Invisible (A Night Fire Novel Book 5) (7 page)

“
You're crazy.” I whispered.

“
That's probably true.”

Before I knew it I had my arms wrapped around his neck, hugging him hard. Do I dare try and refuse it? It always starts playfully but ends up with Jaxon cracking it and ordering me to keep the gift. I pulled back from the hug slightly, looking into his eyes.

“
Thanks.”

His grip around my back loosened, with a pained smile he pulled away from me.

“
Anytime Kaylee.”

It was then that I noticed the gap between us. No longer hugging, no longer in each other's arms. It could have been the perfect moment, the most romantic time of my life and I got a smile that looked like he didn't want to be here. Just fucking perfect. He knows that I love him and this is what I get.

Jaxon rummaged through his pocket and produced the key to the car, offering it to me. I smiled brightly at him as I took the key and pretended that my heart wasn't on the garage floor in a million pieces. We walked back into the house in silence and I assessed everything about my life in Vegas.

He knows yet there is no change to the way that we are. Sure, it's great that it hasn't affected our friendship but it's also crap that he doesn't love me. I've wasted four years of my life for him and I now realize how stupid that is.

I could hear the laughter and the chatter of the guests, something that I couldn't face. Not now. When I stopped Jaxon turned back and looked at me.

“
Everything okay?”

“
Yeah.” I smiled at him, barely able to restrain the hurt. “I just need to freshen up. I'll be in soon.”

“
Okay.”

Turing to the stairs, I wondered why he didn't ask about the powder room. It was closer, it was more convenient.

“
Hey Kaylee.”

I turned back to look at him, the same unsure face looked at me. His hands were in the pockets of his pants as he shifted uncomfortably on his feet.

“
You look nice tonight.”

Nice? Fuck nice. You look hot Kaylee. That's what you need to say to me.

“
Thanks.” I whispered and turned back to the stairs.

I changed into a pair of jeans, figuring that time wasn't on my side. I couldn't get out of the top quickly so I had to keep it on. Moving fast I packed my bag, the one that I had when I was the sixteen year old runaway and took all that mattered to me. My Hobbit book and my wallet, a few clothes and toiletries. I needed a holiday. A few weeks of sun in California and I could come back refreshed and a better, happier person.

The garage door started to lift slowly, I started the car and wondered if anyone would hear it. Slowly it crept forward into the darkness of the night, along the driveway and through the gate. When I made it to the main road I kept the speed at the limit, trying to avoid being pulled over. It might be my birthday present but it didn't mean that the car was in my name. I didn't need to spend my birthday in jail while waiting for Jaxon to confirm it wasn't stolen.

I had become lost a few times but somehow managed to find my way back to where I wanted to go. Considering that I didn't drive much I'd say that I had done well. Somehow I had managed to get onto the interstate. Don't ask me how, I couldn't tell you. My mind was distracted.

Tears snaked their way down my cheeks as I stared at the road ahead. It was long and boring, nothing but darkness for miles. I wiped the tears that flooded freely. I was an idiot. For all these years I had watched him quietly, hoping that one day when I was old enough he would want me. But he didn't. He'd rather have the vacuous moron that was probably sticking her fingers down her throat in my parents powder room right now.

Anger swelled as more tears slipped away. I could have dated when I finished my schooling. There hadn't been many to show an interest but there had been a few. Some that might have even been worth the effort. I could have lost my virginity to someone that might have actually cared instead of saving it for the one who doesn't see me. He can't see me. I am invisible.

A coyote ran across the road ahead of me, stopping in the headlights. I yelled at it, slamming my foot onto the brake. The mutt ran away and as the car span out of control, I hit my head and blacked out.

Chapter Eleven

A light flashed in front of me, dimmed light and then light again. Over and over again. A face appeared, a middle aged man that looked like he'd had a rough night. Tired eyes, a shadowed existence. He flashed a little light over my eyes, his mouth moving but no words escaping beyond his scruffy beard.

More lights passing, another face. This time it was a woman. Her hair was pulled back, she was young and pretty. It looked like she was talking too but there was no sound. She frowned and looked away.

More people, more doing things. They poked and prodded at me. I wanted to tell them to stop but I couldn't move my mouth. I wanted to push them away but I couldn't... I couldn't move anything.

Something green was cut away, something that went out of view. I couldn't turn my head to see what it was. Green. Why was that so familiar?

A man appeared at the top of my head. I was laying on something, but what? The new man put something on my mouth, I wanted to scream out no but nothing would work.

