eyes up here
ROXANNE
The first thingI feel is cold. The kind that sinks in and makes you forget what warmth ever felt like.
My ears are ringing, and my head is spinning, and somewhere in the fog I hear voices. Familiar, frantic ones. I try to lift my hand but it’s like I’ve forgotten how. I can’t stop shaking though I feel the warmth of rough hands pressing two fingers to my wrist and lifting one eyelid.
I blink against the sun, against the blur of movement. My vision sharpens just enough to catch a circle of stunned faces hovering above me. Then they all stop after my wet shirt falls away.
I gasp.
They’re not staring at me. They’re staring atit.
My scar.
The long, angry burst of marbled red veins snaking from my neck, across my collarbone, and down my arm.
Their faces suddenly come into focus as I blink more water from my eyes. Duke’s face hovers above mine, shadowed by worry. I squeeze my eyes shut. Damn it. Not like this. I wasn’t ready forthem to see. I wasn’t ready forhimto see. Suddenly, I feel more vulnerable than I have since my heels first sank into dirt back at the ranch. I need to get up and away from all these prying eyes.
“Can you tell me your name?” Duke asks after he clears his throat.
“I know my name,” I say, trying to push myself up. “I don’t have a concussion.”
“What is your name?” Duke insists.
“Roxanne Elaine Denning.”
“What year is it?” Duke asks as Georgia wraps a foil blanket around me. I’m more appreciative that it’s covering my bare shoulders rather than the warmth it brings.
“2025,” I rasp.
Duke’s wet and corded arms help me to sit up. He’s close, too close, and I shut my eyes for a moment in frustration. I shouldn’t have done this. I wanted to be strong, I pretended to be, and then Topper yelled “Brace!” from over my shoulder and my helmet strap felt as though it was strangling me. I know it was irrational, but as the water surged around me, my mind kept telling me I couldn’t breathe.
“I’m good,” I say, trying to push up to my feet. A rush of blood hits my head, and I wobble, falling against Duke’s broad chest. His arms close around me instantly. Warm and solid and far too steady. I’m not sure what’s more unnerving, the genuine concern in his eyes or the way my heart slams into my ribs like it’s trying to claw its way closer to him.
“I’ve got you,” he murmurs, and for a second, I forget how to use my lungs.
I shake off the comforting lull I start to feel in his arms and push back from him. “Where’s my shirt, I’m ready to get back in.”
“We had to cut it off you,” Georgia says as she starts to pack up her first aid kit. “Shouldn’t have been wearing a top like that in thefirst place.”
“I think we’ve all had enough time on the water today,” Rusty says, handing Duke a foil blanket as well. “Georgia will take you back to the ranch, Roxanne. I’ll drive you two back to the Jeep and then come back to pick up everyone else.”
“No need to stop because of me,” I protest. “I?—”
Leo smiles and rubs my back. “It’s okay, darling. We got a good hour in. Everyone’s cold and drenched.”
“That was pretty badass even if we fell in, am I right?” Allie says, drying her hair with a towel.
“That’s right,” Topper says. The corner of my mouth quirks up. He pulls Allie into him and squeezes. Her tiny body almost melts into him, and it makes me happy how comfortable they seem. There’s a touch on my shoulder. I whip around, half expecting to see Duke, but it’s Georgia.
“Come on, lady. You did really well, but let’s get you back to the ranch. I’ve got an extra sweatshirt in the truck.”
I purse my lips and reluctantly get into the back seat of the truck while Georgia and Rusty slip into the front. I’m thankful to slip into Georgia’s oversized Colorado State sweatshirt. We ride in silence until Georgia and I switch to the Jeep.
“I’m sorry,” I manage to say as the Jeep pulls back out onto the washed-out road. “Thank you for helping me.” I want to speak first so that Georgia isn’t tempted to bring up my scar.
“Nothing to be sorry about, except what you were wearing,” she says, flashing me a quick smile.
