Diamond In The Rough: The Complete Series Read online

  Until…

  “Holy shit.”

  The gasp startled me so badly I yelped. I shot up from Clint’s side, gazing down into his eyes. Holy fuck, his eyes were open. Holy fuck, he was talking!

  “Clint! Clint. Clint. Can you hear me, baby? Clint?”

  “R-Rae?”

  I cupped his cheek. “Holy shit. I—oh, my God. Clint! Don’t close your eyes, okay? Don’t close them again. The paramedics are coming. It’s almost over. Just—Clint!”

  I tapped his face as his eyes closed, and he groaned out in pain. I’d apologize later, but not right now. Because I sure as hell wasn’t about to let this miracle slip through my fingers.

  “That hurts.”

  “Because your nose is broken. Keep your eyes open, okay?”

  His reddened eyes slowly rolled over to me as the voices and footsteps grew closer. I smiled down at him, my heart filling with joy and relief as he attempted a smile back. He winced, though. I knew his nose was giving him some trouble. And rightfully so.

  Because it was practically flat against his face.

  2

  Clinton

  “Clint!”

  “Mom?”

  I whipped around, looking down as I saw myself clad in white. A white leather jacket, a white pair of jeans, and a white fucking turtleneck. Who the hell put me in a turtleneck? I looked up as I heard the sound of soft feet falling against a tile floor. I saw my mother running toward me, arms outstretched. And when I saw her, I smiled.

  “Mom!”

  I rushed for her, scooping her up into my arms. I twirled her around, hearing her giggle and laugh as my face fell against her bosom. That soft, glorious place I’d sought comfort in as a child. As a young boy, wanting nothing more than to seek shelter away from my father with her.

  I spun her around for what seemed like an eternity before I put her down.

  I buried my face into her shoulder. “It’s so good to see you.”

  She ran her fingers through my hair. “I’ve missed you so much.”

  “Where the hell are we?”

  “Language.”

  I snickered. “Thanks, Mom.”

  “Well, you and your father have always had such potty mouths.”

  I pulled back, gazing into her eyes. “Where are we?”

  “Why don’t you look around and see?”

  As my eyes slowly gazed out over the white expanse of nothingness, I saw edges come into view. A couch. A hallway. A projector television sitting against the wall. I saw the edges of windows, looking out onto a great, big, blue sky. Clouds as white as my clothing floated high above, and the green grass of our front lawn sparkled in the sun.

  I furrowed my brow. “We’re home.”

  “We are, yes.”

  “But this doesn't look like home.”

  “Well, it’s got a few changes.”

  “Why does it look so different?”

  And when I turned around, I saw sorrow in my mother’s eyes.

  I paused. “What?”

  Mom sighed. “Why don’t we have a little talk?”

  She reached her hand out for mine and I took it. She pulled me over to the couch. The one Roy and I always sat on. But it didn’t feel like our couch. It didn’t look like our space. It was a nice replica. Why the fuck was everything so white?

  “Mom, what’s going on?”

  She paused. “It’s complicated, sweetheart.”

  “I’m dreaming, aren’t I?”

  “In a way, yes.”

  “In a way?”

  “Your body is giving out on you right now.”

  “So I’m dying.”

  “Do you remember much of anything?”

  I nodded slowly. “I remember it all.”

  Mom patted my hand. “Who’s the pretty girl coming for you?”

  “Coming for me?”

  She smiled. “Just answer the question, sweetheart. We don’t have much time.”

  “I’m not following.”

  She cupped my cheek. “Who’s this girl you’ve been spending time with?”

  I felt so confused. And yet, this all still felt very natural. I nuzzled against my mother’s palm, wanting nothing more than to stay here with her. Stay here, in her arms. Stay here, with her touch. Stay here, and feel her run her fingers through my hair for all eternity.

  Maybe I’d get that, too. If I was really dying.

  “Her name’s Rae.”

  Mom smiled. “Pretty name. How’d you meet her?”

