“What the hell?” Emmett screams, and I whip my attention to him.
He’s pinned against the door and pushing on Hatley’s thighs, trying to put space between them, but there’s nowhere for Hat to go.
“Bub, I’m sorry. It’s only a few miles, okay? Deep breaths.”
“I hate it. I hate this,” he chants and my chest cracks open as I stare at the straight away coming up. “I hateyou.”
I clench my jaw and wrap up Hatley’s arm in one of mine as the road straightens, tugging him to me until his head is in my lap. It barely fits between me and the steering wheel, and it still doesn’t give enough room for Emmett.
Getting my knee situated on the wheel, I use it to steer as I work my hands beneath Hatley’s clammy pits.
“Push,” I demand.
Emmett jams his palms into Hat’s ass at the same time I pull, and his torso lifts off the seat, his body leaning hard into me. I wrap an arm across him and pin him upright between me and the seat.
“Goddammit, man,” I grit out as the cars behind me pass on a double yellow and speed down the road. “What the fuck were you thinking?”
“Shouldn’t he be throwing up by now?” Emmett asks and it’s quiet. Too quiet.
I get a better grip on the wheel with my free hand and ease back on the gas, downshifting so I can drive one handed.
When I don’t answer, Emmett asks the question again, a little louder this time, and my stomach rolls over.
“He’s had a little practice,” I mutter through clenched teeth.
We both have.
But I don’t say that last part out loud.
Emmett doesn’t need that. Not right now.
Swallowing hard, I glance over at the human ball tucked in the passenger side. “He’s gonna be okay.”
It comes out thick.
But it’s the truth.
He’s breathing, and that’s enough.
For now … that’s gotta be enough.
Chapter 17
Emmett
The few hours havebeen a blur of vomit and groaning.
Whimpered pleas and apologies from Tristen’s best friend.
And I’m not sure why, but I find that helping Tristen take care of him has me focusing on the two of them. How close they are. How I wish there was someone like that for me.
My eyes burn as I walk the hall, my feet sluggish as I retrieve the water Tristen asked me for.
I don’t fit.
Again, I find myself on the outside. Watching as everyone else gets everything they need from those around them.
Except me. I don’t even know these guys, and yet here I am, trying to be … helpful, I guess. Though I can’t explain why.
