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“Fuck. Call an ambulance right now. We’ll meet you at the hospital.”
She hangs up and I look around for my cell to make the call that could save my brother’s life. But before I remember where the fuck it’s gone, footsteps pound up the stairs.
James comes flying through the door. “What’s… fuck.” His eyes widen at the sight of Cole before he pulls his cell from his pocket and makes the call I failed to.
“They’re on their way. What’s he taken?”
I lift the baggie up for him, and after inspecting the contents, he pockets it.
“Come on, let’s get him downstairs so they can get to him quicker.”
James scoops Cole up into his arms as if he weighs nothing, which we both know isn’t true. He’s got at least twenty pounds on me, and I’m not exactly small.
I stare at the two of them as James moves for the door, and although this situation is fucked up beyond belief, a little part of my heart slots back into place, seeing James step up to be the father the three of us need.
We might like to think we’re tough, all too happy to take on the world, but the truth is, we need someone. We’ve been taking care of ourselves for too long… Ace has been taking care of us for too long.
Ace? Where the fuck is Ace?
I follow them out of the room, almost standing on my cell as we leave. Locating his number, I hit call, but he doesn’t answer. “I’m going to find Ace,” I shout at James as I take off in the other direction.
My body screams at me to stay beside Cole—he needs me, but he needs all of us.
We’re a fucking team. We do the hard shit together.
I crash through the pool house door, making Ace look up from whatever he’s reading. “Con?”
“It’s Cole.”
“Shit.” He’s off the couch in a beat and following me out of the do
or.
By the time we approach where James is waiting with Cole still in his arms, the sirens of the ambulance are getting closer.
“Let’s get him outside,” Ace says, helping James take Cole’s weight.
As they step out the front door, the ambulance comes to a halt and two paramedics jump from the front.
I watch in a daze as they get Cole in the back and start working. Everything aside from what they’re doing ceases to exist. Everything blurs around me, and all I can feel is the racing beat of my heart.
What happens if he doesn't make it? What am I meant to do then?
The realization of how serious this could be slams into me like a fucking truck, and I stumble back. My feet hit the steps leading to the house and I fall down on my ass, not even feeling the pain I’m sure followed.
Tears burn my eyes as I continue to watch the EMT’s work. They check his vitals, do all the things I’m sure they need to do, but he doesn’t move. He doesn’t do anything but lie there completely helpless as I feel a part of me slipping away.
Why didn’t I know something was wrong? I’m meant to feel these things. We’re meant to be connected or some shit. I didn’t even know he was home.
I was too distracted, my music was too loud. I was… “FUUUUCK!” I roar, the tears I’ve managed to hold so far falling as I finally allow myself to break.
I can’t lose him. I can’t fucking lose him.
“Conner, it’s going to be okay, Son. I’ve got the best medical team in the state waiting on him. Everything is going to be fine,” James says, pulling me into his arms and holding me tight.
It’s the weirdest feeling. No one has held me like this in… fuck, I don’t even know how long, but it’s been a lot of fucking years.
Unable to hold it together even a little bit, I sob into his chest.
