Two minutes later, Jeremy is wheeled out on a gurney.
Patrick comes over, shaking his head in astonishment. He claps a hand on Trevor’s shoulder. “I’ve never seen a field tracheotomy done so expertly before.”
Trevor nods, staring at his bloodied hands.
Patrick stays with us as Trevor and I recount what happened to the officers. When they’re satisfied they have all the information they need, they leave.
Trevor covers one of my shaking, bloodied hands with his own. “Ava, go upstairs. Clean up. I’ll close up the shop for the day.”
I can only nod, still stunned at what happened in my little coffee house.
As I make my way into the back, I hear Trevor’s words to Patrick.
“I’ve never felt so fucking alive.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
Trevor
“Go on,” Leah says, eyeing the smears of blood on the floor. “I’ve got this.”
She shoos away straggling customers and locks the front door.
Patrick hands me a towel and I wipe up the blood the best I can. “I should wash up, but… fuck…” I can feel the smile overtake my entire face. My stomach warms like I’ve just eaten a big meal. My body is electrified. I’m overwhelmed by what just happened, but in a good way.
He follows me to the back where I thoroughly wash my hands and then lean against the counter.
“I can’t even describe what I’m feeling right now.”
“You don’t have to describe it,” he says. “I get it. The same thing happens to me after every good save.”
My head shakes back and forth, over and over. “I don’t even know how I did it, man. It’s like my body was just on autopilot.”
“Fucking incredible is what it was.” He waves an arm around. “I get this is your business and all, but dude, you’re wasting your talent here. Have you considered doing the doctor thing again?”
“I didn’t until just now. But I’m not sure I can. I don’t know if it’s allowed. If it is, there’s bound to be a shit ton of red tape.”
“Well, while you’re cutting through all that tape, how about re-joining the department as a paramedic?”
It sounds like heaven, getting to do things like what I just did every day. Anything but slinging coffee. “I’m not sure I’d be allowed to do that either.”
“I wouldn’t have brought it up if you couldn’t do it. After what I just saw, re-certification should be a breeze. You’ll have to take a refresher course, some continuing education credits, get your CPR-BLS certification, and pass the cognitive and psychomotor sections of the NREMT Paramedic Certification Exam.”
My heart starts pounding at the thought of being able to do something that matters. “Seriously? How long would all that take?”
“I’m as serious as that tracheotomy you just performed. The majority of it is done online at your leisure. If you have the time to dedicate to it, it won’t take long at all.”
“Patrick, all I have is time.”
He grips my shoulder like a proud father even though we seem about the same age. “Then I’ll get started on the paperwork.” He goes for the back door. “I’ll text you later with details.”
“Thanks, man.”
He leaves, and my head is reeling. My pulse is racing. I can’t ever remember being so excited. Then I laugh at myself. Because surely I’ve felt this way before. Maybe when I graduated med school. Or performed my first surgery. I have so much adrenaline rushing through my veins right now, and there’s only one person I want to talk to about it.
I look up at the ceiling then rip open the door to the stairwell and race up the stairs.
I contemplate knocking, but surmise itismy apartment, so I walk on in. “Ava?”
