Ana POV -
I practically run into the packed Medical Center, heading straight to the reception desk.
"Hello, how can I assist you?" A young nurse greets me.
"Umm, I got a call that my boyfriend was in a car accident. The paramedics said they would bring him here, to this Medical Center, " I reply, I won't even try to calm down as I can't. I need to see James for me to calm down.
"What is his name?" The young nurse asks, softly.
"James. James O'Neill.".
Suddenly, the nurse froze. " Mister O'Neill was in a car accident?".
I nod, confused.
"Sorry," the nurse replies. "We are good friends... I am truly sorry this happened to you...".
" Thank you...". I don't know what else to say.
The nurse types in the details, but her face changes into a confused expressing. Definitely not promising.
"It says here he is not checked in. They might still be on their way...". Just as the nurse finished her sentence, sirens could be heard from outside as red and blue light illuminated the reception area.
Immediately the nurse who was behind the desk jumped up a headed to assist the paramedics. Once they entered the building with the stretcher, my heart stopped. I looked at his face, his bloody, unconscious face... I put my hand over my mouth as I begin sobbing. It's my baby... My James.
I see the nurse who just talked to me head back my way.
She stands in front of me before pulling me in for an unexpected, but a much-needed hug. I hug the nurse back.
"You know, James has told me a lot about you..." She says. I look up at her. "Don't worry, everything he said was... Was very sweet... I am glad he found someone like you...".
I smile, even though she can't see me, I let out a small, sweet smile.
"He missed you so much. He couldn't for your arrival... He wouldn't stop talking about you. That privilege was not accessed by many women..." The nurse adds.
We part from our hug. "I-I'm sorry... Women?...".
I can see her eyes widen ever so slightly, neither of us expected to end up in this situation.
"His exes..." She breaths out, but freezes when she realises I had no clue about this.
"Exes?".
I see her bit her lip, regretting the information she just leaked to me.
"I can reassure you... You are the one he wants..." She tries to quickly give me an excuse to not be outraged by what she just told.
"But he lied to me...".
I shake my head as I get some common sense into me.
"I'm so sorry..." the young nurse whispers with regret.
I shake my head. "No, James is in there, injured. I don't feel like bitching about his exes... At least not now.".
A smile grows on the nurses face. "My name is Grace, by the way.".
"I'm Ana...".
"I know... As I said, James has told me a lot about you...".
I give her a smile, but I am forced to let out a sigh that has built up in me.
"I just wish he is going-".
"Ana, listen, James is going to be okay...".
I let out another sigh.
"I know something that will make you feel better...".
I look up at her, to indicate that I am listening.
"Hot Chocolate... Huh? Huh?".
I give her a saddened shrug. Suddenly...
"Ana?" I immediately recognised the voice. I turn around just to see Liam approaching us.
"Liam?" I breathe out.
"Are you two okay?".
I try to nod, by the tears that rush down my face says otherwise.
"Hey, hey, hey, Ana?". His arms wrap around me.
"It is all my fault..." I say through another flood of tears.
"No, it is not...".
"Yes, it is..." I whisper as I feel a lump in my throat form. The feeling that it is all my fault is slowly sinking in. He crashed because of me... He is in that room because of me...
"It should be me in that room, not him...".
"Ana, don't say that...".
"I panicked, I called him. I got scared...".
I hitch a breath.
"You just got scared, it is not your fault..." He whispers into my ear. He begins rubbing my back, soothing me. Causing me to sob harder.
Minutes pass before I manage to calm down.
"Thank you..." he lifts his hands off me.
"For what?".
"The hug...".
He chuckles at me. We were suddenly interrupted by a doctor.
"Miss O'Neill?".
"Here..." I reply, sheepishly walking over to the doctor. "How is he?".
"Good... The injuries he suffered were not very serious. He did lose a good amount of blood, but he will survive.".
I let out a sigh of relief. "Thank you so much, doctor...".
"You are very welcome, Miss O'Neill. Just doing my job.". He turns around and walks away.
"Does that hot chocolate sound good now?" Grace asks.
I look at her before giving her a nod with a big smile.
"Am I invited too?" Liam asks.
"I don't know, are you?" I see her cocking an eyebrow at him.
"I'll take that as a yes," he replies, causing Grace to crack up and I giggle ever so slightly.