Slowly darkness took me away again.

When I surfaced again, I was in a dark room. I wanted to groan with the pain that I felt. In my hand was something round, cylindrical. There was a button at the end, it took all my strength to press it but I did. I was thirsty.

A door opened, light flooding the room from the corridor. The soft steps of someone who was light on their feet padded across the room, turning on a light behind me.

“
Good morning.”

The woman smiled at me warmly, I looked her over. A nurse. I was in hospital. How did I get here? She helped me to sit up, making the bed move upright.

“
Can you tell me your name?”

I frowned as I struggled through the fog in my mind.

“
No.” I rasped. “Can I have drink of water please?”

“
Of course.”

She took the jug and cup, pouring a drink for me. I drank the water, so cold and crisp it was divine.

“
Can you tell me what day of the week it is?”

I shook my head, taking another sip.

“
Do you know how you got here?”

“
No.”

“
The doctor will be arriving soon. In the meantime there are some people that are waiting to say hello.”

She walked away and I was left staring at my reflection in a large mirror on the wall. Since when did hospital rooms have mirrors?

The woman in the mirror was covered in bruises. Listless hair sat around her battered face and the sight of her made me cry. It hurt to touch, even though my fingers were so delicate the pain was too raw.

The door opened again, this time it was a middle aged man and woman, two young men followed as well.

“
Hello darling.” the woman cooed softly, tears welling in her pretty eyes.

“
Hi.” I offered to the sad woman.

They all looked rather dressed up, the woman was dressed in a long black dress that hugged her narrow frame. The men were in suits looking rather dashing.

“
Where have you been? Why are you dressed up?”

Tears slid down her cheeks as she smiled, a terrible attempt at trying to keep herself from crying. One of the younger guys put his hand on her shoulder.

“
Maybe you should take a breather mom.”

She nodded and took my hand, the warmth of her skin was nice against my cold skin.

“
Everything is going to be okay darling. We will get you back to the way you were.”

Her fingers slipped from mine as she rose from the bed, leaving the room.

The elder man cleared his throat once the door was closed again.

“
Right young lady. Your mother is the mushy one, I'm the hard liner. Get your memory back. I don't have time for this nonsense and you've got to get your ass back to work. Deal?”

“
Uh sure.”

Whoever the hell you are, crazy man. But he called the woman my mother. Did that make him my father? And these two beside him, were they my brothers? I looked like none of them. One of the younger guys was like the woman, tall with dark hair, blue eyes and dimples when he smiled. The other was like the man, robust frame, blue eyes and black hair. I had auburn hair and green eyes. This was not my family.

The door swung open, light flooding the room again. A man stood at the doorway, staring at me.

“
You were told to wait outside.”

He said nothing, just looking at me with despair etched on his face. This one was dressed up too, they must have been at a party together. Slowly he took a step forward, the door swinging closed behind him.

Blonde hair was neatly brushed to one side, the suit was creased like he had slept in it. As he drew closer I could see his deep blue eyes, bloodshot and tired.

There was no happiness in any of these people. They were dressed like they were having fun but their faces did not match.

The elder fellow sighed and nodded his head to the other two.

“
You've got five minutes, then I'm kicking your sorry ass out.”

The three of them left the room, the blonde man remained. He sat on the edge of the bed and took my hand carefully looking over it.

“
I'm sorry.” he whispered.

“
What did you do?”

“
I caused this mess.”

“
That hardly seems possible.” I offered and then paused. “Unless you hit me, then it is your fault.”

He huffed as he laughed, smiling for a moment. It hurt to do so but I reached out and wiped the tear from under his eyes.

“
Why are you so sad?”

“
Because I had an opportunity to make something wonderful, something perfect. To create happiness. But I was scared.” he whispered.

“
That does not make any sense.”

The man looked up at me rather bewildered.

“
How can happiness make you scared?”

“
If it went wrong then I'd lose it forever. But it did go wrong and I did lose my happiness. Almost.”

This man was confusing. He was talking in riddles and it was frustrating. It was bad enough that I had no idea who he was but to talk like this was not beneficial.

The door swung open again, the older man stood at the door with his stern face. He said nothing but the man on the bed beside me nodded at him and turned back to me as the door closed again.

“
Okay I guess my time is done. I'm not exactly flavor of the month so we probably won't see each other for a while.”

“
You are really confusing, did you know that?”

He nodded with another slight laugh.

“
I did something yesterday.”

