“Shayna?” I jumped up, sending my chair crashing to the ground behind me.
She was choking, really choking. Not so much as a cough or any sign of air exchange. Her eyes watered.
“Help!” My shrill voice broke through the air. I didn’t evenrecognize it as my heart rocketed into my throat. I felt as if I, too, was choking. I’d taken CPR many years earlier, but I just couldn’t think. I patted her back. Her lips turned blue.
“Step aside.” A familiar voice appeared from seemingly nowhere.
“Flint! Oh my God, she’s choking.”
He held her against him, thrusting his fisted hands into her stomach.
“Call 9-1-1!” I screamed to anyone who would listen. My cell phone was a foot away from me at the table, but my brain would not function. Fear robbed me of everything, and I just panicked like when the prototype swimming leg fell off in the pool and Thad had to jump in to get me.
Shayna passed out and tears flooded my cheeks. “Shayna! Flint!”
He lowered her to the ground and I just stood there. Time slowed. Voices muffled into echoes. People gathered around. Shayna gasped and Flint rolled her to her side and out of her mouth fell a gumball. A fucking gumball. Why did I let her get gumballs? A few seconds later, sirens sounded, lights flashed, and everyone cleared as the paramedics pushed through the door.
I jumped when Flint’s hands wrapped around my arms, pulling me away from Shayna as the paramedics tended to her.
Ben died and I lived.
Shayna almost died and I would have lived. I made bad decisions that put other people in danger.
“Give them space, Lake,” Flint said as he physically had to move me away from her.
I couldn’t speak.
I couldn’t even blink.
“We’ll follow them to the hospital.”
I shook my head. “I’m riding with her.”
“Are you her mother?” One of the paramedics asked.
Flint said, “No,” just as I said, “Yes.”
The paramedic’s eyes flitted between us. There was no way they were going to prevent me from riding with her.
“I’m her mom.” I tugged out of Flint’s grip.
“She’s breathing fine, but we’re going to take her to the hospital to have her checked out. You can ride with her.”
I nodded.
“Lake …”
I didn’t look back at Flint. He saved her life and for that I would always be grateful, even indebted to him, but I didn’t want to hear any bullshit about photographers, media, or how events of the day might tarnish anyone’s reputation.
Shayna was smiling by the time we made it to the hospital. I was still a wreck. On the way, I texted Jamie. He was technically the one in charge of her while Everson was at training camp. He had her medical and insurance information.
“Hey.” Jamie hugged me as they took Shayna back to be examined.
I lost it again. A new round of tears released from the flood gates.
“I-I-I’m so sorry. Sh-she almost died.”
“Shh…” Jamie rested his cheek against my head as sobs wracked my body.
