AIN'T TALKIN' 'BOUT LOVE

CHAPTER 51 - BOARDWALKS by LITTLE MAY

"Boardwalks" by Little May was in the last chapter, but I felt like it deserved it's own chapter title since it was so important to me while writing this book. And because this chapter is about Isabel, it only felt natural.

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Levi watched Farlan pace back and forth. He was scared too, but his fear froze in his chest, which kept him still. Isabel should have been home an hour ago, and she wasn't answering her phone.

"I'm going to kill her when she gets home," muttered Farlan.

"Yeah," said Levi. "She probably ran into someone she knew and has just lost track of time." He touched Farlan's arm as the man passed in front of him. "She's okay, Far. It's going to be alright."

"I'm going to go look for her...retrace her route. Maybe she's broken down somewhere."

Levi's jaw locked. This wasn't like her. He was really worried. "Okay, that's a good idea, let me get my keys." Levi walked to the kitchen where the hook was. "You shouldn't be driving, you'll run us off the road with worry."

"Whatever, dude. I'm the best driver out of all of us." He was right there, but driving would help Levi focus and keep him from wandering to worst case scenarios.

The men left his apartment and walked to the elevator. Levi knew they both hoped that she would come bouncing out of the elevator all disheveled and excited about someone she'd just run into. When the elevator opened wide without her laugh, Levi's stomach sank. To be late was one thing, but to not answer her phone was something else entirely. When they got to the lobby, Levi's phone rang. Farlan put his fists in the air and said, "I'm going to kill her."

Before Levi could comment he noticed that it was Eren calling. "It's Eren," he said and pressed the button, resting the phone against his shoulder. "Hey, Eren, listen, I'm so glad you called, but I have to help Farlan find Isabel–"

"–She's here, with me," his voice was tense. "Levi, we're at the hospital, she was in an accident. She's here."

It took a moment for Levi to respond. His heart pounded in his ears and when he looked at Farlan, the boys eyes got really big. "What? What happened?"

Levi put his hand on his chest to hold him still. "Eren says she's been in an accident."

"Where! Where is she. Levi where is she?" His voice was loud and scared.

Eren answered Farlan's question. "She's at Gulf West near your building."

"Yeah," Levi croaked. "I know where it is. Eren is she okay?"

"She's pretty banged up. By the time you get here she'll be in surgery."

"Surgery?" Levi whispered.

"Levi, take it easy driving here. Just be careful. She needs you two in one piece."

"Let's go, Lee! Let's go," yelled Farlan.

He brought Levi out of his stillness and the two ran to Levi's car in the parking garage.

"Take it easy, Levi. Be careful," soothed Eren. "She's going to be okay, but you have to be safe."

"Yeah," whispered Levi into the phone. He handed the phone to Farlan so that Eren could tell him everything.

"What did they say is wrong with her?" Farlan choked out.

Levi could hear Eren through the phone, could hear his shaky voice and knew he was suffering as much as the two of them. He put his hand on Farlan's shoulder. Eren said that some of her ribs had broken and two of them punctured her lung. At this, Farlan put his face in his hands and burst into tears. He handed the phone back to Levi.