I left Katelyn and found Chloe in the waiting room. She had stopped with the coffee and passed out on one of the blue couches. I walked over and tapped her shoulder. 

Chloe's eyes popped open. "Is she okay?" 

"A little bruised and in pain but no worse for wear." I glanced around the waiting room, "where is everyone?" 

"Your mom insisted on feeding everyone, so I guess they're in the cafeteria." 

I chuckled. "Sounds about right. Listen, do you have a room for Micheal?" 

Chloe's eyes went wide and a bright red blush spread over her face. She cleared her throat. "Yeah, uhm. He's staying in my house with Katelyn until she's better, we talked about that last night."  

"Good. I have to take care of something but I'll be back later." 

I knew what I was about to do was a ballsy move and there was a possibility that Katelyn would never speak to me again,  but I had to take a chance on this.

Chloe nodded her head and I turned on my heel. Around the corner, just before the exit, I ran into Michael. In all honesty, I wasn't avoiding him, I was just busy and he ranked on the lower end of the totem pole for shit I needed to sort out. But the man was determined, I'd give him that.

Michael stepped into my path and I just knew there would be no way around this conversation. I sighed, but decided to get it out of the way quickly.

"You wanted to talk, now's your best shot."

"Are you avoiding me by any chance, Lucas?"

I shook my head and made sure to keep my face blank. "Not at all. Just busy."

Michael smiled a wide toothed grin that remided me of a shark before it took a bite. "Then let's have that talk before you get too busy again. The coffee shop is quiet this time of day, do you mind?"

It sounded suspiciously like an invitation but I knew he wouldn't be taking no for an answer. Given everything that happened it was high time someone gave him some answers. With a nod of my head, I followed behind Michael to the coffee shop without a word. Neither of us said anything until Michael placed his order and sat back in his seat.

His face gave nothing away and I fought the urge to squirm. He may look calm but deep down he was furious, that much was abundantly clear.

"So, where were you yesterday when Katelyn had her accident?" Michael asked calmly as if we were old friends.

"Am I being interrogated?"

"Call it whatever you like. But I know Katelyn didn't just loose control of her car. Something must have upset her enough for her to drive her car at such a speed to wreck. And I want to know what it was."

Of course I had thought of this but inside I still recoiled at his words. How many times had I looked at her in that hospital bed, so fragile, and wondered if it wasn't my fault that she was there in the first place?

I had upset her, I even hurt her. And even though I tried to fix it, it still went to shit. But I wasn't going to shrink away from this and if Michael was looking for someone to blame he'd have to wait in line.

"I was at a friends place. The night before I went to see her and I hurt her." The words tasted bitter and foul on my tongue and I had to swallow past the bile in my throat.

Michael nodded his head. "She asked me to stay for the summer, so I will. But just know I will do my damndest to make sure she stays away from you or leaves with me."

My blood boiled. I made a stupid mistake but there was no way I was going to let the dressed penguin take my chance to make it right. I owed Katelyn that much and truthfully, I wasn't ready to let her go and as time wore on, I didn't think I ever would be ready for it.

"Then I'll just have to convince her to stay."

I saw a muscle tick in Michael's jaw. "Should I even ask what your intentions are with my sister?"

"You could but I won't promise you an answer. At least not one you're going to like."

Michael smiled. Not the friendly smile but a viper's smile before it striked. In that moment I knew two things about him. He could look as calm as he wanted on the surface but there was a rage boiling in him just waiting to explode. Second, he truly loved his sister and he was protective of her. I wasn't sure what any of that meant for me but I knew I wasn't willing to let her go.

"You should trust Katelyn to make the right choice. She's far stronger than you give her credit for."

"I do trust her. It's you I don't trust."

I sighed. This conversation was getting us nowhere. "You might not trust me and that's okay but I'm not giving up. She's far too important for you to scare me away. I don't scare easily."

"So, then you have until the end of the summer to convince her. But I'm not going to make it easy for you, neither will she."

"I wouldn't expect her to. I fucked up but I also realised that I want to be with her," I said and lifted my eyes to Michael's.  "Long term."

"Good." The waitress put a takeaway coffee in front of Michael and he got up. "I'd hate to kick your ass."

I smiled genuinely for the first time since that morning. "You could try."

Michael shook his head but a small smile tipped his lips. "You're either very ballsy or very stupid, Rhys. I don't know which."

"A little bit of both."

"Good luck, " Michael said. "You're going to need it." And with that he walked out of the coffee shop leaving me to wonder if the man even liked me at all.

Of course, it didn't matter to me but it would matter to Katelyn. So for her sake, I'd try my best not to beat the crap out of her brother. Although, I doubt Michael would go down easy and I wasn't in any hurry to find out.

