‼️READ AUTHOR'S POST AT THE END FOR INSIGHT‼️

Emily Rose

Parker's car couldn't have driven any slower, it's almost as if he didn't even want us to get there at all.

"Can you please speed the fuck up!" Cameron complained. Groaning from the backseat.

"I will kick your ass out of this car, Cameron. Don't try me." Parker threatened as kept the car at the same speed.

Cameron rolled her eyes, "our friend's fiancé might be dying, stop being so damn selfish!"

"I'm not alright," Parker said, pointing towards the nearby speed limit sign. "The speed limit said to go 40, I'm going forty."

Cameron groans, "Oh, come on. Everyone knows that you can five above the speed limit!"

"Well, not me." Parker snaps.

Cameron slumps in her seat, "you've always been a shit liar." She sneers at him before looking out of the window and keeping quiet.

Truly I would've loved to listen to Cameron and Parker's bicker all day but my mind wouldn't stop racing. All I could think about was if Tomas was okay.

I was trying my hardest to keep it together; breaking down, screaming in front of my bridal shop isn't what I want to repeat again.

Not in front of Parker.

Never in front of Parker.

Ever since we got in the car, he's been watching me out of the corner of his eyes ever. Probably afraid I'm going to break down again.

"You okay?" He asked, his voice wary.

"If you hurried up then maybe I would be." I snapped. And instantly regretted it.

I heard a small snicker come out of Cameron's lips.

Parker bit his lip, thinking for a second, before nodding his head in understanding.

"I know you're going through a difficult time, so Im not going to take that personally." He told me as he sped the truck.

I looked out of the window, tears beginning to resurface again, not saying anything.

I didn't want Parker's pity, all I wanted was a perfect and healthy Tomas.

All I wanted was him.

*****

The hospital felt like a fucking death wish.

People moved around like ghosts, no where to go, stuck in time.

Forever.

No wonder why I felt like vomiting.

Tomas' room was in room 208. Everyone, he and I knew were crowded in the waiting room, waiting.

When I first arrived, my eyes caught onto my family; my mother, Amelia Tate, my father, Liam, and my two brothers, Colton Wesley and Jake.

"Honey," My mom instantly saw me and walked towards me, embracing me in her arms.

"Hey Mom," I said as I snuggled into her hug.

We stood there for a while, hugging, and I tried my best to cherish it, but I couldn't help but think.

I pull away from my mother. "Did they- are they-," I try to ask but the words can't seem to escape my lips.

My mother gives me a sad smile and shakes her head, "they haven't said anything. All we know is that he's in surgery, been in there for a while now."

Unshed tears began to burn my eyes. "What- how did this happen?" I ask.

She was about to answer when my older brother Colton growled loudly.

"Now what the fuck is he doing here?"

Mom and I turned just in time to see Colton walk up towards Parker and get into his face. "I heard rumors about you begin back in town but I didn't think I would be true." Colton sneered and Parker stood silent, his eyes calculated and emotionless.

"Colton, this is not the place to do this. Step the fuck off." Cameron intervened and tried to wedge herself between Colton and Parker but Parker pulled her away, making her stand behind her.

"Cam, don't. I don't want you getting hurt." Parker said to Cameron as he stared at Colton.

"Parker, no-!" Cameron tried to protest, but Parker quickly shot her a glare that caused her to disappear into silence.

"Boys... we need to talk." My dad's hard, cold voice said and Parker and Colton instantly took a step back, away from each other.

"Fine," Colton compiled before snapping his head at me and mouthing. "I'll talk to you later." He and Parker followed my father towards a dark corner.

I gulped and excused myself away from my mother, wanting to go get some fresh air.

But right when I was about to leave, a voice called out my name.

I turned to see Tomas' parents, Connor and Lilly McCoy.

"Hi." I waved to them and Lilly quickly came up to me, giving me a big hug.

Tears stains marked under her hazel eyes."Hello dear, how are you doing?" She asked me.

"I'm doing fine, Mrs. McCoy, just need some fresh air." I took a deep breath, trying not to left my voice reveal how I'm truly feeling.

I couldn't show my weak side, I have to be strong for Tomas.

Lilly shook her head sadly and slowly pulled away from me.

Her kind eyes had tears shinning in them as stared at me. "Oh dear, you might think it's the best thing to be strong and to not cry but did you know? Crying is what makes you human, crying is what makes you strong." She pauses, a tear slipping down her face, "but hiding your emotions? That's what really kills you."

Unshed tears began to burn my eyes, before I could say anything, a doctor walked into the waiting room, calling out Connor and Lilly's last name.

"McCoy? McCoy?"

Connor walked up and grabbed his wife's hand, giving me a head nod before moving towards the doctor.

I quietly followed them.

"Are you the parents of..." the doctor checked the clipboard in his hands, "Tomas McCoy..?"

Lilly nodded her head as Connor spoke up. "Yes, we are."

"Well..." the doctor cleared his throat. "May I... um speak with you two alone, please." The doctor quickly looks at me and step back.

"This woman is apart of our family," Connor said, "she's my son's wife. You wanna speak to us, you have to speak with her too."Connor reached out towards me and grabbed me hand, pulling me besides him and his wife.

