I was still giggling about my very surreal life when Anna and I climbed into the cab. Anna pulled out her phone as she gave the driver the name of the store that was on top of her mental rolodex. I relaxed back into the seat, content. I was finally marrying Kellan. I couldn’t wait. After a minute or so of silence, my sister nudged my arm. “Have you seen this?” she asked.
She showed me her phone. She was on a gossip site and, not surprisingly, the story about Kellan’s accident was being featured. The still shots were horrifying. There were successive pictures of Kellan pulling me to my feet, shoving me behind him, holding out his hand, and the truck striking him. It made all of the fear from yesterday fresh in my mind. It made the injury upon my scalp burn anew, like it had just happened. If the truck had been going just a little faster, if Kellan had fallen back and smacked his head against the curb, if more internal organs had been damaged, I would have lost him.
As I swiped tears from my eyes, I noticed what my sister had wanted me to see. Below the photos were comments from fans. Hundreds of comments. And all of them were praising Kellan for his actions and proclaiming him a hero. Reading all of their heartfelt thoughts and prayers for his recovery warmed me. Reading about myself in the comments surprised me: He stepped into traffic for her! He saved her life! That’s true love. They belong together. They’re perfect together. I never believed he was with Sienna.
The outpouring of support for our relationship took me back. It was as if our accident had flipped a switch on the masses, and they were all announcing us as the new power couple. In the blink of an eye, I’d gone from the condemned other woman trying to steal Sienna’s man to Kellan’s soul mate. The change was so fast and drastic that my mind almost couldn’t grasp it. And the fact that my head hurt and my stitches itched wasn’t helping anything.
I looked back at Anna, floored. “They love us.”
Anna gave me a humoring smile. “Everyone eventually falls for the two of you together. You’re meant to be.”
We had so much to do in so little time that I quickly put the mystery of ever-changing public perception out of my mind. When we were finished with dress shopping, I felt like I had run a marathon I was so tired. But I had everything I needed. Anna and I had even worked out the marriage license. I’d been worried about that one, but Anna had poured on the charm and the clerk had agreed to come to the hospital so Kellan and I could fill out the application together. Honestly, I think the female clerk just wanted to see Kellan in person. Her eyes had shone like the stars when she’d figured out just who was asking for permission to get married.
This was really going to happen.
Preparations began in earnest the following day when my numerous bridesmaids arrived. I squealed when Jenny, Rachel, Kate, and Cheyenne walked into Kellan’s hospital room. My four friends encased me in a tearful group hug while the boys in the room shook their heads in amusement. Boys just didn’t understand the power of girlfriends.
Overwhelmed and emotional, I sniffled as I told Jenny, “I can’t believe you’re here. Thank you for flying back out so soon.”
Jenny’s hazy eyes drifted to the healing cut along my forehead. “I wouldn’t miss your wedding day for the world.” Her gaze shifted to Kellan lying in his bed, smiling at us. “And I had to make sure you were okay. You scared the crap out of me, Kellan.”
Kellan’s lips curved up in a wry grin. “My apologies.”
Jenny laughed at him, then walked over and gave him a quick hug while I thanked each girl in turn. Kellan and I had paid for their plane tickets and arranged for hotel rooms, but they’d each had to shift their lives around to make this happen for us. I was extremely grateful to them, to all of the people who were there.
After the greetings were over, Rachel cuddled with Matt, Kate nervously stood by Justin, and Cheyenne tried to get Gibson away from my mother. She failed. Jenny wrapped her arms around Evan and giggled. “While I’m thrilled to be here, I can’t believe you’re getting married in a hospital room, Kiera.”
My mom sighed in agreement. I rolled my eyes at Mom as I faced my troops. “We’ve got a lot to do today.” I indicated the stale hospital room around me. “We need to make this room suitable for a wedding tomorrow.”
Standing beside me with Abby, Denny slowly shook his head as he took in the garish medical equipment and utilitarian furniture. “That is not going to be easy,” he murmured.
I nodded in agreement. “No, but thank you for helping me.”
Wide smile in place, he told me, “It’s what I do.”
Looking over at Mom, I asked her, “Did you find someone to marry us?”
Pleased as punch, Mom kissed her granddaughter’s head as she beamed. “I did!” She pointed a finger at Kellan. “One of the nurses that helped sew him back together is an ordained minister. She said she’d be thrilled to marry a rock star.”