Page 108 of Don’t Go Breaking My Heart

Kleo tilted her head, studying me. “Then why are you so angry with him?”

Her question caught me off guard. My instinct was to snap back with a reason, but none came quickly. Before I could gather my thoughts, Kleo shook her head.

“Sorry. That’s none of my business.”

“It’s fine—” My phone buzzed loudly in my pocket, cutting me off. I pulled it out, seeing Riggs’s name on the screen. We had exchanged phone numbers before the Miami trip. “One second.” I pressed the phone to my ear. “Riggs?”

“Merritt. Thank God. There’s been an accident. Where are you?”

My heart dropped. “What? What kind of accident?”

“It’s Kannon,” he said. “I just got a call from the hospital. I’m his emergency contact but I think he would want you to be there.”

My blood ran cold. “What happened to him?”

“You need to get here, Merritt,” Riggs said, his voice breaking slightly.

I didn’t even think. “I’m on my way.” I shoved my phone back in my pocket, my hands trembling. “I have to go.”

“What’s going on?” Kleo asked, her eyes wide with concern.

“It’s Kannon. There’s been an accident.” The words barely escaped me.

Kleo stood immediately, her hand on my arm. “You shouldn’t drive. I’ll take you.”

I hesitated but only for a moment. Nodding, I followed her to her car, my mind racing. The drive to the hospital was a blur. My heart pounded in my chest, faster with every mile closer we got.

I didn’t know what I was walking into and the uncertainty was suffocating. This was exactly what I had been afraid of. Did I jinx him? Did he go out there and try to prove a point and end up proving me right? That was not how I wanted to win the argument. Hell, I didn’t want to win it at all.

Kleo pulled into the hospital parking lot, her hands gripping the steering wheel tightly. “Do you want me to come in with you?”

I didn’t answer, frozen in place until I saw Riggs step outside, scanning the lot. The sight of him jolted me into motion. “Thank you but I see his friend,” I told Kleo quickly before rushing out. Before I closed the car door, I turned back to her. “Leah was lucky to have you as a friend.”

Riggs spotted me and waved me over, his face pale. “Merritt.”

I reached him, my voice trembling. “What the hell happened?”

His jaw tightened. “He was on his bike. Got hit by a car head on.”

My knees gave out, and for a second, everything spun. Riggs caught me, his grip firm as he pulled me upright. “Stop that,” he said gruffly. “He’s alive. But you need to see him.”

Alive. The word barely registered as Riggs led me inside, down sterile hallways that felt far too bright and endless. When we reached the room, my heart stuttered. There he was, propped up in a bed, his face pale but unmistakably his. A nurse stood beside him, adjusting an IV.

“This will take care of the pain in no time,” the nurse said.

“Kannon,” I whispered, rushing to his side.

His eyes opened slowly, focusing on me. I threw my arms around him and he groaned in pain. I pulled back, cupping his face in my hands.

“You’re okay?” I asked, the desperation in my voice thick. “Please tell me you’re okay.”

He reached up, his hand weakly brushing against mine. “I’m sorry, Merritt.”

Tears spilled over as I leaned in closer. “What? Don’t apologize. Just tell me you’re okay.”

“I will be,” he murmured.

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