Reflecting On Wishes (The Wishes Series) Page 6
***
Sunlight was beaming in the bedroom when the alarm went off, waking them in the same position they had fallen asleep in. Angel was still draped over him, her legs entwined with his and he gave her a soft, sleepy kiss.
“This is exactly how I want to wake up every single morning, with my Angel as my blanket.”
He was rewarded with a sleepy grin and another kiss.
“Mmm, good morning, big guy,” she grinned and nuzzled her face against his neck.
“Mornin’, baby,” he whispered, brushing a soft kiss on her forehead.
“It’s race day—Southern Nationals.”
“You got this, Angel. By the end of the day, everyone will be chanting your name.”
***
It was time for the last run of the elimination rounds. Angel was mounted on her sleek motorcycle leaning low against the gas tank. She was one with her machine. Revving the engine and burning out at the start of the track was done without thinking. She was past that. Her eyes were locked on the end of the track, darting back to the red light that would soon flash to green signaling the point that would make or break her race time today. Her reaction time off the green had to be as close zero as possible. It was down to her and last year’s champ and good friend, Pryor Littleton. The last round she’d advanced with a lead by only 0.026 of a second. Too close for comfort.
Over the loudspeaker the announcer introduced them. Angel took a deep breath and looked over to her opponent and tapped her helmet in salute to her friend, smiling when he repeated the gesture to her. Leaning back down in position she focused on the light.
Her papá patted her back, “Take what belongs to you. You deserve this, mija.” He backed away and stood next to her brother like he always did. Her family was everything to her. She wanted this win for them as much as she wanted it for herself. They had busted their asses for years to help her as she went for her dream.
Her body was tense. She didn’t even blink for fear of missing that tenth of a second off her reaction time. As soon as the green light flashed she was shooting down the track like a smooth streak of black lightening. Dakota was right. By the time she made it to the finish line, everyone was chanting her name. Never had a victory tasted so sweet.
Chapter 6
Angel
After winning Southern Nationals, they had a three week break before the next race. Everyone was living on the high of the win. The entire town of Sugar Creek was in full support of their hometown sweetheart posting signs about her win. The local restaurants even dedicated specials on their menus in honor of her. Lola’s Diner offered a sweet dessert called Angel Berry Cake that had a layer of soft angel-food cake topped with fresh blueberries, strawberries and raspberries garnished with fresh sweet cream and a sprig of mint. On the lunch and dinner menu you could order a Vega Burger if you wanted a vegan, black bean grilled burger with jalapenos and sliced avocado. The local bar Petey’s, had introduced a new drink called the Speedy Latina that consisted of tequila, lemon, orange juice, simple syrup and sour mix. Angel’s particular favorite was the tequila shot with hot sauce, now deemed The Saucy Angel. The local steakhouse, Bibo’s Grill, now offered a strip steak marinated in a blend of tequila, chopped jalapeno, cilantro, garlic, lime, olive oil and seasonings with a side of steamed veggies and Spanish rice. The flavor filled dish was branded The Vega-s Strip Steak dinner.
She loved being back to work in the shop with her family. Not that she got much actual work done. Most of her time was spent signing autographs, taking pictures and chatting with customers that came in to see if they could cross paths with the hometown girl that was taking the racing world by storm. Anything with her name or picture on it was selling off the shelves faster than they could keep it stocked. Finally, Angel was feeling that all her hard work over the years had paid off. Winning was good for the family business. Her dad had backed her all these years and now she was in a sense, paying him back with her success.
When it was time to close up shop, Rage came up front where Nahni and Angel were talking and cashing out the register for the day. “Hey, Angel, do you want to take a ride with me tonight since Nahni is going to go out to dinner with her mom and sister?”
Angel cocked her head to the side, thinking about it. “Tell ya what, buy me dinner and I will.” She chuckled as she zipped the bank bag and stuffed it in her back pack so she could put it in the night deposit at the bank on her way home.
“I can’t believe I still have to bribe you to get you to hang out with me, sis. So not cool,” he smirked and playfully tugged her ponytail.
“See, that’s why you have to bribe me, you’re annoying, Rage.” It was her turn to be the annoying one then, thumping his nose and dashing over to her sister-in-law and giving her a hug.
“You two behave!” Nahni called out, laughing and shaking her head.
“Yes ma’am,” they said in unison, cracking up laughing together when Nahni gave up and shook her head, walking out the door to her car.
“I’ll meet you at your house after I run this to the bank. I’ll probably beat you there as slow as you drive.” Angel said in a teasing voice.
“Hey now, don’t make fun of me just because I don’t break all the speed laws and get away with it because I’m not famous like you.” He bumped her with his hip throwing her off balance, making her drop her bag. He chuckled as he gave it a kick across the showroom floor. The laughter echoed in the quiet store as did her cursing him for picking on her.
“God, Rage you are such a pain in my ass!” Bending to pick it up, she tossed it over her shoulders and hooked her arms in it, digging her keys out of her pocket as she followed him outside.
He rang out with, “But you love me anyways dontcha?”
“That’s questionable, brother dear,” she giggled as she locked the door and climbed on her bike, fastening her helmet.
