One Smile

33: Too Stubborn for Her Own Good

Jake POV

I don't understand why I didn't think before I responded. I didn't mean to be angry. After Naomi and Julie sent me on a wild goose chase I found her rushing to the car. I hoped on my bike and drove behind her. I was a couple cars behind her when I heard horns and a loud crash at an intersection.

"No. It wouldn't be. She just got better. It wouldn't happen again," I say to myself. As they divert cars I pull forward and I see the back of the Range Rover. I leave my motorcycle on the street and rush to the road.

I yell at the man and take in the scene. The car is totaled. She was hit on the drivers side. I look down and my heart stops. There is glass and blood all over her. I feel a light touch on my arm and I look down as she cough ups blood. I don't understand why this keeps happening to her. She doesn't deserve this.

"Baby. Baby. I am so sorry. I was angry because I tried to tell you multiple times today but people kept interrupting. Please believe. Baby. I love you. Please," I am crying, I know I am. "Don't leave me again baby, I can't take you leaving again. I just got you back Sam," I look her over and my heart breaks.

"You are not allowed to leave me again damnit. Stay awake Sam. Please. I will lose it if you leave me again," I yell at her. I see the paramedics and I rush them to me.

"Sir we need you to back away-" the paramedic starts to stay as they push her into the ambulance.

"That is my fiancé. You let me in that ambulance now," I demand. I knew boyfriend wouldn't be strong enough.

They let me on the ambulance and I sit there holding her hand while they work. We arrive at the emergency room and they rush her back and force me to wait. I decide to send out a text to the appropriate people. Her family, mine, Nay, Ben, and I let Angelo know since he was supposed to come to dinner tonight.

As I sit on the chair with my head in my hands I hear shouting and look up and see Ian and Lora rushing to me with Ethan right behind. Ethan looks broken. He left her on bad terms, I did too I realize. I am the reason this fucking happened.

"Son. I need you to tell me what happened," her dad begs. I quickly fill them in on everything. I don't leave anything out. I know they'll blame me. That is okay, I blame myself.

"Oh you poor thing, it is not your fault. Sam is too stubborn for her own good. She will be fine. Come here," Lora says as she pulls me into a hug.

"You don't blame me? I blame me," I mumble. Her blood is still on my hands and my clothes from holding her.

"There is no reason to blame you. The driver is at fault," Ian says.

No one says anything as we wait. My parents arrive shortly after. My mom cries as soon as she sees me. I tell them everything as well and everyone shares a chuckle at my struggle to tell her I love her.

"I am sorry," I hear Ethan say. I lift my head from my hands and look up at him.

"Ethan. I don't have time for your shit. I am on edge. Please just leave me," I beg. He gives a simple nod and walks back to his chair.

Shortly after the Rossi family arrives. Claiming that Sam is my future so she is their family.

"What happened," Angelo asks. I tell them a shorter version of the story. They all look heart broken.

"At least you will always remember the day you said I love you, it was a day you almost lost each other. Hopefully when the future gets tough you can use this memory to bring you back together," Angie whispers.

We sit in silence waiting for news.

"Family of Samantha Drake," I hear a woman call. We all stand up and say different acknowledgements.

"She is stable. She hit her head pretty bad and has a few cracked ribs. She will heal but it will take time. She-"

"Is she awake," I demand. I need her to be awake, I can't take seeing her unconscious on a bed again.

"You must be the fiancé who threatened the medical staff. We almost had to subdue you son. Yes she is awake," she explains. I instantly start walking. I am not sure where. I just know that I need to get to her room and make sure she's okay. And then tell her I love her until she is sick of hearing it. I hear my family mumble about fiancé's and dramatics.

"Sir, wait. There is stuff we need to discuss," she explains. I reluctantly stop and urger her to continue. "She hit her head pretty hard. She is having some memory issues. We are not sure how severe," the doctor explains.

I throw my head back and release a dark laugh. What is this? The lifetime channel. Why can't we catch a break. Only immediate family is allowed back were told. We decide that her family and me will go back first. Everyone else will wait for news.

When we get back to her room I almost break from seeing her in the hospital bed. She looks beat up.

"My poor baby," her mom says when we walk in. Sam snaps her head up to us and offers a small smile.

"Please tell me you remember me," I mumble.

She smiles and mumbles, "All of it for all of you."

"All of me," I reply with a grateful smile. I kneel by her bed and carefully grab her hand.

"I love you Sam. I am so sorry," I whisper. "I-"

"Shh. I know. I love you too," she kisses my forehead and pats the spot next to her.

I carefully maneuver myself into the bed next to her and she lays her head on my chest.

"What happened? I don't remember anything after leaving for school," Sam whispers.

So I tell her everything.