I am including the trailer for Damaged Lace, the book that took place before this one.

Zeke paced back in forth in front of the door to Becky's room, the doctor had been in there over an hour and several nurses had went in as well. Nobody had came out to tell him anything and he was growing more anxious by the minute, just when he didn't think he could stand another minute the doctor and nurses exited the room and walked down the hall.

He waited a minute before stepping into the room, Becky was now fully awake but tired and most of the tubes had been removed except for her IV and the heart monitor. She was propped up into the sitting position.

"She's been asking for you," Her mom said with a smile.

"Zeke!" Becky tried to sit up further but just couldn't manage it.

"Hey, don't try to get up." He said hurrying to her side.

"Are you hurt?" She asked, collapsing back against her pillows.

"I'm fine, barely a scratch on me."

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have been out that late you were right."

He eased down onto the bed next to her, not sure what to say but completely unsteady on his own two feet. Her mother offered her a timid smile.

"We'll give you two a minute," Her father said as her parents exited the room.

"Becky...."

"I shouldn't have been at the docks and I shouldn't have called you to come get me."

"No, don't say that. It's not your fault, it was an accident."

"You're right, I've always been nothing but trouble for you and Ty," She started to cry.

"No, that's not true. It's not your fault, don't you ever believe it was."

He reached out and wiped a tear from her cheek, taking a minute to cradle her face in his hand. She sighed despite her tears and closed her eyes, letting her cheek rest heavily in his palm. He didn't touch her any more than he usually had to but he allowed her this slight affection, just this once.

He only let her stay in that position for a few long seconds, then he gently wiped another tear away with his thumb and pulled his hand away.

"It's mostly my fault I was driving," He said.

"No, it wasn't. You would never hurt me."

"I've threatened to enough," He pointed out.

"But never have, you would never hurt me and I've never been afraid of you."

"Oh I know."

She smiled and readjusted her head on the pillow with a wince, he finally took a minute to scan her face which amazingly didn't have a scratch on it.

"What did the doctor say?" He asked.

"I have trauma to my back, I can't fell or move my legs. He said in time when the swelling goes down he'll know more but for now....not a lot."

"Shit Becky...."

"Don't apologize, it's not your fault I don't blame you."

He gave a small nod, he blamed himself enough for both of them at this point.

"When can you get out of here?"

"A few days, I.....I don't know where I'm going to go."

"Why?"

"I can't live alone while I'm in the wheel chair and the doctor said I absolutely can't leave the state because he needs to be close."

Zeke didn't say anything, didn't know what to say. If Ty were home he would gladly take care of Becky but he wasn't. He knew her parents would stay if they were needed but he also knew they had to go home eventually and go back to work.

"We'll figure something out," He promised her.

"They said I can go to a rehab facility, until they find out how much damage is done to my back."

"We'll figure something out, I promise it's going to be okay."

She offered him a small smile and he took a deep breath, he knew what he had to do. He knew someone had to stay with her and with Ty gone there was only one person, rather he liked it or not.

"Becky....I'll stay with you, when you get out."

"Really?" She asked, seeming hopeful.

"Really, at least until Ty is home. When you get released I'll help you the best that I can."

"Thank you."

He gave a small nod but didn't say anything else, couldn't think of the words. The last time they'd been alone together for a long period of time hadn't ended well in fact it was the last time he'd ever been civil to her again. He didn't point that out but she seemed to pick up on it anyway.

"It's been along time since we were alone together for longer than a car ride."

"Yep."

"Think we'll kill each other?" She asked with a small laugh.

"Most likely," He said with a sigh.

"Well, you've been threatening my death since we were kids so now is your chance."

"Don't tempt me."

"You know you and Ty really are the best friends I've ever had.

"Maybe Ty is," He said with a shrug.

"No, you are too. Despite.....what happened."

He pushed off the bed and strode to look out the window, obviously angry that she was bringing up the piece of his past he wanted to forget.

"I told you not to mention that ever again."

"You still blame me, don't you?" She asked.

"Damn right I do."

"It wasn't my fault, I was just a kid."

"The hell it wasn't."

She pushed a hand through her hair with a heavy sigh, she didn't want to fight with him but it always seemed to happen.

"You can't make me feel guilty anymore," She said finally.

"You should feel guilty enough on your own, God knows I do."

"I don't."

He made a noise of disbelief but before their argument could get more heated her parents entered the room with happy smiles and dozens of balloons. He pushed away from the window and started for the door, her mother tried to grab his arm and he shrugged her off.

He had to get out of that room, now. He couldn't stand the memory clawing at the back of his mind, begging to be released he had to get away from it and bury like he'd been doing since the night his parents died. Ten years he'd been running from what happened and he could do it again, even with Becky living under the same roof.