The Day That Saved Us (38 page)

WHEN I WAKE
up, it takes a moment for me to remember she’s gone. It’s the first morning without her. I stare at the empty sheets. I feel incomplete, but not hollow. I miss Brooke, but I no longer feel the overwhelming heartbreak.
That should mean something, right? Am I heartless?
I’ve been with her for over a year and yet, it hurt more to lose Peyton, someone who was only mine for a month four years ago.

I reach over to my nightstand and pick up my phone to text Peyton. With the surgery next week, I’m hoping she’s filled in a few more people about her condition. I hate to even think the word. A word shouldn’t terrify me as much as it does. It’s only six letters and yet it has the ability to devastate me with two syllables.

Me:
Did you tell Harper?

Pete:
Yeah. She’s not happy with me.

I can’t imagine why.
But I understand to an extent why Peyton wanted to keep her illness a secret. I wouldn’t want people treating me differently either, and I wouldn’t want all the questions and consoling looks like I might die. Peyton is not going to die.

Me:
When’s the surgery?

Pete:
Monday

Me:
What time?

Pete:
11am. Why?

I have a meeting first thing that morning, but I can make it work. As long as I’m back in Boston by Tuesday.

Me:
I can’t be there for the surgery, but I’ll be there when you get out.

Her next text tries to talk me out of coming, but it sounds more like she doesn’t want me to feel obligated. It’s not a question of obligation. I need to be there. What if there are complications? What if Tyler decides last minute there’s an
emergency
at work that can’t wait? No. She can pretend that the surgery isn’t a big deal and act like she’s fine, that she doesn’t need the support, but she’s lying. I know she is.

Me:
I’m coming.

Pete:
Thank you

WHEN I ARRIVE
at the airport on Monday morning my fight is delayed. By an hour. I check the time on my phone. At this rate I won’t get to the hospital before three. Hours after Peyton will be done with the surgery.
Dangit!

Once I make it on the airplane I can’t keep my leg still the entire flight. It bounces so much that at one point the person next to me asks me if I hate flying. Nope. Just counting down the hours until I can see that Peyton is okay.

My mom picks me up from the airport and drives us straight to MUSC Hospital. I used to love to look out the windows on drives and count trees as they flew by. South Carolina is so green. I love the green. I’ve missed the green. Right now I can’t even stop thinking to appreciate it.

“Have you heard anything yet?” I ask.

“Olivia said Peyton is in recovery. The surgery took a little longer than they anticipated. Apparently, there were minor complications, but she’s doing fine.”

“Complications? Like what?”

“She didn’t say. Just that Peyton did really well.”

“Did she say anything else?”

She shakes her head no. “We’ll find out more when we get there. It’s okay, sweetheart.”

My gut feeling tells me it’s not.

When we arrive, Peyton has been moved to her own room. The anesthesia has worn off and she’s talking. My dad shows me to her room. I knock once before opening the door. Olivia’s back is facing me. She looks over her shoulder at me and offers a sad smile. She bends down to kiss Peyton’s forehead before she squeezes my arm and leaves the room. Olivia must know, but she doesn’t say a word to me.

Peyton slowly twists her head to see me walking farther into the room. Her face is wet and blotchy. “You made it,” she rasps.

I rush to her side and sit down on the chair closest to the hospital bed on the other side of the room. “Nothing was going to keep me away.” I take one of her hands in both of mine.

“What happened?” I ask. “They said there were complications.”

She tries to swallow. “It was worse than Dr. Levanstine thought. He couldn’t save my ovaries.” Peyton shuts her eyes tight and her lip quivers. “He had to do the full hysterectomy.” Nothing else comes but her tears. Her head bows. She doesn’t make a sound. The pain even takes her voice. I scoot closer and wrap her in my arms.

“Oh, Peyton. Where’s Tyler?” I ask.

“He ran back to the house to get his laptop,” she utters.

“Before or after you found out?”

“Before.”

“Does he know?”

She whispers, “Dr. Levanstine talked to him…as soon as I got out of surgery.”

Tyler knew. He knew, and he didn’t wait to be there for her when she heard the news. If there were ever a time for me to step in and tell her to call off the engagement, it would be now. He doesn’t deserve her. The selfish, narcissistic waste of air.

But I say nothing. I sit by her side and take on her heartbreak. The tears come, flowing relentlessly down her face. I do the only thing I can. I hold her and smooth down her hair. I whisper words of commiseration and comfort. Though I’m sure it means nothing, I pour my heart into my words and my grasp, and grieve along with her.

When some time has lapsed, Peyton pulls away. “What if Tyler doesn’t want to get married now that I can’t have his children?”

“Then he’s even more unworthy of you than I thought.” I cocoon her right hand in my hands. The fact that she even questions it spirals me into a silent rage.

She laughs lightly and winces, drawing her other arm around her stomach. “Don’t make me laugh. It’s hurts.”

