AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Okay, fine.” His voice was terse. “Let’s go.”
She stood up, leaning against him for support as they started for the door. He chuckled. “You don’t drink much, do you? Less than two glasses of wine, and you can’t even walk by yourself?”
The room tipped at an awkward angle. “I—I think I need to sit down. Can you call me a taxi?”
“Sure. Are you okay?”
“Yes. I’m fine.” His eyes appeared in her vision, topped by brows wrinkled with concern. His face flew away as everything went black.
*****
Spencer couldn’t believe it. Emily was totally smashed. Passed out, drunk! When Grace had called him to come and help her, he’d almost refused. He wanted to throw up when he first received the offensive picture of Emily cozying up with the blond guy whose muscles were busting out of his shirt. Now he was just angry. Angry with Becca for sending him the photo. Angry with Emily for lying to him. Angry with himself for wasting his time and emotions on her.
She’d evidently passed out at the bar, and the stupid blond guy didn’t even know where she lived. What was she doing out with a guy she barely knew? He’d looked in her cell phone and found Grace’s number and called her to come fetch Emily. He hadn’t even stayed around to make sure she’d come. When Spencer arrived with Grace, the blond guy was long gone. And Emily was drunk. Incoherent. Asleep. He’d had to pick her up and carry her to the taxi, and she hadn’t even woken up.
“Should we call her parents?” Grace asked.
“No, we should probably stick her in her room and let her sleep it off.”
“Spencer, I know you’re hurt. But think for a minute. She’s not waking up. I don’t think she drinks that much.”
“Well, maybe she drinks more when she’s out on a hot date.”
Grace grabbed his arm. “Or maybe it’s something besides alcohol. Maybe you’re right—maybe she’s just drunk. But if not, if someone gave her something—some type of drug—she could die from it.”
She could die? He wanted to yell at her or maybe he never wanted to speak to her again. But he didn’t want her to die. “So what do you propose?”
“I say, let’s call Mr. Gherring and let them make the decision. It’s the right thing to do.”
“Okay, but I don’t want him to think I got her drunk.”
“He won’t—I’m your witness.”
Gherring answered on the second ring.
“Spencer? What’s wrong?”
“Uhmm. Well, this is a little weird. But Grace got a call that Emily was passed out at a bar, and we came to get her. We have her in a taxi, headed for home. But... Well, she isn’t waking up. So, do you want us to take her home or to your place or to the—”
Gherring interrupted. “Wait. Just a second.” Spencer heard muffled talking in the background and raised voices. “Spencer, thank you. I’m sorry to ask this. But will you please take her to the hospital. I’m on my way.” He heard arguing. “No, you’re not going. Don’t be ridiculous.” More muted words. “Okay. Okay. I’ll tell the doctor she’s never been drunk before. I’ll tell them. I’ll tell them. They’ll test her. They’ll do blood tests. They’ll figure out what she needs. You don’t need to come. Okay. Okay.”
Gherring groaned into the phone. “Spencer, we’re both coming. Thank you so much.”
Spencer told the taxi driver, “Okay. We need to go to the emergency room now.”
“Spencer? Is she breathing? I can’t tell.” Her voice was shrill.
“Quick! Lay her across my lap!” He bent over to feel for her breath and listen and watch to see her chest move.
“Drive faster! Grace, call nine-one-one, and tell them we’re coming.” His heart was hammering in his chest. Did he remember what to do? He gave her two quick breaths and felt for a pulse. Thready. Only a few beats. He moved awkwardly to crouch on the floorboard and lay her down onto the seat, attempting to do chest compressions. “Oh God! Please, help us! Hurry up! I don’t have enough room—I’m too big. I can’t remember how many I’m supposed to do.” Tears were pouring down his face now. He breathed into her mouth again. “I can’t even get her in the right position. I don’t know if it’s working.” He pushed desperately on her chest, trying to keep his balance as the taxi careened around corners and sped along the streets. Again and again he breathed into her still body, praying the air was going into her lungs, praying the taxi would hurry. Over and over he pushed on her chest, begging God to let her live, his tears dripping on her.
Suddenly the door opened and someone tried to take her body away from him. “No! She needs CPR!” He held onto her and tried to drag her back.
“Spencer, let them take her!” Grace cried, pulling his arms away. “They know what to do.”
“Oh God, Gracie!” He buried his face in her arms, sobbing. “I’ve lost her. I didn’t do it right—I couldn’t save her.”
The fierce hug Grace returned did little to calm his sense of desperation as Emily’s lifeless body wheeled into the emergency room.
