Lifting my head, I do as he asks. As I stare at those deep amber eyes, I calm down more and admit, “I feel like it’s all my fault—”
“Don’t even start. The only one to blame is that dickweasel,” Edmund interrupts.
I can’t hold in my laughter. “That describes him perfectly. What a dickweasel, indeed.”
That makes him smile too. “Has anyone said you’ve such a beautiful laugh?”
“What?”
“Your laugh. It’s like a melody I have never heard but one I’ll remember for the rest of my life.”
Wait, he can’t be serious.Right?That was one of the sweetest things anyone has ever told me. “How hard did you hit your head?”
“Well, apparently hard enough to imagine a girl like you,” he chuckles before wincing. “Damn, laughing and talking hurt my head.”
Just as I’m saying that we should be quiet then, the medic returns and helps Edmund into the ambulance. My hero sits on the gurney in the back, leaning back to get comfortable while still holding a towel to his head with one hand. The medic takes over after greeting her colleague, who has just now arrived at the scene, and temporarily bandages the wound.
When the new medic asks if I want to ride with them, I nod, not revealing that I only know Edmund’s name and where he is from. And that he loves country music. And how I think he’s beyond good-looking.
The ride to the hospital is quiet, except for our quick conversation about his emergency contacts.
“Since you’re not from around here…is there someone I can call to let them know what happened? Like a partner or family?”
I’m totally fishing for the information, and I have no shame about that, not even when he notices it and grins. “No, there’s no partner to contact, and I can text my parents later. Thanks for asking, though.”
“It sucks that this is how the festival ended for you.”
“And you. Now you won’t hear Parmalee performing ‘Carolina’ like you wanted.”
“Don’t you worry about that. It wasn’t even a question if I should join you or not. I didn’t want to leave you alone.”
Edmund tries to smile, but it’s more like another wince. I realize that the talking must still hurt him and shut up. We stay silent until we arrive at the hospital. The medics take him to the ER, me following them.
A doctor awaits our arrival, ready to evaluate Edmund’s injuries. “Hello there, I’m Dr. Rhodes, and I’ll take care of you. You must be Edmund.”
“That’s me, but please, call me Spade.” Edmund, I mean Spade, glances my way. “This is my…friend Tanya, who will stay with me if that’s fine.”
“Okay then. She can sit in that chair right there while we clean you up.” Dr. Rhodes points to the corner. “I heard you took a glass bottle to the head. Any headache or blurred vision? Any nausea?”
“It does hurt, but as much as you would expect after a hit like that. He used force, that’s for sure.”
“I see. Have you ever had a concussion or hit like that in your head before?”
“Yeah, back in my teen years, when I fell off my bike, so I know the symptoms. It doesn’t feel like that. At least not yet.”
“That’s a good sign, but we want to keep you here overnight. You also need a CT scan, just in case. Based on that, we can see what the next steps are.”
“Okay,” Spade murmurs.
“I’ll leave you to it. One of the nurses should be here in a minute or two to help you get cleaned and ready for the tests. Just wait a moment, okay?”
Spade nods and Dr. Rhodes leaves the room. I feel terrible. This amazing guy came here all the way from New York to attend the festival, and now he’s spending the night at the hospital instead. Only because that dickweasel couldn’t understand a simpleno.
I reach out and grasp Spade’s hand. His strong, calloused fingers interlace with mine, and I give them an ever-so-slight squeeze. I’m truly hoping that me being here brings him some comfort. If not, his simple yet powerful touch helps calm me down.
“How are you feeling?” Spade asks quietly.
“I should be the one asking, not the other way around,” I tell him, lowering my voice. “But like I said earlier in the ambulance, I’m fine.”
