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“I’m barely hurt,” she says with a lift of her obstinate chin. An actress gunning for an award. She takes a small step forward, but she slumps. “I might need that carry.”
Thankful, I bend down. “Put your arms around my neck.”
She complies. Wraps her arms around my neck as I gently lift her into my arms. A reluctant sigh pushes from my chest. Having Jo in my arms feels good.
I tuck one arm under her legs, hold her closer than is decent. Take measured steps, wishing I’d cleaned that room so she hadn’t fallen. That I’d told Jake I had feelings for her fourteen years ago, when he first wanted to ask her out. That my family hadn’t endured hell, and I hadn’t missed twelve years with my best friend.
I press my chin to the side of her head. “Hopefully the hospital won’t be too busy. You’ll get checked out quick.”
“Cal.”
The way she says my name—furtive but also on the edge of desperate—has me stopping outside her building. “Is something wrong?”
“I really don’t want to go to the hospital. It’s late. I’m tired from working all day and embarrassed about…everything. You’re being sweet and caring, but I really just want to go to sleep. I’ll move out tomorrow, if that’s okay. For now, I just want to pretend this night never happened.”
She’s talking about our fight. Her heartfelt confession. My brutal dismissal of us.
I stroke my hand down her arm, press my lips to her hair. Hate that my rejection has cut another scar on her heart. For most of my life, I’ve worked to keep Jolene happy. Ensure she thrives and succeeds. All my return to Windfall has done is cause her pain.
“The neighbor in the other half of my duplex is a nurse,” I say as I head to my truck. “I’ll call her. If she’s home and willing to look at you, I’ll forgo the hospital. If she’s not, we’re heading to emergency.”
Because I love you, I don’t say.I hate seeing you upset and hurt and will hurl myself into traffic if it means saving you pain.
She nods and presses her face into my chest. Inhales deeply, I think. Maybe I have a lightning-storm scent too. A surge of electrical force that sparks near Jolene. Crackling voltage when the words I can’t speak scrape against my throat.
chaptertwenty-seven
Callahan
I carefully place Jo on her bed and prop her up with pillows. “Is there still a flat man jabbing pokers into your back?”
“He’s more of a lumpy gnome who got stuck under me,” she says.
I mock glower. “Those lumpy gnomes are what’s wrong with this world.”
“Their big, poky hats should be banned.”
“Their huge noses stick where they shouldn’t.”
“You’re ridiculous,” she says, wincing as she laughs, but a slew of affection gathers in her dark eyes. My fellow adventurer’s eyes. My best friend’s eyes, with a hint ofI wish we were more.
I drop my gaze. Cup her calf and frown at the dried blood on her gash. “This needs cleaning.”
“Cal.”
My gaze draws a slow path up Jolene’s reclined body. Along her legs, her jean skirt, her rumpled tank top, her slender neck, and the perfect bow of her mouth—soft lips, full but not too full, slightly pursed. Jo’s lips always carry a hint of thought. Like she’s spinning a question she’s not ready to voice.
“Yeah?” I say quietly.
She opens her mouth, then closes it and frowns. “Nothing.”
A knock sounds on my front door, cutting me off from prodding. “Be right back.”
I hurry to the front door and yank it open. “I’m sorry for calling so late,” I tell Anika right away. “Jo’s had a rough night and didn’t want to go to the hospital, and I was worried about her. She hit her head hard. Passed out for a few seconds. I probably should’ve—”
“Callahan.” Anika is tall and broad, strong from her CrossFit workouts. She always exudes confidence. In one steady word, she manages to calm me. “I’m happy to look at her. If I have any concerns, she’ll have to go to the hospital, but Jolene has taken care of my father when he’s had one too many at her bar. Escorted him out and saved him embarrassment. We pull together in this town.”
The giant hug that is Windfall.