  I snickered. “School, actually. I used to—”

  And when I paused, Mom sighed.

  “You used to pick on her.”

  I nodded. “Yes, ma’am.”

  “I still don’t understand why in the world you run around with those kids. That Roy boy. They’re such a bad influence on you.”

  I pulled away from her touch. “You don’t understand, Mom. I can’t expect you to.”

  “Then try. Try to explain it to me, while we have time.”

  “We’d have had time if you hadn’t left me with Dad.”

  “I was in no condition to take care of you. I was hooked on so many things and—”

  “And an abusive father seemed like the best route to take?”

  Tears filled her eyes. “At least you would’ve been clothed. Fed. Had a roof over your head. I didn't have those things, after the divorce.”

  “You got a very nice settlement from Dad. He’s still paying you alimony. What happened?”

  She shook her head. “Can we try to focus on the good things? Please?”

  “I want to know why you left me behind.”

  There was a long pause before a tear leaked down her cheek.

  “Because I was selfish. Because I was thinking of only myself, in the moment. Between my depression and the medication I got hooked on, I fell into a dark hole. And I didn’t want to take anyone with me. Pushing you away was the only rational fix I could come to in my pill-induced stupor, so you wouldn't fall into that hole with me. Just like divorcing me was your father’s way of getting himself out of that hole. Because for a while, he was in it with me.”

  I chewed my lower lip. “I guess, in some ways, I already knew that.”

  “Because you’re a smart boy, Clint. Even though you don’t apply yourself in school and even though you run around with those hoodlums, you’re a good kid. A smart kid. A fighter, with a strong spirit. Your father almost succeeded in dampening my strong spirit. Don’t let him do that to you, okay?”

  I paused. “If you’re here with me, does this mean you’re dead?”

  She shook her head. “No, silly boy. I’m a manifestation. There isn’t anything right now that we’re talking about that you don’t already know inside this funny little head of yours.”

  She tapped her finger softly against my temple and I caught her wrist with my hand. I pulled her palm to my lips and kissed it. Over, and over, and over again. I didn’t care if it wasn’t real. I didn’t care if this wasn’t really her. It felt like her. And smelled like her. Just like I remembered.

  And I didn’t want it to ever go away.

  “You’re a fighter, Clint. Fight for this. Fight for your life.”

  I shook my head. “I’m tired of fighting, Mom. I don’t want to do it anymore.”

  “She’s waiting for you, sweetheart.”

  “You’re a fighter, Clint. Fight for this. Fight for your life.”

  I furrowed my brow as my mother’s voice distorted itself.

  “You’re a fighter, Clint. Fight for this. Fight for your life.”

  “Mom?”

  Her body started floating away, and I reached out for her.

  “Mom!”

  “She’s waiting for you. Don’t let her down like your father let me down.”

  “Mom! No!”

  “You’re a fighter, Clint. Fight for this. Fight for your life.”

  “You’re a fighter, Clint. Fight for this. Fight for your life.”

  “You’re a fighte
r, Clint. Fight for this. Fight for your life.”

  Then I drew in a deep, resounding breath.

  “Holy shit.”

  A yelp hit my ears and made me flinch. All the white had faded away. The warmth of my mother’s touch was gone. And for some reason, I was soaking fucking wet. I shivered as I gazed up at the night sky. A stark juxtaposition to my dream. Or my limbo. Or my purgatory.

  Or whatever the fuck had just happened.

  “Clint! Clint. Clint. Can you hear me, baby? Clint?”

  I coughed. “R-Rae?”

  Something warm cupped my cheek. “Holy shit. I—oh, my God. Clint! Don’t close your eyes, okay? Don’t close them again. The paramedics are coming. It’s almost over. Just—Clint!”

  I felt her tap my face and a blinding pain shot through my skin. I groaned and lobbed my head over toward her, taking in her blurry form. The blackened outline gave me comfort. Much like the comfort I’d just experienced with my mother.

