Driving Me Crazy

Chapter 29

The day after Shawn and I discovered he could feel his legs, he called his parents and sister to tell them the good news.  The next few days were a blur of helping Aaliyah pack him some clothes for at least a few months, while his parents went and toured some of the local, state of the art rehab facilities Dr. Mac had suggested.

On the day Shawn was discharged from the hospital, Emma, Niall and Connor came for visit.  Niall and Connor pushed him out of his room after him and I shared one last kiss in that place that had been his home for now over two months.  As Niall was pushing the wheelchair, I looked at Emma and she pulled a checkered blind fold out of her purse and handed it to me.  Little did Shawn know, Connor, Liyah and I had organized a surprise for him on discharge day.

"A blindfold baby! Really?! Kinda kinky don't you think?" He asked me wiggling his eyebrows seductively.

"Shut up and close your eyes." I told him.

Doing as he was told, I placed the blindfold over his closed eyes and signaled for Niall to continue pushing him down the hallway.

Emma and I walked ahead to make sure everything was in place.

"He sure calls you baby a lot for not wanting to ask you to be his girlfriend yet." She said looking at me kind of worried.

"I know girl, he just wants to be able to do it right I guess. We've been taking things slow, relatively." I sigh. "But I also just wish he would ask me. I mean, I feel like maybe if he doesn't do it soon, then I need to make sure this is what we both really want. I know that sounds selfish, but I don't want to get hurt again." I say, feeling kind of dejected, especially since Emma's comment makes me realize how much we truly do act like a couple already.

Coming to my side and interlocking our arms, Emma says "I think he's head over heels for you babe, he's just got to figure it out. I mean...Niall and I have been hanging out for how long and he still hasn't asked me out either." She sighs.

"Stupid boys." I laugh, shaking my head.

With that, Connor comes running up to meet us as we get to the front doors of the hospital. He puts an arm around each our shoulders, continuing to walk with us.

"You think he's ready for this?" He asks.

"I guess we're about to find out!" Emma says.

As the doors open, I see his parents, my parents, James and almost the entire IndyCar community standing in the parking lot. Some people are holding signs, the news media is anxiously awaiting the chance to talk to Shawn, and little kids have all sorts of things for him to autograph.

Emma and I smile at everyone and give them the thumbs up as we see Niall round the corner with Shawn still on tow.

Like clock work, the surprise goes off without a hitch. Niall pushes him outside and I remove his blindfold for him to be ambushed with happy cheers and applause.

A loud "SURPRISE!" rings through the air as Shawn covers his face in shock. His family and sister walk up to us, pulling us all into hugs. My family comes next and once everyone has said hello, one of the local news stations comes forward.

The reporter steps next to Shawn.

"Are you surprised Mr. Mendes?"

Looking at me with heart eyes before looking back at the reporter, he answers "Yes! This is absolutely amazing! Thank you to everyone who came out to see me today! I feel like I don't deserve this, but I'm so grateful." He smiles happily as he continues to answer questions and Niall pushes him around into the crowds of people to say hello and sign as many things as he can for the kids.

After everything dies down, we get him loaded into a large SUV that is taking him to the rehab facility. Aliyah and I ride with him and his parents and mine follow behind with the boys and Emma.

It's about a 30 minute drive from the hospital, and the rehab place is just outside Indy, but once we get there, Shawn's eyes get really big.

"You chose this place?" He asks surprised.

"Of course we did, you need the best and need to minimize the distraction." Aaliyah answers him.

Pulling down the long drive to the facility, I'm glad it's in a secluded area. I know I won't be able to visit him all the time, just like everyone else, but I'm glad he also won't have to worry about fans, paparazzi and the like bothering him while he continues to heal.

It takes us about 20 minutes to get him settled in his room, but once he is, he's sitting in his wheelchair by the big picture window staring at the grounds. The sun is shining through the windows and it gives Shawn the appearance that he's glowing.

"This place is great." He whispers.

By now I'm the only person in the room with him, so I walk up behind him and begin to rub his shoulders.

"Yeah it is. I'm hoping this place can give you the help you need." I say quietly.

Pushing himself from the window slightly, he turns around to face me.

"Come here." He says as he holds his hand out for me.

I take his hand and he pulls me on his lap, out faces suddenly closer to each other.

"Thank you for being so amazing Mila. I know I don't deserve you, but I want to spend every day proving to you that I do." He days as he interlaces our fingers and buries his lips in the crook of my neck.

"Baby, you're so sweet." I hum in appreciation.

"I know. I try." He smirks.

I slap his arm playfully, to which he just chuckles as he pulls me closer to him. Our noses touch and pretty soon our lips are touching too. He starts off slow and gentle, gradually deepening the kiss until his hands are at my waist and my hands are in his hair.

Breaking apart he takes my face in his hands, smiling big, his golden eyes burning into mine.

"Camila....I want to ask you something."