Page 79 of A Toast for Laurent


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It took a few tries, but I finally tapped the right button.

Laurent’s voice boomed through the speaker.

“What the fuck, Phoebe? Why the hell am I getting berated by your stepmother? Answer your fucking phone and stop running from your damn problems.”

“Laurent.” My voice sounded weak and pathetic, but the amount of energy it took to say that single word, if I wasn’t possibly dying, I’d have celebrated.

“Phoebe, what’s wrong?” Panic and fear laced his words. I guess I sounded more pathetic than I thought.

“I don’t know. I’m scared.” My voice shook as much as my hands.

“Where are you?”

“On the trail… Along the mountain. By the bypass road.”

“I’m on my way.”

“Don’t hang up. Don’t leave me.”

“I’m right here, Phoebs. I’m always here.”

The strip of road was backed up with a line of cars moving at ten miles per hour. My heart slammed into my chest, and I blared my horn, but it was pointless. We were barely moving. I stuck my head out the window and spotted Albert on his fucking tractor.

I looked over at the other side of the road, cut the wheel and flew past the line of cars. Albert greeted me with a one-finger salute, but I didn’t have time for his bullshit.

“Are you almost here? I’m scared,” Phoebe said, and every reason for being mad at her fled. Fear and panic overrode all emotions. I needed to get to her. I needed to hold her and tell her everything was going to be all right.

“Almost,” I said. Then I heard her heave.

I slammed my foot on the gas, breaking every law and speed limit. If a cop wanted to pull me over, they could chase me all the way to Phoebe. At least then I’d be with her, be able to get her help.

Switching my Bluetooth off, I used the car phone to call 911. I gave them the information I was able to gather from Phoebe and hung up.

My body shook with fear, trembled at the thought of losing her before I got there. She pushed herself too fucking hard. Her body was shutting down, or at least that’s what it sounded like.

Fear had me wanting to scream, but I held it back. I needed to be calm for her.

I took a corner going way too fast, but I was on the road. “I’m coming, Phoebs,” I said, and when she didn’t respond, my heart leapt into my throat. “Phoebs?”

“I’m still here. Can’t exactly go anywhere.”

She was throwing up on the side of a trail, unable to move her legs, yet she was still cracking jokes. My eye caught bright pink, and I hit the gas even harder. Phoebe was on the ground, her legs outstretched, her entire body shaking.

The car came to a skidding halt, and I jumped out. I ran to her, resting my hand on her back. “Phoebs?” I took her face in my hands. She looked like hell. Her body was shaking so much. “When’s the last time you ate?”

“I don’t know. I don’t remember if I did. I had coffee.”

I had to turn my emotions off, or I’d lose my shit. It was better to stay focused. It was the only way I could help her. “An ambulance is on its way. Stay right here.”

She let out what I imagined was a laugh, but she didn’t have the energy to get it fully out. I hurried to my car and grabbed the electrolyte powder out of my gym bag, and my bottle of water that was still cold thanks to the insulated thermos.

“Open your mouth,” I said as I kneeled beside her.

She glared at me like I was nuts, and I’d give her credit for keeping that sassy little attitude when her body was shutting down on her.

“Open your damn mouth,” I grunted, more out of fear that if she waited a second longer, she might close her eyes and slip away from me.

She opened her mouth, and I sprinkled some powder on her tongue. Her entire body recoiled, and her face scrunched.

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