  Or the vision of my mother.

  “That hurts.”

  Rae snickered. “Because your nose is broken. Keep your eyes open, okay?”

  That explains a lot.

  I heard footsteps off in the distance. I saw flashes of light and heard sirens above me. Rae settled against me, warming me with her presence as she gazed into my eyes. It was hard keeping my eyes open. My lungs felt like they were burning and drowning at the same time. She smiled at me. That tender, sweet, relieved smile she always had when she laid eyes on me.

  And while I tried smiling back, my nose only let me go so far before I winced.

  I groaned. “Yep. That’s broken.”

  Rae sighed. “Your shoulder’s dislocated, too.”

  “Explains the back pain.”

  “Well, lying on a rocky river bank will do that, too.”

  I snickered. “I suppose it will.”

  She whispered. “I’m so glad you’re talking to me.”

  “I know you are.”

  “Because you—”

  I nodded, ignoring the disorienting pain. “I know.”

  “You know?”

  “I saw my mother.”

  “You… you did?”

  I scoffed. “Yeah. Crazy, right?”

  “Maybe when this is all done, you can tell me about it.”

  She cupped my cheek and I fell into the warmth. I lobbed my head over, trying to seek out as much of her comfort as I could. Holy hell, she felt fantastic. I almost didn’t want the moment to end. Had it not been for the blinding pain that made me sick to my stomach, I would’ve cried out for everyone to leave us alone.

  But I needed a damn hospital.

  Before I died again.

  “I promise you’re gonna be okay.”

  Rae’s lips pressed a kiss to my ear and I moaned. I didn't even try holding it back. Over and over, she pressed kisses against me, warming me from my toes to my nose. I felt my legs come back to life. I wiggled my toes as the sounds of sliding rock and dirt sounded above us. I felt sprinkles of the earth battering against my face, the smallest specks sending ricocheting pain signals all the way to my brain.

  “It’s okay. I’m right here. I’m going nowhere, okay?”

  I sputtered. “How did you—? Are you okay?”

  I couldn’t speak through the pain anymore. It was excruciating. How the hell did Rae get down that steep cliff? Was she hurt? Had she fallen over, too? What the fuck was happening around me?

  I couldn't crane my neck enough to see. All I felt were people gathering around us as Rae’s lips left my ear.

  “No, no, no. Come back.”

  “I’m right here, Clint. Just right here. Take my hand.”

  I felt her fingers curl around my wrist, but it wasn’t enough. I needed her lips. Her body. Her warmth. Her presence. I needed more of her. All of her. I didn’t want her to leave me like my mother had.

  I drew in a shaking breath. “Please, don’t leave.”

  “I swear to you, I’m going nowhere. I’m going straight to the hospital with you, all right? Just let the paramedics do what they do best.”

  I heard a count off before my body was lifted. I cried out in pain as the world around me flashed. In an instant, the dark world was gone. Replaced by the white of my dreams. Or my purgatory. I saw my mother’s face smiling down at me. Clad in that beautiful white summer dress of hers.

  “Don’t let her down like your father let me down.”

  “Heave up!”

  “Shit!”

  “Clint, it’s okay. I’m meeting you at the top, all right?”

  “Heave up!”

  “Fucking hell.”

  “Clint? Can you hear me?”

  Every time someone called out ‘heave up’ my body jostled. I tilted my head off to the side, spitting up bile as the pain took over my body. I stopped fighting it. I stopped trying to make it better. And instead, I became one with it. The paramedics heaved me up from the ravine. A straight shot of absolute hell before pulling me over the edge of the bridge. I heard Rae scrambling for me. Telling me to keep my eyes open as lights flashed in them. I felt something prick the tops of my hands. I felt a mask come down over my face. I was overwhelmed. And scared.

  Until I felt Rae’s hand in mine again.

  “I’m here. I’m back, baby. Okay? Can you hear me?”