I hold back a gasp as Connor turns his head to look at me. "Isn't that right, Emily?" He asks and I instantly nodded.

"Yes I am. I am his wife." I agreed.

Lilly turned her head towards me and gave me a happy smile.

I know it's wrong to lie to doctors but I need to make sure Tomas is okay, and I can't do that trapped in this waiting room.

The doctor stared at me for a second before looking back at his charts. "Okay," he nodded, "follow me please."

As the doctor began to lead us out of the waiting room, I could help but look behind me.

Standing in a dark corner was Parker. Even though he was being talked to by my dad, his eyes never left mine.

I shivered before turning away and following the doctor and Tomas' parents.

*****

Coma.

Coma.

Coma.

I never knew I would be able to hate a word so much after hearing so many times.

I sat down in a chair next to Tomas' hospital bed.

Cuts and scrapes were patched up on his face but still showed.

Apparently while on the table, he died twice.

Extensive internal bleeding, broken ribs, damage to vital organs... so many other things.

I took in a shaky breath.

I bit my lip, my hands clammed up together.

While he was driving, he lost control and the car swerved into a ditch, flipping over a couple of times.

That stupid, flimsy seatbelt!

I told him a million times that something could happen to him if he didn't get that fixed, but it didn't matter to him.

He would give me that award winning smile and say. "What's the worst that can happen?"

I shook my head, tears slipped down my face.

Surprisingly, Connor and Lilly allowed me to have this room alone for a while. Telling me that if I needed just ask or whatever, I wasn't really listening at that time.

Tomas looked... horrible. Bruises and scrapes made their way onto his face. His face drained him of his usual color and left him pale and lifeless. He was put on a breathing machine.

My heart broke.

My hand covered my mouth, concealing my sobs.

I gotta get out of this room.

I slowly stood up out of the chair and stumbled my way towards the door.

I was about to open the door to leave when I heard two familiar voices speak.

"I know why you're here." Colton's voice whispered, his voice vicious.

"Don't, Colton," Parker warned.

"Don't what, Parker? Kick your ass out." Colton snapped at Parker. "Don't forget, I know you. Everyone does. The only person who seems to be blinded by your act is my dumbass sister."

"Don't call her that..." Parker growled. "I'm trying to redeem myself, Colt. You of all people should know what's that like."

"Don't compare me to you Parker, you're a fucking monster." Colton sneered.

"It takes one to know one."

Silence filled the hallway before Colton spoke up again.

"You know, don't you?" Colton asked, his voice turning wary.

"Yeah." Parker replies.

Colton stays quiet again before Parker speaks.

"You need to tell her..."

"I can't, it's wrong." Colton disagrees.

"Keeping it from her is wrong."

"He's in a coma, Parker. I promised."

"Promises are meant to be broken."

"Like yours?"

Parker doesn't speak again until Colton sighs.

"It'll break her, Parker. It'll ruin everything she stands for."

"Let it."

"You want her just like you, huh? You don't give a shit about her, do you?" Colton accused, rage pulsing in his voice.

"No, it's the exact opposite," Parker paused, "I love her too much to have her like me," he utters the words so softly that the silence ensnares the word as its own.

"I'm sor-," Colton starts but Parker cuts him off.

"Tell her. Tell her, or her pure, innocent soul will turn harsh and cold. She'll hate you. And everything around her. Everything that man stands for, will kill her and she'll go down a path that no one can survive unharmed. No one."

Deafening stillness breaks through before footsteps began to sound, loud at first but drifting off in the air.

"Parker?" Colton calls out and the footsteps stop.

"Yes?"

"Are you really trying to change?" Colton asks.

"Yes," Parker answers without hesitation. "Yes, I am."

The footsteps began again, only this time softer.

It's only a matter a time before I realize Colton has left and I push myself away from the door, falling on my knees in the process.

I don't even get back up again, I do what I can;

I cry.

Because that's the only thing that can make me strong right now.

*****

Hey guys!

HOLY... WOW 11k!

11k!

Omg, I can't believe it.

Thanks for that guys!!

How I'm feeling right now ^^^

Anyways back to the story stuff.

Damn, that was sad. And LONG.

Sorry for that but sometimes I have to write about someone's real feelings and sometimes that takes a while to describe.

Well, that was a lot of new characters, some names are important and some aren't, so you don't have to memorize every name.

Now, many might be mad that Tomas is in a coma BUT that DOES NOT mean that Emily and Tomas AREN'T endgame.

It just makes things a little bit interesting for the story.

Don't worry, Tomas will not be in a coma for this whole book, he'll come back. I'm not finished with him YET!

Okay, now to questions.

Why would Parker say that Colton should know what redemption felt like?

Was Lilly right about crying and how that makes you strong?

What's the secret that Tomas keeps and why would Colton know about it?

Why does Parker know about Tomas' secret?

What is so dark about Tomas' secret that can break Emily?

Does Parker really love Emily or is he just saying it?

Anyways, I hope you liked Chapter 8 of The Love That Is Parker Bowmen.

Remember don't forget to vote, comment and add to your library, if you want more!