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“You’re so beautiful.” I know it’s not the answer to her question, but it’s all that I have.
The light turns green, and I let my foot off the brake, easing on the gas. Her hand is still in mine. I bring our hands across the console and brush my lips over her knuckles.
This is a moment I never thought I would find more intimate than any hookup. I love sex with Rachel more than anything, but this feels like more. It feels real. Even in the silence, we can be exactly what we are meant to be.
I’m rocked by the sudden screeching of tires before my truck is tossed to the side like a rag doll. We circle through the intersection while I frantically try to gain control. The airbags are deploying as Rachel screams, but what scares me the most is when it all stops.
The truck stops moving, and she’s silent, slumped over. My body is sore and I’m sure I’ve got more bumps and bruises than I can count, but that’s not what concerns me.
“Rachel!” I yell, frantically trying to unclip my seatbelt to get to her. She’s slumped over in her seat. There’s blood everywhere. So much blood.
A few people run up to us, trying to open the door. I’m able to think clearly enough to hit the unlock button while a man stands at Rachel’s door, pounding on the window. Once it’s open, he says words like ‘help’s coming’ and ‘are you okay?’ but all I can do is look at her.
I’m trying not to move her, trying to think of anything I might have heard about first aid.
Her neck. Don’t injure her neck.
The man is pressing something to her forehead now, but I’m frozen on the spot. I don’t know if I’m injured and physically unable to move or just mentally frozen, but all I can do is hold her hand and pray the man knows what he’s doing to help her enough to save her.
Tears fall from my eyes as I look at her, seeing the woman that I love so helpless. So injured.
Flashing lights approach and paramedics rush towards us, but I can’t take my eyes off of her.
“Sir, can you move?” someone asks from my side, but I can’t answer. All I can do is look at Rachel.
“Rach? Please wake up,” I chant, but she doesn’t.
“Sir, can you move your legs?”
“Don’t worry about me. Help her!” I roar.
“Sir, we’re doing everything we can, but I need you to let go of her and pay attention to me for a minute.” The woman’s voice is soft and kind, but I don’t miss the underlying tone of pity.
The paramedics with Rachel are moving quickly to assess her injuries as I bring her hand to my mouth and kiss her knuckles, just as I did before all hell broke loose. I pray this isn’t the last time I touch her. Hold her. If there’s anyone listening up there, I need them to hear this and save her.
“I love you,” I whisper as I drop her hand and watch my whole world being lifted from the truck.
27
MITCH
“Ineed to get the fuck out of here,” I grumble, staring up at the ceiling.
I’m hooked up to IV’s and monitors and it’s making me want to punch something. I need to be with Rachel wherever she is in this godforsaken hospital.
“You’re not going to get out any faster by raging like The Hulk,” Zach says from his seat beside me.
I called him the second the paramedics would let me. I didn’t know who else to call. My family doesn’t live near here. Only Zach knows how I really feel about Rachel, how crazy I would be to see her like that. He’s not only my business partner but also my best friend, and right now, he’s the only thing keeping me from ripping out these fucking tubes and yelling through the halls until I find my girl.
“Craig and Kylie are waiting for her to get out of surgery. They’ll tell us when they know anything,” Zach reassures me.
“How can you sit there so calmly? I’m freaking the fuck out right now.” I run my hands through my hair, gripping the short strands until they feel like they’re going to be ripped from my head.
“Because I’m here to take care of you and make sure you don’t do something stupid, like rip out your IV and go yelling through the halls.”
I narrow my eyes at him. Now he’s in my fucking head?
“Don’t look at me like that. I know you’re thinking it. That’s what I would be doing if it were Mandy.”