  I nodded my head, becoming one with the aching migraine as my eyes rolled her way. I saw her walking alongside me. Our fingers interlaced together. She was all I saw. Her dark outfit. Her dark hair. Her dark skin. Her dark eyes. Dark, like the night. Dark, like the water. Dark, like the abyss I’d fallen into. Dark, like my heart.

  And somehow, I’d still fallen in love with her.

  “Start a morphine drip. Get this kid some relief.”

  “Do it before you set his shoulder.”

  “Are you riding with us? Or him?”

  Rae looked down at me before she kissed my cheek.

  “See you at the hospital, okay? There’s too many paramedics in the back to ride with you. They all need to work on you.”

  I nodded slowly, but I wasn’t happy with the situation. But when her lips pressed against my forehead, I hung on to that feeling. That sensation. Those butterflies in my heart.

  “See you soon,” she whispered.

  Then the morphine drip kicked on, causing my body to go limp as her hand slowly fell away from mine.

  3

  Raelynn

  Michael gripped my shoulders. “Come on. We can follow the ambulance. The paramedics have to work on him while driving, otherwise it’s not going to be good.”

  My chest jumped as my hand fell from Clint’s. I hated leaving him. I hated not being by his side. But Michael was right. They were all right. It was all hands on deck to save his life at this point. Especially since his heart had already stopped once. The second I told that to the paramedic, his eyes widened. They all leapt into action, like I’d just shot them to DEFCON-5 or some shit like that. I didn’t like it. I didn’t like how they reacted one damn bit.

  But I let Michael guide me to his SUV so we could hop in.

  “You have to breathe for me, Rae. Okay?”

  I nodded. “I’m—trying. I’m—I-I-I-I—”

  “It’ll do us no good to have a panic attack. Take my hand. Here.”

  I slid my hand into his as we pulled off the bridge. We followed the speeding ambulance back through the woods, passing those neighborhoods and all those tire tracks. Which only served to make my panic worse. The world curled in on itself. I had to close my eyes to keep from getting sick. My chest felt as if it were caving in and my heartrate skyrocketed.

  “Tell me five things you smell.”

  I furrowed my brow. “What?”

  “Now, Rae. Five things you smell.”

  I tried sniffing the air in broken intakes of air. Trying to latch onto the world around me.

  “Uh, I uh—I smell rubber. And—and oil.”

  “Three more. Hit me with ‘em.”

  I sni
ckered. “I smell your cologne.”

  “Good.”

  “And dirt.”

  “One more. You’re doing great, Rae.”

  “And… and sweat.”

  “Okay. Give me four things you hear.”

  I trained my ears out onto the world, locking on to the sounds.

  “I hear your car engine.”

  Michael snickered. “All right. Good one. Three more.”

  “I hear your classical music turned down. And your tires on the road.”

  “One more. You can do it.”

  I drew in my first steady breath as the sound hit my ears.

  “I still hear the sirens behind us.”

  Michael paused. “Three things you taste.”

  “Taste?”

  “Yep. Taste. Go. Now.”

  I drew in a deep lungful of air. “I taste dirt. Saliva. And…”

  Michael squeezed my hand as he waited for my final answer.

  “And metal.”

  “Okay, Rae. Open your eyes and tell me two things you see.”

  I slowly slid my eyes open and the world didn’t tilt. It wasn’t curling in on itself or spiraling outward. It was still, and the ambulance with its silent, flashing lights was still in front of us.

  “I see the ambulance, and its flashing lights.”

  “Good. You need to do one more?”

  I shook my head. “Nope. I think I’m grounded enough.”

  “You did good back there, Rae. You need to know that. Clint’s alive because of you right now. And he’s in capable hands.”

  “And to think you didn’t want me down there.”

  Michael chuckled. “There’s the Rae I know and love.”

  I turned my head toward him. “Love?”

  He squeezed my hand again. “You know you’re one of my best friends. Sometimes I hate you for things—but I’m never going to stop being your friend.”

  “Really?”

  “Really, really.”