What?
“Maybe. You stalking me?”
“Get dressed. My sister was in an accident, and I can’t get to her. I need you to go.”
“I really don’t think that’s a good idea. Why didn’t she call 911?”
“You know Lucy. She could be walking around on fire and tell you she will put out the flames herself. You have training, and I need to know if she needs the hospital or not.”
My heart lurched, and I was already heading upstairs to getdressed with gritted teeth. She wouldn’t want to see me, but that's too fucking bad. Not only had I stayed holed up long enough, but she could be hurt. I couldn’t live with myself if something happened to her because I was being a coward.
I fixed my watch and threw on my boots, shifting the phone between my ear and shoulder.
“Send me her location, and I’ll take a look.”
“Thanks,” he said a little too quickly. “Bring her back to my house.”
“Alright, I’ll call when I have her.”
The car roared to life as I clicked the remote start and connected the GPS to the car. I thought I would have more time, but I was wrong. As I shoved the key into the ignition, I thought about all the worst-case scenarios, or what state I would potentially find her in.
Please be okay.
The whole way there, my body was overcome by a cold sweat, hands slipping around on the steering wheel as my foot pressed down on the gas. Lucy was only around twenty-five minutes from her brother's house when she crashed.
No Lucy in sight, but her car sat at the bottom of the hill with her front tires off keel and steam billowing from the hood.
My heart raced as I ran down the hill, silently hoping my steel-toes would keep me upright.
The chemical scent of anti-freeze filled my nostrils as I ripped the car door open. Her head rested against the steering wheel, and my heart raced when she sat there, unmoving. I inched closer, pressing my fist on her sternum, and rubbed circles, trying to wake her up. A small whimper sent relief flooding through my veins as she stirred, eyes fluttering and coming back to reality.
“Lucy,” I called out softly. There was a wound on herforehead that wasn’t deep enough to need stitches, and her hands had a few cuts. Other than that, most of her bruises would heal in time. “He didn't tell me you were hurt, Lu.” I swallowed thickly. “Your brother sent me.”
She nodded, eyes watching my movements like a hawk while I reached over to unclasp the seatbelt. She already got it off, which made my life a bit easier, and allowed me to grab her legs and gently pull them so they dangled out of the car.
“It hurts,” she hissed. I didn’t think she had realized it was me yet. The way her soft, pained giggles hit my ears sent a shiver down my spine. “I needed my brother, and he sent you of all people.”
Our eyes locked, and I wanted to fall to my knees. Her eyes harbored a mix of pain and resentment. I cleared my throat. “I’m going to get you patched up and take you home.”
Wow.
Despite a little expected raspiness and tiredness in her tone, her voice was still beautiful, magnetic even. I wanted to hear it again, even if it was insulting every move I made.
“I don't think you need the hospital. What hurts?”
“Just my heart. Well, maybe my neck, and I’m bleeding.”
“Easy fix, I have a medkit in my truck.”
“Do I have a choice?”
I looked around with a scoff. “Considering nobody else is around, I’d say I was your best option.”
I reached for her when she jerked away from my touch. My jaw tightened as my eyes darted between her and my truck, fists clenched at my sides, and still keeping a distance, I wanted nothing more than to close.
“You have some nerve showing up here,” she gritted out.
“Your brother couldn’t make it, and I wasn't going to let you freeze out here. I was told to bring you to our house so?—”