Grace leads us to a cafe. She orders us all hot chocolates and withing the next ten minutes we get our warm drinks.
By the end, I am settled. The hot chocolate that I had now was one of the best ones I have ever tried.
"What else did the doctor say?" Grace asks.
"He said that James is doing well, thankfully," I reply. To be honest, that was all I needed to hear, that James is okay, that he will survive.
"When can we check up on him?" Liam questioned.
Sadly, Grace shakes her head. "Tomorrow the earliest... I'd assume," she replies.
Tomorrow?... I am going to have to sleep alone in James's huge mansion?
I can feel Liams gaze upon me. He definitely noticed the fear on my face.
"I am assuming you'd be all by yourself in James's huge mansion...".
I nod and give him a sheepish smile.
"Ana, you can spend a night at mine, if you want to..." He offers.
I look at him.
"I have a free guest room...".
"I... I don't want to intrude... Or cause any trouble..." I reply.
I hear him chuckle.
"Ana, don't be ridiculous. You are not intruding, nor are you causing me any hassle. I am asking you because I don't want you to feel alone, I know how it feels.".
And with that line he bought me. He was on point when he said that I didn't want to be alone. Don't get me wrong, I live alone in my small house back in Belgrade. James's house is different, his house is anything BUT small, that is what scares me...
"Thank you...".
"I'm going to take that as a yes," a smirk grows on his lips, causing mine to curve upwards too.
"Tomorrow morning we are coming here, to check upon him. That will be my number one priority. You'll be here tomorrow, right, Grace?" Liam adds.
"No, sadly.".
"Oh?".
"Tomorrow is my day off...".
Both Liam and I give her the look of realisation.
I then find Liam's eyes drift to me. "Shall we get going? I'd recommend us arriving at my house earlier so that I could show you around.".
"So you have a big house too?...".
"I'm pretty sure that my house is not the only big thing I own...". I notice how his eyes stay on Grace.
My eyes moved between Liam and Grace, I notice them both having an intense staring session. I am not going to lie, I did feel slightly amused.
He then darts his eyes between me and Grace before a big smirk develops on his face.
"Am I right, Grace?...".
"Liam..." She warns him.
I look at them both. "So... So you guys were a... Thing?".
"Ask Grace, she would know more about that than I do. Especially what we did past her bedtime". I can see him send Grace a wink, while she replies with an eye roll. She then diverts her eyes to me.
"I don't know why I dated him either..." Grace's comment causes me to break up into laughter.
"Grace... Grace, don't play me dirty like that. You said it yourself that it was the best year of your life.".
"I did... Didn't I?..." She gives in, in defeat. This only causing Liam's smile to grow even bigger as he lays back in his chair. "I always win, don't I?".
"Liam?"
We all suddenly turn to a blond woman who is standing behind us.
"Gabrielle..." Liam growls under his breath. He clears his throat before continuing, "what brings you here?".
"James, of course...".
Wait, how does she know James's name?
"If you are here to cause mayhem, I'd recommend you going elsewhere..." Grace voices out, her anger seems so obvious.
"I am not going to even waste my time on you..." Gabrielle mutters under her breath, but loud enough for us all to hear.
Her eyes then dart to me.
"You then must be James's new bitch?". Excuse me? What!?. "I don't know how you can keep up with his cranky ass," she takes a short pause. "But I guess every whore has her own ways...". She gives me a smile that evolved into a small giggle.
My eyes widen at her words.
"Honey, get used to getting called a whore. I am telling you, the public will place far worse labels on you...".
I still cannot answer, I just look at her, my jaw slightly dropped.
"Oh, where are my manners! My name is Gabrielle. Was an O'Neill not for long tho... he broke it. Not me...".
My jaw drops even further. He had an ex-wife?
"Gabrielle, that's enough. Please leave, now...". I was too busy feeling overwhelmed in my thoughts to process what Liam said.
She gives me a smile of satisfaction before turning around and leaving us.
"I swear to God if that bitch does as much as touches you..." Grace calms Liam down before he could get any more wound up.
"Are okay, Ana?" Grace asks me. She sits beside me before wrapping her arm around me.
I stay silent for a few moments, I don't know what to say. "Too much has happened today, I don't think I can process all of this...".
"It will take a few days..." she replies.
There were a few moments of silence exchanged between Grace, Liam and me.
"Ex-wife..." I mutter under my breath.