HUGO
Everything is fine.I’m fine. Torin is fine. There’s a perfectly reasonable explanation for Torin not showing up tonight.
“Hugo!”
I jump as I spin in the shower. I jump again when the curtain is nearly ripped from the pole as Noah flings it open and shoves my phone into my face. His eyes are wild. “Answer this now.”
The screen reads L.A. Central Hospital. I may vomit. Noah pulls it back and hits the green button before shoving it at me again.
Everything is not okay.
“Hello?” I ask, voice shaking.
“I’m looking for Hugo Bladen,” a woman says.
“This is he.”
“Hello, Hugo. This is Vanessa, I’m a nurse from the L.A. Central Hospital’s emergency department.” I’m going to be sick. Tears immediately sting my eyes. “You’re listed as the emergency contact for Torin Jonah.”
“I am?”
“You are. We’d really like for you to come down here. Torin has been in an accident.”
The world spins around me and I crumple to the floor. “Is he okay?”
“Please come as soon as you can, Hugo.”
“Okay. I’ll be there in a minute.”
“Drive safely,” she says as the call ends. I drop my phone and gasp for breath.
Noah’s on his knees, wrapping his arms around me as I try to breathe. He picks my phone up out of the water and dries it on the towel around his waist. All I can think ishe’s dead. He’s dead. She wouldn’t answer me if he’s okay. He’s dead and she’s not allowed to say it over the phone. Torin—my Torin—is dead.
“What happened?” he asks, squeezing me hard as I shake violently.
“He was in an accident. But she wouldn’t tell me he’s okay.”
“Come on. Let’s get you to the hospital.”
It takes me several attempts to get to my feet. When I try to step out of the shower, Noah pushes me back in. “Get the soap off you.”
I don’t care about the soap, though. Noah gently pushes me under the water and reaches up to work the suds from my hair. Then he pulls me out and wraps a towel around me.
Dazedly, I head for my cubby. There’s silence in the locker room now. I see their faces as they watch me though I can’t see clearly through my tears. I feel sick. Dizzy. I stumble as I try to get into my sweats.
I think maybe I’m half dressed when I head for the door. But once I’m outside, the world looks like it’s sideways and I know I can’t drive. I’d never make it.
Turning around, I come face to face with Winny. “I need a ride.”
“I know. Come on.”
Nodding, I follow him. Atty and Noah catch up. Noah hands me my phone as Atty shoves my keys and my wallet into my pocket.
“We’ll be right behind you,” Atty promises.
I nod as I climb into Winny’s truck. “Hurry. Please.”
Winny nods. “Buckle up, Hugo. I’ll get you there as soon as I can.”