His fingers pulled at the buttons of his shirt, opening them to show his chest. Far out, that was a pretty good view.

“I wanted to show you last night but I feared what you would say.”

The material slid over to one side, his fingers pulling the fabric back to show white padding. He gently pulled away the padding over his heart to show a new tattoo. The skin was still raw and angry but it was clear enough to see the pretty script font. It was one word, black lettering with flourishes and swirls. One word that seemed so familiar but I just couldn't understand.

Kaylee

“
I found my heart.” he said softly.

He leaned to me, softly pressing his lips against mine. It hurt but it was perfectly sweet.

“
I love you.”

My eyes widened, his so close to mine as he gently pressed his lips to mine again. Softly tugging on the bottom lip.

Something entered my mind, a vision of him. It was feint but it was something. I struggled to keep hold of it, not wanting to let go. I knew it was important.

“
Can you play guitar?”

His eyes widened and a slight smile crossed his face.

“
Yeah.”

“
I remembered you on a stage, standing next to a guy with long hair.”

He gasped and got off the bed, opening the door. It had barely shut before he was pushing it open again, turning on the light.

“
Him?”

“
Yeah.” I said as I stared at the tired man.

His lithe body seemed to sag with lethargy, like the other guy he was in a suit. The long black hair wasn't actually that long. It sat at the shoulders, his fringe hung over his eyes. He was pretty easy on the eye but the one beside him was far more fascinating.

“
How are you feeling?”

“
I hurt all over.”

The man nodded and yawned.

“
Does she know who we are?”

“
No.”

He nodded and slapped him on the back. “Sorry dude. I'm going back to the wonderful seating in the waiting room. Later Ka...” he paused and looked at the other guy.

His eyes darted to me, looking rather uneasy about it all.

“
Bye.” I said as I waved.

The blonde guy sat on the bed beside me again.

“
So I'm Kaylee, right?”

He nodded. “We're not supposed to help you or tell you things, you have to do it for yourself. But you can do it, it's already started.”

My fingers laced into his, he lifted it to his lips and kissed the back of my hand.

“
Tell me what I do for a living.”

“
Your fingers are pretty hard and calloused so I'd say that you're...”

I looked at his neck as I spoke, the edge of another tattoo poked out just over the collar. It was orange. My free hand pulled it back to reveal the edge of a wing.

“
Can I see it?”

He quickly pulled away the jacket and tie, opening the shirt and pulling it back off his shoulder. The tattoo was off an orange bird that covered most of his shoulder and arm.

“
You're from Phoenix.” I frowned. “No, you're from Texas but you were found in Phoenix.”

I looked up at him, he nodded with a happy yet sad smile.

“
You were dumped on your aunt and your dad took custody of you and brought you...” I frowned again. “We live in Las Vegas.”

He wrapped his arms around me and hugged me tight.

“
Ow.” I said muffled by the shirt and his warm skin. “Jaxon you're hurting me.”

Our bodies stilled as the realization slowly dawned on us. He pulled away with a little shock on his face.

“
Say it again.” he whispered.

“
Jaxon.”

His lips were on mine again, his kiss more insistent than before. The warmth of his hand against my neck was wonderful in this cold room, his thumb traced over my jaw line. We stared into each others eyes, foreheads pressed together.

“
It's going to be okay.” he whispered, his voice raw with sorrow “I'm going to take care of you.”

The door swung open, a man in a long white coat entered followed by the man I assume is my father. Jaxon looked around at them with a restrained smile.

“
She remembers some things.”

“
Excellent.”

Soft padding of feet crossed the room, the nurse opened the shutters to reveal a bright morning. Beautiful blue skies stretched for as far as I could see. Incredible.

The doctor pulled back the bed cover and I wanted to complain, it was cold in here. He pricked something into my toes and I pulled my feet away because it hurt.

“
Ow.” I muttered.

“
Excellent.”

You'd think with the thousands of dollars spent on his education he'd learn more words. He wandered around to the side of the bed, flashing a little light into my eyes and giving me the once over.

“
How is your head?”

I shrugged, finding a new place to feel pain.

“
I have a headache.”

“
Nausea?”

“
No.”

“
Great.” he said as he smiled.

Well I guess he does know more than one word. He held up a finger in front of me, the picture perfect smile behind it.

“
How many?”

“
One.”

“
Well then I think that you will be right to go home provided you have constant supervision for a few days. If you get any  dizziness, blurred vision, anything unusual you come straight back.”

“
And the memory loss?”