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My buddy, Felix, is on duty and took Kate’s vitals as soon as he arrived on the scene with Remi, his girlfriend and fellow paramedic. Felix didn’t care that I insisted on riding with Kate to the hospital, but the bastard did shoot me a look when she told him it wasn’t necessary. One of the girls offered to take my place as her plus-one in the back of the ambulance, but apparently, Kate was even more anxious about a friend joining her than a stranger. When her friends told her going by herself to the hospital wasn’t an option, she chose me instead.
After a quick conversation with my little brother, Theo, I promise to text him with any updates, and we’re off.
It’s funny how quickly an evening can turn upside down.
Theo had invited me to join him and his friends who were celebrating something. My guess is Colt, Theo’s childhood best friend, suggested extending the offer to me. Or our mom intervened. She’s been worried about me since the divorce, calling in favors and asking anyone and everyone if they know any young women who’d agree to go on a blind date with a recently divorced man. Or, if it wasn’t too much trouble, she’d ask if they could swing by and bring me some cookies she’d made earlier in the day in hopes of cheering me up.
I can’t even begin to count how many strangers have shown up on my front porch in the middle of the fucking woods with cookies all because Mama Taylor asked them to. I gotta give the woman credit. She’s a stubborn, convincing lady when she wants to be.
The blind dates, though? Well, I had to put my foot down somewhere.
Hanging out with Theo and his friends, however, I could swallow.
And even if it was a pity invitation extended by my little brother, I needed to get out of the house. It’s my oldest daughter’s birthday, but she doesn’t want to see me. Didn’t even bother to reply to the happy birthday text I sent. She’s avoiding me, convinced the bullshit my ex is spewing about me is true when it’s the furthest thing from it. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not a saint. But Summer’s the one who called off the marriage and tore our family apart. Then again, maybe it is my fault. As soon as my winnings from the lottery hit our joint bank account, she took half of it, packed her bags, and sent me a text, informing me her lawyer would be in touch.
I didn’t even bother fighting her.
We were both done with the marriage.
Done fighting for something neither of us wanted .
But I wouldn’t have called it quits if she hadn’t pulled the plug. Because I’m not a quitter. Never have been. Not when she showed up on my front porch with a positive pregnancy test when we were sixteen. Not when she convinced me to use my college fund to pay for the new two-bedroom apartment in the city since I could only afford a studio in the suburbs.
If anything, it’s the sayingnopart I suck at. Like when she took the house and convinced our two girls I’m bad news.
The ambulance hits a minor bump, and Kate winces, yanking me back to the present. Remi and Felix are in the front of the rig since I’m a trained paramedic, and I told them I’d keep an eye on the patient until we arrived at the hospital.
Doesn’t mean she’s said a word to me.
In fact, the girl looks pissed.
With her arms crossed and a nasty scowl marring her pretty face, she stares blankly at the back door of the ambulance. Like I don’t exist.
“How you doin’?” I ask her.
Silence.
I clear my throat and shift on my seat. “I should probably introduce––”
“Don’t bother.”
A snort slips out of me as I tilt my head to the side. “I’m Theo’s––”
“Were you the one who told them to call an ambulance?” she interrupts, finally gracing me with a look. Those gray eyes are stormy. Even stormier than in the restaurant when she first woke up. Like it’s my fault she wound up on the floor. My fault she’s in the back of an ambulance. My fault she can’t ignore the entire situation and go about her day as if she didn’t have a seizure in the middle of an Italian restaurant.
Leaning forward, I rest my elbows on my knees and hold her turbulent gaze. “Yeah. I was.”
Her scowl deepens. “Why?”
“Because your friends didn’t know what to do, and someone needed to take charge.”
“And you thought it was your right?” she demands.
“Yeah, I guess so. Ya know, since you were a little preoccupied and all.”
It’s a dick thing to say, but if she’s offended, she doesn’t show it.
“You had no right to make that call,” she spits.