“I’m sorry. I wasn’t trying to be funny.” Without thinking, I press my lips to her knuckles. I hold her hand there, looking up at her. When she peers over at me, a sheen of tears glazing her eyes and a sad smile crossing her lips, I don’t think I’ve ever loved her more.

I’m about to say as much when Tyler walks in with the laptop under his arm. He stops when he sees me leaning close, Peyton’s hand still in mine. For her sake I pull away and stand. Now that he’s back, I no longer fit here. I can’t be the third to their two wheels. I refuse to be.

“Brodee.” It’s the first time Tyler’s greeted me without coming to slap my hand or spouting out some stupid nickname. When he’s not smiling, I hate to say it, he’s kind of intimidating as he towers over me.

But that doesn’t deter me. He might be tall and threatening, but he’s still a prick. I can’t fathom what she sees in him. “Tyler, I was just leaving.” I squeeze Peyton’s hand before letting go. “Rest, okay? Call me if you need me.” I bend down and kiss her forehead.

“You’re leaving already?”

“You’ve got Tyler now,” I say in all sincerity, not out of spite, but I hear how my words come across when her brow pinches together. She nods apprehensively and watches me go.

“Take care of her,” I murmur as I brush past Tyler.

At first I can tell he’s not sure how to respond, then he says, “I will,” like I insulted him, as if he wouldn’t know how to take care of her. I meant it that way. He doesn’t.

Peyton calls my name as I’m about to walk out the door. “Thank you for being here.”

I nod and close the door to give them privacy.

WHEN WE LEAVE
the hospital, I ask my mom to take me to see Harper and Skylar. They’re waiting for an update, and I want to tell them in person.

“Oh, Peyton.” Tears trickle down Harper’s cheeks. “I need to call her.”

“Give her a little bit of time. I know she’ll call you when she’s ready.”

“Where was Tyler for all of this?”

“At our parents’ getting his laptop.”

“I’m sorry. What?” Harper screeches, aggressively wiping the wetness from her face.

I mutter, “My sentiments exactly.”

“I could kill him.” Her face turns red. “She’s so blinded by her love for him she doesn’t see what a buttwipe he is. How can love make a person
that
blind? Were you there when he came back?”

“Yeah. I couldn’t stand being in the same room as him, so I left.”

Harper’s teeth grit together as she shakes her head, fuming. “If she marries him, so help me, Brodee, I don’t think I can go to the wedding.”

“If I have to, you do, too.”

“Maybe Tyler and I need to have a little chat,” Skylar says from beside Harper on the couch. “If it comes from Brodee, it’ll sound like jealousy. Maybe he needs to hear from me that I’ll beat some sense into him if he doesn’t get his crap together.”

“I doubt that would make a difference, babe, but good on you for thinking it would.” Harper kisses his cheek. “You’re a good man, Skylar Dalton.”

“Well, it would make me feel better. Maybe I’d get a punch in there before he beat the crap out of me for thinking I could take him. One punch might be worth it.”

I laugh. “I’ve got to get back to Boston. I just wanted to say hi and bye before I headed out.”

“You came to see her for the surgery, and now you’re heading back?” Harper asks.

“I’ve got a redeye to catch. I have to be back for a meeting tomorrow afternoon, otherwise I’d stay longer. My mom’s waiting in the car.”

“Does Peyton know that?” she asks.

“I didn’t mention it, no. But it’s fine. I was here for what I needed to be here for.” At least I could be there when Tyler wasn’t. “She has Tyler now.”

“That’s like having the comfort of a sack of rocks.”

I know what Harper is getting at. “She’s made her choice, Harp.”

“It’s the wrong choice. And so is yours.”

“What choice is that?”

“Picking Brooke.”

Ha
. I guess I should let them in on the news. “Well, that’s over now. So…”

“Since when?” Skylar asks.

“Since a few days ago.”

Harper interrupts, “And you’re still just going to walk away. Now that you have no commitment to another woman, you’re just going to let Peyton marry that douchenozzle? After all of that?”

I groan and pinch the bridge of my nose. “Do you know how many times I’ve tried to tell her how I feel?”

“What about recently?” she presses. “Does she know you broke things off with Brooke?”

“Technically, Brooke broke things off with me, and no. It hasn’t come up in conversation yet.”

“It’s simple, Brodee. You just come out and say it. Peyton, ‘Brooke and I broke up.’”

I stand up from the corner recliner. “Right now, I think Peyton has more important things to worry about. And I have to go or I’m going to miss my flight.”

Harper opens her mouth to say more, but Skylar stops her. “He’s gotta go, babe.”

“Fine,” she spats, “but I’m not letting this go. We love you. That’s the only reason why I’m pushing this so hard. Have a safe flight. Text us to let us know you landed safely, will you?”

I smile at her request and nod. “I love y’all, too. And I will.” I realize, as I walk out of their house, no matter the family you were born into, sometimes family chooses you.