“Hey, meet me at papá’s instead. I gotta take him this paperwork since I’m off tomorrow to go to Nahni’s check up with her.”
“Okay, be there in a bit.”
Angel started her midnight black, stealthy looking 2009 Yamaha VMAX, grinning when it purred alive with the sweet hum of the V4 engine. It was her pride and joy, her first brand new motorcycle. All her life, she had always bought used and fixed them up. But when she won the Spring Nationals a few years back, she couldn’t resist spoiling herself with the bike she had been pining for. It was worth every penny.
Pushing down her visor, Angel lifted the kickstand and eased her way out into traffic. It only took about five minutes to travel the few blocks to the bank and deposit the days till in the night deposit box. The sun was starting to lower on the horizon but it was still hot outside. As much as she wanted to strip off her protective riding gear to get a little cooler, she didn’t. It was only a fifteen minute drive to her dad’s house. On the ride there, her thoughts strayed to Dakota. Tomorrow they had a date scheduled. He’d invited her over for dinner and a movie at his place, but later suggested they make a whole day of it. The prospect of having alone time with him had her stomach fluttering with excitement. She had been in town for four days and had only gotten to see him twice, though they talked and texted several times a day.
He was working long hours at the rehab center as usual and her schedule was always busy with press, appearances and working at the shop. It was shocking to her how easily she had become attached to him. His endearing smile was emblazoned in her mind and his hard-working determination at Reconstructing Warriors was nothing less than admirable. When Angel told him she had already made arrangements to visit the Sugar Creek Hospital children's ward Saturday morning, he asked if he could go with her. She was a bit nervous to take him along but it warmed her heart that he wanted to spend time with her no matter where it was. If he wanted to go with her to hand out stuffed animals, while she autographed pictures that was fine with her.
She flipped her turn signal on, looking over her left shoulder as she merged onto the highway and sped up, cruising
down the road. She groaned when she got stuck behind a slow moving truck that seemed to be creeping at a snail’s pace. The highway was busy even though rush hour was over. Friday nights tended to be that way, especially in summer-time as people made their way out of town, traveling to local lakes to spend the weekend camping. In fact, there was a truck alongside of her hauling a pontoon boat that had coolers strapped to it. It made her smile, reminiscing of weekends at the lake with her dad and brother. She recalled going fishing and sun tanning with her lawn chair sitting in the shallow water. Maybe on Memorial Day weekend, Dakota would join them on their first weekend trip to the lake of the summer. Angel shifted gears, speeding up when the truck in front of her exited off the highway. Finally, she could open it up and fly down the road faster than a mere fifty-five miles per hour. But something was wrong. Horribly wrong. She suddenly found herself screeching to a halt, sliding sideways when her transmission locked up. A split second decision had to be made. One she knew would hurt no matter what. Hold on to the bike in hopes of regaining control, or bailing and taking the fall, hopefully rolling off the highway instead of being thrown in front of a vehicle.
She let go and pushed herself off the bike, doing her best to tuck and roll across the pavement. The sound of tires screaming and metal crunching were ringing in her ears. She didn’t scream or cry out when she hit the unforgiving concrete barrier even though her bones were snapping. Her helmet had flown off and her head connected with the pavement, unconsciousness took her into oblivion. The last thing on her mind as she went under was the smell of lilacs and fresh cut grass mixed with gasoline and wondering if she would live to see her family or Dakota ever again.
***
The wail of sirens could be heard heading towards the west side of town. First responders, police and ambulances quickly took control of the scene. It was a miracle that no one else was injured other than the slender woman that lay with her legs bent at unnatural angles. Upon initial inspection of the scene, they found her helmet over two hundred yards away near the heap of the twisted metal of her motorcycle. She was breathing but unconscious. The left side of her face had a gash in it from the corner of her eye up her forehead, disappearing into her hairline. The paramedic covered the wound with a thick piece of gauze, pressing firmly to staunch the flow of blood. It was obvious her lower legs were broken when she slammed into the barrier and flipped over it, landing in the grass at the side of the highway. On-lookers had gotten out of their cars to catch a glimpse and were being held back by police, instructed to get back in their vehicles and move along. The two other people involved in the crash were shook up but okay, sitting on the side of the barrier as medics checked them over. The first officer on the scene shook his head and whispered to the paramedics that were trying to stabilize her on a stretcher and affix a neck brace on her.
“Hey, that’s Angel Vega. I need to call her dad. Dammit…” Officer Jacobs cursed, pulling his cell phone from his pocket and dialing his longtime friend to break the news.
The shock registered on the medics faces. It was hard to get a good look at her in the dusk with her face covered in blood but one look at the back of her helmet that sported a Vega’s Custom Bikes logo with wings on either side confirmed it. It was the town’s pride and joy was in a broken heap along the side of the highway.
***
“I don’t know why she isn’t here yet, Papá,” Rage had a worried look on his face. He had been at his dad’s house for nearly an hour now and he had expected Angel to arrive right after him.
“Try calling her again. Maybe she decided to swing by and see Dakota on her way over here.” Vito scratched his head, walking into the living room and opening the front door to look outside.
