The sirens in the distance grew closer and closer, but he couldn’t really hear them. His attention was set on the beautiful woman nestled in his arms.
“Emily,” he whispered.
Her golden-brown eyes lifted to his.
He trailed his finger over her cheek, and she trembled while holding on to his shoulders. Yup, there was no mistaking it: He definitely made her shiver.
“Emily.” He repeated her name, and he watched her eyes grow round.
At that moment, he was certain that they were meant to be more than friends.
Placing two fingers under her chin, he tilted her mouth toward his, and his eyes locked on her luscious pink lips. He wanted more than anything to kiss her. No, heneededto kiss her as much as he needed air to breathe.
He leaned down toward her, and he could hear her breath catch.
Suddenly, red lights flashed in his peripheral vision and reflected off the garage walls around them. He froze.
The sirens sounded like they were right outside his garage.
Wait. What?
His gaze moved to the entrance, and the hunger that had consumed him faded as the roaring sirens slammed him back to the present. The flashing lights were moving toward his parents’ house.
My parents’ house.
Oh no!
He released Emily and grabbed his phone from his pocket before examining the screen. There were four missed calls from his mother.
His insides turned and dropped.
Emily touched his shoulder as her eyes widened. “Jake, what’s wrong?”
“It’s my dad!” he yelled before taking off toward his parents’ house.
Chapter 12
Jake’s heart was in his throat when he found his parents’ front door wide open and an ambulance with lights flashing parked in the driveway. He raced into the house, and his world tilted as he took in the scene.
Two EMTs were loading his father onto a stretcher at the bottom of the stairs. Dad moaned while cradling his right arm to his chest. A gash stretched across his forehead, and a bright purple bruise lined his cheek. His left leg also sported a splotch turning black and blue.
Oh no. Oh no, no, no. Not again!
Jake sagged against the wall and tried to shove down the tide of panic rising in his gut.
“Son!”
Mom rushed over to him. Her eyes were red and puffy, and tears streaked her cheeks.
“What happened?” Jake asked in a strained voice.
“Your dad said he wanted to get something, and before I couldstop him, he was halfway up the stairs, and then he fell. I tried to call you, but when I couldn’t reach you, I called 911.”
Jake tried to swallow past the guilt lodged in his throat.
A warm hand covered his forearm, and Emily came to stand beside him. “It’s going to be okay.” Her voice was comforting.
He nodded dumbly, wanting to believe her. No,needingto believe her.
