It’s fine. It’s all good. We’re not that hurt. I’m out of a job, but we’ll live.
I’ve been gone for over an hour by the time we reach the kids and Harper. There’s a park ranger there, and, to my surprise, Mike. My heart and stomach flutter at seeing him, and at the worried look on his face.No matter what happened between us years ago, he will always be my best friend and always come to my rescue. That’s something I’ll never let go of.
He rushes to me and stops, scanning me up and down as he frowns. “You wouldn’t answer your phone!” he pants, his voice in near panic.
“Ah, I’m sorry. I… fell and…” That’s when I realize my phone is missing. It was in my hand when I slipped. I must have dropped it. “Sorry, I lost it, I think.”
“I was so worried.” He swallows as his eyes search my face. His hair is even wilder than usual, like he’s been tugging at it repeatedly.
“I’m sorry,” I repeat as I sit Josh down at the picnic table. Harper looks the boy over, and the park ranger takes over, giving him first aid treatment.
I’m watching the man wrap up Josh’s ankle when Mike spins me around to face him and takes my hands in his. My body shivers as electricity travels up my arms from his touch.
“Shit, you’re bleeding, Den,” he growls.
I raise my brow at the tone, feeling a little defensive. It’s so unlike Mike. “I didn’t do it on purpose.”
“Your hands, your shins, your knees, your mouth… all bleeding.” His gaze coasts all over my body, scanning me from top to toe.
“Uh…”
He shakes his head. “What happened? You know these trails better than anyone.”
The ranger looks up at that, raising a brow at Mike, and I chuckle. The park ranger definitely knows more than I do.
“It’s not funny. I’m being serious right now.”
“I’m fine. The boy is fine.”
He huffs and bends down to look at my legs. “I thought… when you didn’t answer that…”
“You had the same thoughts I did when I couldn’t find Josh. That he was more than injured.”
He looks up at me from where he’s squatting and nods. “Yeah.” There’s a strained edge to his voice, and I can’t tell whether he’s mad or just worried like he said.
I reach down and squeeze his shoulder. “I’m fine. Really.”
The park ranger walks over to me, and he pats my back. “Ready? I’ll get you all cleaned up, and then I’ll help you all get back. We’ve already notified the boy’s parents of what happened, and they’re waiting for us.”
I swallow, sick to my stomach that I’m going to lose this job. “Yeah, okay.”
“Not okay,” Mike interjects, growling again.
What’s gotten into him? I know he’s worried, but I’ve never seen him like this.
“Mike?”
He looks at the ranger with folded arms. “I’lltake care of him.”
The other man shrugs. “Whatever, man.” Then he glances at me. “You okay with him treating you? You seem fine other than having some superficial wounds.”
Mike huffs again. “Psh… Superficial?”
“Yep, I’m good,” I tell the ranger, who eyes Mike with a strange smirk before heading back to Josh. The boy clings to the ranger’s back for a piggyback ride to where we parked the small camp bus.
We’re at Mike’s house, and I’m sitting on the edge of the tub with my bare feet inside as the water runs. He’s sitting with me but facing the opposite direction as he pours saline solution over the wounds on my legs, rinsing out the dirt and debris before properly cleaning them. I hiss because they’re deep enough that it stings like hell.
He’s quiet. Mike’s not usually a talkative person, but he’s notthisquiet.