“No answer. I keep getting her voice mail. I tried her apartment too but there’s no answer there either. I think I should go look for her,” Rage was getting antsy. This wasn’t like his baby sister to not show up or at least send a text if she was running late or stopping somewhere else.
“I’ll stay here in case she shows up. You go ahead and drive to the bank and then the shop. Swing by her apartment if she’s not at either place.” Vito crossed his arms over his chest with a worried look on his face.
“On my way,” Rage replied as he walked out the front door. The ringing of the house phone stopped him in his tracks. Turning, he went back inside, listening when his dad put the phone on speaker and said. “Hello.”
“Vito, this is Jacobs. I hate to be the one to call you but I’m off Highway 129 just past the exit for TT Highway at the scene of an accident. It’s Angel…”
“Oh God, Jacobs—is she okay?” Tears instantly welled up in Vito’s eyes as he waited for an answer. Rage came up and stood beside him, his face going pale.
“She’s alive, Vito. But she’s banged up pretty bad and unconscious. They are loading her in the ambulance now to take her to the hospital.” Jacobs’s voice was thick with emotion. This was the part of his job he hated. Living in a small town where everyone knew each other made it especially hard to break bad news to someone.
“We’re on our way. Thanks for calling me.” Vito hung up and tossed the phone on the couch, grabbing his keys off the coffee table and followed his son out the door. Once they were in the truck, Vito slammed his fist against the steering wheel in frustration before starting it up and pulling out of the driveway, rushing towards the hospital.
“She’ll be okay, Angel is tough Dad.” His voice was shaking but he was trying to put on a brave face for their father even though inside, he felt as if his insides were tearing apart.
The drive didn’t take long but seeing the remains of the accident on the side of the highway was nearly Vito’s undoing. “Aye dios mio! Her bike is obliterated, Rage.”
Rage reached over and gripped his dad’s shoulder, trying to give him comfort even though words failed him. It was dark outside when they pulled into the emergency parking and headed inside. They were informed by the woman at the check-in that the doctor would come out to talk to them when he knew something. A news crew entered the waiting room not long after Rage and Vito were seated. Immediately, Rage shielded his father from them and politely edged them out the door, giving a statement that they didn’t know the extent of her injuries yet and to please respect her and the family while they waited for news. Once he had them satisfied he came back inside and called his wife Nahni so she would hear it from him and not on the news. He hated worrying her since she was pregnant, but Angel was her best friend, not just her sister-in-law. After he hung up, he dialed Dakota’s number. A sick feeling in his stomach had acid burning up into his throat when he told him what happened.
***
Dakota had just gotten home from work. As he changed out of his scrubs and into shorts and a t-shirt, his phone rang. It was a good thing he was sitting down when Rage told him about Angel’s accident because his knees went weak and he felt like his heart was going to burst out of his chest. He had heard the sirens earlier but never dreamed it would be for Angel. He had to be there with her. He knew most of the doctors since he worked closely with the hospital due to the patients he administered physical therapy to. Maybe he could help Angel’s family get information quicker. Most importantly he needed to see her, to be there when she woke up and hold her in his arms.
Snatching up his car keys he headed out into the humid night air and prayed all the way to the hospital. That’s when he realized he was head over heels in love with her. It hit him like a ton of bricks how much she meant to him. From this point on he wouldn’t waste a moment not showing her and telling her just how much he cared.
Over the years, Dakota had worked with many accident cases that required physical therapy. He had worked with people that had issues from tendinitis to post-surgical rehabilitation on military professionals that had been injured in the line of duty. In fact, that was the reason his parents started Reconstructing Warriors Rehab Center. His dad, Noah, was a retired Navy SEAL that lost his leg when an IED hit the truck
he was in while on patrol in Afghanistan. After going through the process of therapy, both physical and mental, it was something their family had focused on. They wanted to have a place for other wounded warriors to heal and strengthen themselves. In his mind he went through scenarios of what her possible injuries would be. Motorcycle wrecks were the worst. There was nothing to protect the rider other than safety gear which didn’t make a hell of a lot of difference if you were hit by oncoming traffic.
Off the side of northbound traffic there were flashing lights where a crew was cleaning up the wreckage that was still present. It was too dark for him to see much, but knowing that was where it had happened set his stomach turning. She had to be okay. He would make sure of it.
Chapter 7
Angel - Seven weeks later…
It wasn’t supposed to turn out like this. She was only twenty-four. The doctors told her there was a chance she may never walk again, or if she did, it wouldn’t be without the assistance of a cane or walker. How was she going to race if she couldn’t even walk? What the hell would she do with her life if she couldn’t race or work on motorcycles? Angel turned her head towards the window, waiting for her dad to pull the truck around to pick her up. The wheelchair she was sitting in felt like a ball and chain. She was weighted down with fear, anger and grief. It was scary to think of everything she couldn’t do anymore because of this chair and her stupid legs that refused to work right. Rage and Nahni had packed up her second floor apartment and moved her things into her papá’s house. How embarrassing was it to have to move back home because you couldn’t take care of yourself? It was humiliating to the point she cried herself to sleep nearly every night since she woke up from the accident.