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I can’t hear what they’re saying, not with all the noise of the sirens and people around us. But I see Rosy gesture to her arm, and her face scrunches up in pain when the female paramedic touches it.
“I’m going to look for Logan, see if I can get an update from him. Keep me informed on Rosy?” Noah says as he gazes at her. His hand rubs roughly against his chest, and he walks towards the house.
It’s another few minutes before they step back, and the female paramedic gently helps Rosy to stand. Inadvertently, I take a step forward to help Honeybee.
What can I even do? I’m completely useless.
They walk with her to the ambulance, the police officer following behind, and I rush to join them. Stepping up alongside the closest paramedic, Nate positions himself just behind us, as close as he can to Rosy.
“Is…is she going to be okay? Is she hurt?” I ask.
“We’ll run some more tests in the ambulance, but we’re taking her to the hospital,” the woman says. Her tone is terse and forcibly polite.
They lead Rosy inside the vehicle and carefully help her to sit on the bed within. My body automatically follows, leaping in before Nate can. My hand lands on her ankle out of instinct, the need to touch her pulling me closer.
Her eyes flash to mine, startled until she realises it’s me.
“Maxi,” she murmurs, tears filling her eyes. I’m ready to crawl onto the bed beside her and never let go.
“Honeybee,” I answer, trying my damn hardest not to fracture in front of her.
“We’ve got to go,” one of the paramedics informs, but I don’t pay any attention, too busy watching Rosy to be able to look away. I’m worried that if I do, she might disappear again.
The female paramedic huffs in frustration. “We have space for one person. The rest of you have to make your own way there.”
“Maxi, you stay. We can grab Noah and meet you there,” Bry decides from behind me. Nate growls his disapproval, but he doesn’t fight it. He pushes past me, stomps up to the bed, almost flattening the male paramedic, and crushes a kiss to my honeybee.
Spinning on his heel, he turns to leave but stops next to me. “Don’t fucking let her out of your sight.”
Nodding, I swallow thickly, aware that I can’t fail in this. The happiness of all of us is so precariously balanced on Rosy’s safety and wellbeing.
“Okay, enough with the hindrance. The patient needs medical attention, so get out,” the female demands, her tolerance obviously wiped.
The male follows Nate, then shuts the back of the ambulance and climbs into the driver’s seat.
I drop down into the seat the paramedic indicates to, not wanting to provoke her and end up being thrown out too. Miraculously, I’m able to keep my mouth shut and not spew out a joke to make things less uncomfortable.
A sling gets placed around Rosy’s arm. I tense, leaning forward and crane my neck to look. “What’s wrong with Rosy’s arm?”
“It’s dislocated, so we’re taking some of the pressure off until she can have it x-rayed and looked over at the hospital.”
Rosy gets asked a few more questions, and I fight to not ask some myself. Then the pain medication kicks in, and some of the pinched lines on Rosy’s face smooth out a little.
“And you are?” the paramedic asks once she’s settled in her seat and done whatever medical things she needs to do.
“My Maxi.” My honeybee smiles softly at me, her eyes a little glazed.
“Always,” I answer, wishing there wasn’t so much space between us. “And your name?”
The paramedic’s lips purse, and I’m not sure what I’ve done to make her so salty with me. “Evelyn.”
I nod. “So, how strict are the rules in here?
Her eyes narrow. “Why?”
“If I were to unbuckle, so I can hug—”
“Definitely not,” she scolds, her dark brows pulling together sharply.
