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Brady’s hand covered mine. “Easy, Cici. Let’s just head home.”
I cringed, my eyes shut tight. I wasn’t just ruining the end of the best date in my life, but rather I was doing it with a flair even I couldn’t have imagined. My craziness was on full display, and this man was just being so nice. Tears pressed at the backs of my eyes.
I took a long, rattling breath in.
Brady’s hand rubbed mine gently, soothingly. “I’ve got you.”
I nodded then carefully opened my eyes, Brady's worried face filling my vision. “Thanks.” I tossed my hair over one shoulder before letting out a watery chuckle. “Let’s go before I cause an even bigger scene than I have already.”
Brady’s smile was warm, genuine. “When you meet my mother, you’ll understand why this doesn't even faze me.” His eyes were serious. “I threw a lot at you tonight. I’m sorry.”
“You’re sorry? Oh God, Brady. You didn’t do anything wrong. This was the best date I’ve ever gone on.” I blurted it out without thinking.
Brady raised my hand to his lips, his body rising from the chair in order to do so. The warmth of his lips made my eyes slide closed once more.
“Let’s go,” I said softly. I reached for my bag and then slid my legs free of the table.
One moment I was looking up at Brady as he came around the table. The next I felt a strange kind of chill up my legs, and then the black dots that crossed my vision were suddenly too large. They were blocking out my vision. Raising a hand to wipe them away, I felt that chill catch at my spine and rush upwards.
The bright white tablecloth was a blur as suddenly my gravity shifted and I began to fall. My last thought before everything went completely black was that I had well and truly ruined my chances with Brady Martinez.
***
Chapter 11
Brady
“What’s her name, sir?”
“Cecelia Grove. Here. I have her wallet with all her information.” I held out the bag Cici had brought with her, my grip wavering ever so slightly. I was usually pretty unshakable, but seeing Cici faint like that was enough to set even my nerves on edge.
The EMT took it eagerly, moving back to the front of the ambulance. “Are you going with her?”
“Yes, of course,” I said automatically, hiking my trouser leg so I could step up into the back of the ambulance since they’d already loaded up Cici. There was a tiny seat for passengers near Cici's head. I tucked my body into that. As soon as I sat down, I was able to smooth some of that honey-gold hair away from her face.
“How is she? Shouldn’t she have woken up?” I asked, well aware that he wouldn’t have the answer to that. The EMT was moving around the tight interior. He sent me a smile and a flip of the wrist.
“Everything’s holding steady. Did she say anything about not feeling well? Or feeling dizzy maybe?”
“Not exactly. She got a little nervous at dinner.”
“Over what?”
I gave him a hard look. “Is that necessary for your diagnosis?”
“Sorry, man. Just getting the story straight.”
“That’s fine. She just seems to have fainted. We’ll get her to the hospital and get everything checked out. Just in case.”
I nodded. My heart was still pounding in my chest. “I’ll call her niece.”
I whipped up my phone, and after considering my options, I decided to hit up Liam first.
Brady: Hey, you up?
Liam: Yeah. Not really in the mood for a booty call though.
Brady: No jokes. Cici fainted at dinner. They are taking us to UCSF.
