Page 89 of All for Love

“How are you feeling, sir?”

“It’s Kody, and I think I’m okay. We’ll leave it to the paramedics to determine if that’s true.”

He let out a surprised chuckle and nodded. Then he peered longingly at what remained of the Maserati. “That’s a damn nice car, Kody.”

“Yeah, it was,” I replied sadly as I peered at it for a moment too. “It saved my life. Who knows what would’ve happened if I’d been in anything else. What’s your name?”

“Elton.” He stuck out his hand to shake mine until he saw the state they were both in, bleeding, bruised, and sporting masses of tiny cuts. He flinched as he withdrew his hand. “Never mind. The paramedics should be here soon. Afraid I haven’t got anything other than a bottle of water for you. Not even a band-aid.”

I did my best to smile. “I doubt a band-aid would help as much as water right now. Thanks.”

He shot me a smile in return, then reached into the back of his car and came back with a bottle of water. As he passed it over, he frowned. “Are you warm enough? I can turn the heat up more.”

“No. This is great. Thank you. You’re a real lifesaver.”

The kid blushed, fidgeting with his fingers as he kept staring at the Maserati. “It’s a shame. That’s, like, my dream car. Do you know what happened?”

“Nah, I don’t remember, but I think I must’ve hit a patch of ice.” I’d sped away from my dad’s house feeling like my ass was on fire and my chest was about to cave in. Honestly, I didn’t know if that had contributed to this, but I was never telling anyone about it.

The paramedics arrived shortly after to check me out. They arrived with the sirens on and then one whistled between his teeth as he took a look at my car. “You’re lucky to have walked away from that. We’re taking you to the hospital just to be sure. Come have a seat. Let’s look at you.”

As I made to follow him, I turned back to Elton. “Thanks again, man. I don’t know what I would’ve done if you hadn’t pulled over.”

He beamed at me. “Happy to help. I’m glad you’re okay. Watch out for the ice from now on, you hear?”

For the first time all day, I chuckled. It hurt like a bitch, but it felt good. Elton got in his car as the paramedics loaded me up, laying me down before the driver turned over the engine to get me to the hospital.

The guy I’d talked to before checked me out thoroughly before giving me a relieved grin. “You have some broken bones in your right hand, bruised ribs that were likely caused by the seatbelt and the airbag, and possibly a concussion, but you should be okay.”

“Thanks.”

I lay back, not closing my eyes in case he thought I’d passed out but not speaking anymore either. My head was still a jumble and everything hurt, but when we got to the hospital, I was tended by a couple of friendly doctors who didn’t look overly worried.

After checking my vitals and asking me a few questions, one slung his stethoscope around his neck and tilted his head toward the nurses’ station. “We’re going to keep you for observation for a few hours. Is there anyone we can call for you?”

Is there anyone they can call?Right now, I doubted it. My father was probably still appeasing and comforting his crying wife and my brother was furious at me. His girlfriend hated my guts and I didn’t know Mercedes’s number by heart.

They could probably find it, but no. I shook my head at the doctor. “No, there isn’t. I’m okay, thanks.”

He gave me a long look, but then nodded and walked away. I sighed as I watched him go, knowing that he wished I’d said yes. I wished I could’ve said yes too, but I really didn’t have anyone to call right then. No one I wanted to see.

Left alone with my thoughts, I finally closed my eyes and just tried to absorb what an absolute shit show of a day this had turned out to be.