A quick glance at my watch told me that I was already late. I had to visit four sites before I could take that drive to the mountains and I still wanted to make it back to see Katelyn when she woke up.

I left the coffee shop but still thought about her and how I was ever going to make it up to her. There was so many things in my life that I could never make up for and I didn't want Katelyn to be one of those things.

After driving for several hours checking on all the sites, I finally make my way out of town around midday. The dirve is relatively quiet and peaceful. Until I reach a curve in the road where Katelyn's car crashed through the trees.

Long black skid marks line the road from where she lost control of her car. I stop the truck and hop out to survey the damage. Tree branches are broken off and bent at odd angles. At one point, her car must have spinned that's when the side of her car made contact with the tree.

The tree's bark is crushed but still standing strong. Red paint from her car still clings to the broken bark. My heart nearly stops when I see what lies beyond the tree. A few yards from the tree the ground completely dips away. At the bottom is what looks to be a shallow lake. If it hadn't been for the tree her car would have gone over the ledge and into the lake. The car would have likely flipped on its roof and Katelyn would have drowned before anyone could reach her.

My body grows gold despide the searing sun beating down on me. In some way, I had caused this. I hurt her and even if it was the last thing I wanted, I still did. Mom's words came back to me in a rush and somehow , I understood. It was never Katelyn I was trying to protect but myself. My selfishness and refusal to see what was right in front of me pushed her away.

In that moment I realized how close I came to losing her forever. In a dangerously permanent way. My chest grew tight making it unable to take a deep enough breath to calm my racing thoughts. Fear of losing her overwhelmed me. She was alive by some miracle but I could still very well lose her.

The realization sent a shock through my system that nearly brought me to my knees. How could I have been so damn blind?

I could stay here, kicking myself over and over, or I could get back with the program and fix the biggest fuckup of my life. Because somehow, I knew, if I lost her I'd never be the same again.

Feelings for her hit me like a tidal wave, they wash over me and spread through every dark corner I've kept closed off for so long. I don't know how I have fought it up to this point but she completely wrecked me. For some reason, I wouldn't have it any other way.

There was no fear anymore, only a burning determination to do whatever it took to show her how she was it for me. I walked back to my truck only glancing back to sear the wrecked image in my mind.

I found the overgrown road pretty fast, taking extra care to drive carefully on the road that almost took something very important from me. At the end of the driveway  tucked between the trees stood a small house. Next to it a blue truck with flat tyres, rust about an inch thick.

After parking my truck right in front of the house, I got out and slammed the door hard enough for whoever in the house to hear. My anger bubbled to the surface. No one may have physically caused the accident but some of us let her down, me included.

I got out of the truck and walked to the front door, knocked and then waited.

"Who is it?" A voice croaked behind the closed door.

I balled my fists at my side but decided to bite my tongue. "Lucas Rhys. I'm looking for Macy."

The door swung open, almost completely of it's hinges to reveal a tiny woman with eyes bloodshot but spitting silver fury. Her dark brown hair was streaked with silver, pulled in a tight bun on top of her head.

"That's the second time in two days that someone's come around here looking for me by that name." Macy's voice is steel with an undercurrent of loathing so thick it nearly chokes me.

In that moment she reminds me so much of Katelyn it hurts. They have the same eyes and even though Macy's hair is streaked with silver it's the same chocolate brown as Katelyn's. Her stance, her voice, the annoyance and hurt flaring on her face is the spitting image of the girl haunting my dreams.

I take a step back but don't relax my face. I'm sure my pissed off demeanor is shinning loud and clear on my face.

Macy narrowed her eyes. "So? What do want?"

Even with the tears in her eyes, Macy's voice didn't waver. But I see the way she grips the door and clutches her chest. No matter how she tries to hide it or play it off.

"I need to talk to you about Katelyn Davis." I answer through gritted teeth.

Macy's face colors to a bright crimson shade. If she were a cartoon, steam would be coming out of ears by now. "The hell I will!"

Macy tries to push the door close but I shove my foot in to stop it. "Then maybe you can tell me why she wrecked her car after she left here."

Her face goes stark white and she stumbles, grabbing onto the arch. "No," the word leaves her mouth in a woosh of air.

I grab her elbow to steady the older woman before she falls over. Her face is alarmingly pale and I kick myself for being so callous.

"Is she..." Macy asks letting the word trail off as tears filled her eyes.

I swallow the words I want to say and instead stick to the facts. "She's in the hospital but she's fine. She was here yesterday and I want to know what happened."

I didn't soften my voice because I wanted Macy to know I wouldn't be leaving without answers. Katelyn deserved that much from both of us.

Macy closed her eyes, took a deep breath and moved away from the door. "Then I guess you should come in."