Page 71 of Love in the Time of Wildfires

“She’s hurt but it sounds like she’s okay. They’re airlifting her to the hospital.”

“But she’s okay?”

“So far, it seems to be good news.” All the energy that had been bursting through Logan drained in one huge breath. He tried not to collapse onto Mimi, but she laughed, seeming to understand as they sagged with exhaustion into each other. “You wanna go to the hospital? My family’s already on the way.”

“Yeah.” With the information, Logan trekked to his truck, but he didn’t leave right away. Instead, he sat there resting his head on the hands holding the steering wheel and trying to remember how to breathe. The universe hadn’t taken her away—he was getting another chance. He had to grasp onto whatever future he could get because now he knew how easily she could be taken from him, and it had nothing to do with his work.

Logan sent Damon a text. She’s been found.

So was his heart, because it would always be where she was.

By the time he’d made it to the hospital, everyone else in River’s family was already there, surrounding Mimi. As soon as she saw him, she waved him over. “Logan! Come sit with us!” He felt awkward, as this was the first time meeting her family, and it was being done under a stressful situation.

Everyone’s eyes fixed on him as he took a seat on the outskirts of the group. Mimi smiled broadly while announcing, “This is River’s boyfriend, Logan. He drove up here from his work when he heard she was missing.”

He hadn’t known how to describe his relationship with River, but her sister had no qualms about putting it out there. Mimi saved him the trouble of stumbling through it, at least. “Hey.” Logan raised a hand.

All the other gazes, except for Mimi’s, quietly studied him as though they weren’t sure what to make of him. The one with the most scrutiny came from an older woman with short hair and full round cheeks. “Boyfriend? What boyfriend, mija?” she asked. “She never said anything about a boyfriend. Ay, if only Michael could be here. He would save my papita. He’s such a good doctor and loves River very much.”

“Ma!” Mimi exclaimed before switching the conversation to Spanish. Logan didn’t understand, and it was uncomfortable knowing they were having a heated discussion about him.

The mom’s expression suddenly switched from annoyed to impressed as she turned to Logan, brow raised. “Ah, you’re a firefighter? And you just received an award from the mayor? That must have been a great honor.”

Logan didn’t think the plaque was anything special, but if it won over River’s mom, he was willing to play the game. “Yes, ma’am. Doing what I can to save families and communities is important to me.” Then he added with conviction, “And I love River.”

Mimi’s eyes grew large at his confession. Her mother appeared surprised before covering it with a more neutral expression. “And how does my daughter feel?”

“Well,” he said, scratching his jawline. “I guess it’s up to River to decide what she wants. I just know that she’s changed my life for the better, and I’ll do whatever I can to make her happy.”

Mimi smiled, appearing to blink back tears. “And we’re very happy River found a good man. Aren’t we, Ma?”

Her mother shrugged, one of her hands sweeping to the side, as though she didn’t feel strongly one way or the other. “If River is happy, then we’re happy for her too.”

As far as he was concerned, this was as good of a start as any. If anything, he’d made a better first impression with her family than he’d made with River. And look how that turned out. The main thing was they were letting him stick around.

Eventually, a doctor appeared. River was being treated for severe dehydration. She also had a grade three sprain in her left ankle. They didn’t think surgery was necessary, but it would take several months to heal. River had periorbital edema around her right eye due to injury and some bruising and cuts. It was hopeful she’d make a full recovery.

Her family reacted with joy at this information, especially since they were going to be allowed to see her. Logan followed, but he pulled back from the group. He wanted to see her but was worried about his own reaction. When River had a simple cold, he wanted to cut his own arm off in order to make her feel better. Seeing her battered might make him have a heart attack. Logan wasn’t sure he could handle it. He wasn’t feeling anything close to strong enough. Where she was concerned, he’d always be weak.

When everyone went in, he remained outside the room, leaning against a wall. He wasn’t prepared to do this with all of her family watching. His control over his emotions, due to worry and lack of sleep, was already frayed, and they might see him as broken if he lost it because of River’s condition.

“Logan!” Mimi whispered aggressively after finding him outside the room. “You better get in here to see my sister.”

He took a breath, steeling himself, pushing off the wall to follow her.

Her family had her bed surrounded, but some of her relatives parted when they noticed him. River hadn’t seen him yet—she smiled softly at something her father said while sitting up in the hospital bed. Her bottom half was covered with a blue blanket and her hand hooked into an IV. She looked bruised, roughed up, as if nature had chewed her up and she had to fight her way out of its clutches.

His heart hurt at the sight of her, as he knew it would, but only briefly, because he could see her. She was here. He hadn’t lost her. Everything else—every worry he had before—melted away. River had used her spirit, her strength, and had survived, and she was the most beautiful person he’d ever seen.

Her gaze drifted in his direction and stopped, her good eye widening. They stared at each other for a moment as if everyone else in the room vanished.

“Oh, Logan.” Her brow creased as her good eye filled with tears.

In a flash, he was there. Logan was careful with her IV, but it didn’t stop him from scooting on to the bed and pulling her into his arms. He didn’t care if her family was here—he didn’t have any choice in this reaction. Comforting River was paramount.

“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry, Logan.” River sobbed into his shirt.

He had no idea what the hell she was apologizing for. All he could do was keep her in his arms, brushing a hand over her hair and pressing kisses to her temple. “You’re okay, right?” he asked, his throat bogged down with emotions. He didn’t care what the doctor had said. He needed all the assurances he could get. “You’re okay?”