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Nick
Why in God’s name is my phone ringing?
I shoot straight up in bed.My phone.Leigh. The baby.Fuck.
I dive for the bedside table, fumbling over the phone. When I finally see the screen, it’s Maia’s name across the top. I swipe up and slam it against my ear. “Hello?”
“Hi.” Her voice is weak and broken, making my heart rate skyrocket to an unsafe level.
“Maia? What’s going on? Is Harper okay? Vince?” The idea that something could’ve happened to my brother—
“They’re both fine. It’s Braden.”
Nausea hits me like a semi-truck. The blood drains from my face and I struggle to get a good breath as I launch out of bed.
“What happened?”
“I don’t know exactly. But he crashed his truck. It’s bad, Nick.” Her voice breaks. “They don’t know if he’s going to make it.”
I stop midway through putting my pants on as my knees start to buckle.
Consider our friendship over.
The words taunt me. Words I didn’t mean. Words I never want to be true.
Bracing my hand against the dresser, I force a shaky breath. Tears cloud my vision.
“We’re on our way to the hospital. Can you get there? Do you want us to come back for you?”
Snapping myself out of my haze, I finish getting dressed.
“No. I’ll get there. Text me where to go.”
“I will. And Nick?”
“Yeah?”
“I love you.”
“I love you, too, Mai.”
I hang up and stare at my phone, then quickly fire off a text to my dad before calling Leigh as I run out to my car.
“Baby, this is a little late for a booty call,” she answers.
“I wish that’s why I was calling.” I hop in the driver’s side and start my car.
“Nick, what’s wrong?”
“Braden crashed his truck. I don’t know anything else except that it’s really bad.” I throw the car in reverse and nearly peel out of the driveway.
“Oh, shit. Okay. Maia called you?”
“Yeah. She and Vince are on their way to the hospital. I just left my house. I can pick you up—”
“No, it’s out of the way from where you are. Just get there. I’ll meet you there. I love you, baby.”
“Yeah. I love you, too. Bye.”
