I had no control over anything that happened to Jess right now and I just wanted it to be fixed.

"Sadie, no matter what happens, he's still Jess. He's still your boyfriend. Bull riding doesn't define him. That's not the reason you fell in love with him. It's just a kink in the road. Nothing you won't move past" She says. I sigh and let out a groan.

"You know this is your fault, right?" I ask with a sarcastic tone. "If you hadn't convinced me to come on this tour, I never would've met Jess and fallen in love, and I wouldn't be worrying myself sick over this man".

"Yeah. That's true. But...".

"But what?" I ask.

"You said that like it's a bad thing" She says. "But Sadie, if you didn't come on this tour...".

"Yeah?".

"You never would've met Jess".

That hit me. She was right. And Jess was the person I knew God made for me.