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Yes, I’m well aware that the other firefighters will ask, but I’m not there. I should be there to make sure she’s taken care of.
“Okay, Cash.” Ari’s voice steadies. “I will.” A rumble of voices gets louder, and she says, “I have to go, Cash.” Then, a little shakily, “Are you coming home?”
“Yes.” Squealing out of the parking garage, my hands sweaty on the wheel, I tell her, “Yes, hun. I’m coming right now.”
I’velostfiveyearsoff my life during the fifteen-minute trip from White Plains to Sleepy Hollow.
The entire ride, I couldn’t stop thinking of the terrifying possibilities. That Ari wasn’t reallyokay, that she’d been exposed long enough to have lasting damage. That her symptoms were delayed, and I’d arrive at her house to find her in the ambulance, fighting for breath. Or she wouldn’t be there at all, having been taken directly to the hospital.
I talked to Finn briefly, and he said Ari seemed okay, but she was still being examined by the paramedics. But seeming okay isn’t the same as actuallybeing it. How could Finn know for sure? And Ian couldn’t exactly give me updates during an active call.
So I’m coming in blind and panicked and all I want is to see Ari and make sure she’s okay.
When I get there, Ari’s little ranch is nearly hidden by the fire trucks and ambulances. My car is still rocking to a stop and I’m leaping out of it, sprinting down the street and toward the flashing lights. All the faces are familiar—fellow firefighters, EMTs, over by the police car, Officer Troy—but I only care about seeing one person.
There. Sitting in the back of the ambulance, holding an oxygen mask over her face. So small and fragile and my emotions are in chaos. All I know is I needto touch her.
I speed past several firefighters and screech to a halt at the foot of the ambulance. Ari is sitting beside Finn, both of them with masks, but his eyes are alert and scanning their surroundings. Ari lowers her mask and gives me a wobbly smile. “You came.”
Forget rules and procedures, I hop into the ambulance and crouch down in front of her. “Hun, keep your mask on, okay? If they gave it to you—“ Emotion stops up my throat.
She makes a little face at me, and the bands around my chest loosen a little. “I’m okay, Cash. Really.” But she puts the mask back over her face and watches as I take her pulse—a bit elevated, but considering the circumstances, normal—and I check her oxygen level on the pulse oximeter on her finger.
“What happened?” This time it’s directed at Finn.
Dropping his mask, he shakes his head, grim and frowning. “We were only inside for five minutes, max. I’m sure, because I checked my phone right before entering. I felt some nausea, and I knew immediately what it was.”
“I didn’t feel anything,” Ari interjects. “I felt fine the entire time.”
I move her mask back up, stroking her hair before pulling my hand away. Then I look back at Finn. “Thank you for getting her out.”
“Shit.” Finn glances at Ari, then back at me, his brow creasing. “I’m sorry. I never imagined—“
“It’s not your fault.” Ari pulls her mask down again, turning to Finn. “If I’d gone there by myself, I wouldn’t have known until much later.”
And now I feel nauseous thinking about it.
“Hey, you made it.” Ian comes up behind me, clapping me on the shoulder. “Sorry to have called you like that, but I thought you’d want to know.”
I catch Ari’s hand as she raises it toward her mask. This time I hold her hand gently, but firmly.
Turning to look at Ian, my voice goes rough as I say, “Thank you. I’m glad you called.” I take a steadying breath and gather my thoughts. “Who treated her?”
“Ben,” Ian answers. “But I assisted. And Ari is going to be fine. Oxygen levels are good, and the exposure was minimal. A little more fresh oxygen, and she should be good to go.”
Finn gets up. “I’m going to talk to the police again. And I need to check in with Cole.” He lifts his chin at me. “Should I assume you’regoing to be staying with Ari for the rest of the night?”
“Yes.” And for the next few days, most likely. “You’ll let me know what you hear?”
He hops out of the ambulance, turning to give me a sharp nod. “Of course.”
Ian leaves shortly after, gesturing at me and telling Ari with a grin, “Don’t let this guy worry too much. Although—“ He smirks at me. “Looking at his face, that might be impossible.”
If he knew how right he was.
I never knew it was possibleto worry about someone this much. Like if something happened to her, I’d be more than devastated. I’d be broken.
As I sit beside Ari in the ambulance, holding her hand, I work to rein my emotions back under control. Fear and worry are still rampaging through my body, not quite believing the truth of Ari being safe and unhurt in front of me.
