“Is he alive?” I blurted out, desperate for at least that information.
“They took him to the hospital. I can give you a lift there.”
I wasn’t even aware that I was squeezing Cheyenne’s hand until she gently pried my fingers from where I was cutting off the circulation.
“But he’s alive.”
“He’s alive,” Sheriff Wynne confirmed.
Nodding, I let Cheyenne guide me to the car. Everything was a blur as I got in, buckled up, and waited the excruciating fifteen-minute drive to the hospital. It only occurred to me after the fact that I should probably phone his parents.
“His family?—”
“I already contacted them,” Sheriff Wynne confirmed. “They should be arriving any minute.”
Everything was numb as I got out of the car and headed for the ERdoors. But then I saw his parents and sounds, smells, and even my own heartbeat came roaring back with a vengeance.
“Mrs. Parker?—”
“Clara,” she corrected. “Please.”
Giving a faint smile, I opened my mouth to ask how he was, but nothing came out. I was terrified to know.
“They just took him back. We’ll know more in a little bit.”
“He was driving my car,” I admitted. “I asked him to fill up my tank. I never should have?—”
“This is not your fault, dear. He’ll be fine. I know my son, and a little car accident isn’t going to hold him down. Not when he finally asked you out.”
If she was trying to make me feel better, it was working, but that didn’t assuage the guilt I felt for sending him out to fill my tank when I could have done it myself.
And all because I was going to be late for work.
He wanted to spend the morning with me, and I had basically yelled at him for making me late. I was a horrible girlfriend, and I had only had the job for a day.
“You know, this is exactly something Liam would do,” Jeff grumbled. “Run off and get the girl of his dreams, and then get in an accident to get the sympathy vote.”
“You’re such an ass,” Krista hissed.
“What? It’s true. The asshole couldn’t save something for me? I don’t have a woman, and no one would run to my side if I was hit by a semi.”
I pressed my fingers to my temple, trying to block out the arguing.
“No one would run to your side because you’re an asshole,” Krista retorted.
“He’s not an asshole,” Lizzy, ever the sweet sister, chimed in. “He’s just lonely. We need someone to set him up with. Maybe Emily.”
“Emily?” Jeff jerked back. “Are you kidding? That psychopath?”
“You said you wanted someone to fawn over you.”
“Yeah, but someone who won’t show up to my work and plantherself at my side for the whole day, and then follow me around town. I want a nice, normal kind of crazy.”
“I’m not crazy,” I countered.
“No, but that doesn’t count. You and Liam have been together since you were in diapers. Nothing can compete with that.”
“Third grade,” I muttered.
