AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Both of them visibly relax but begin talking at the same time. Neither of them saw her. They were going too fast. Their voices fade into the background as I return my focus to Penny.
My hands skim over her body, making sure she’s not bleeding or that any body parts are at unnatural angles. I have no emergency training other than CPR, but I need to know she’s okay. I’ve seen men bigger and stronger than me get hit on ice with less force than Penny. Concussions are serious business.
I’m partially relieved when I find nothing, but concern churns in my gut as she continues to lie unconscious. I need her to wake up and tell me she’s okay. That nothing hurts.
“Penny? Hey, pumpkin, can you hear me? Penny?”
“Oh my God. Is she okay?” a voice I recognize asks right behind me. I turn my head quickly to find Gretchen, Noah’s wife. Her hands reach for Penny’s limp one, clutching it tightly.
“She seems okay, but I’m worried she’s not waking up.” I swallow my rising concern as I touch her cheek, noticing how hot she is.
“She’s sick. Right before we went on stage, she took some meds. Noah was going to drive her home but…oh my God, this is all my fault.” Gretchen moves Penny’s arm by accident with her admission, making Penny groan in pain.
It’s progress, letting me know she is coming back to consciousness, but the whimper has me believing something is wrong with her arm.
“It’s not your fault, Gretchen,” I whisper, carefully shifting forward so I can hold Penny’s head in my lap. “If she took cold meds, then they must have hit her hard. The Penny I know would never walk across a clearly marked danger zone.”
“She was kinda out of it, but she was heading towards Noah. I thought she could make it that far…” Her voice tapers off on a hiccup. “Carter, it’s my fault.”
“It’s not. I swear, Gretch. Can you call Noah? I think she might have to go to the hospital.”
“Fudge. Oh, my garland, where the hell is it?” she mumbles, hitting every pocket on her jacket. When she finally finds her cell, her eyes go large when she looks at the screen. “No. What the hell? Noah left to pick Violet up from her friend’s house. Apparently, they’re both sick.” Her eyes dart back to me, wide with worry.
I don’t hesitate. Her daughter should always come first. “Go. I can take care of Penny. I’ll make sure she gets looked at.”
“Are you sure?” she asks but is already getting to her feet to leave.
“Yes, I’ll have the EMTs–”
“No. Take her to the hospital. She hasn’t woken up yet. That’s not a good sign.”
She’s right. It’s not. Pressing my lips together, I nod. Before I’m able to get another word out, Gretchen gives my shoulder a squeeze then speed walks away. “Call me or Noah as soon as you have news!” she shouts with a wave.
I open my mouth, not sure what I’m about to say, when a soft moan catches my attention. Penny slowly moves in my lap, her hand going up to her head.
“What happened?” she whispers, pain evident in her words.
“Everything’s okay. You’re okay, Penny.” At my voice, her eyes slowly trail up to me “Hey, there, pumpkin.”
“That’s nice. Sleigh my name again.” Her lips tip into a small smile before she grimaces again. “Oh God,” she groans, a second before her eyes roll backward and she’s out again.
“Shit. I need to get her to the hospital.” The words are barely out of my mouth before I’m sweeping her up into my arms and dodging bodies while heading to the main parking lot. The murmur of voices doesn’t reach my ears, but I can feel someone following me, yelling at people to get out of the way.
When I finally stop at the side door of my car, I turn to see my sister. “Keyes are in my front jacket packet.” My voice is brisk, but she doesn’t seem to care. She grabs the keys and clicks open the doors.
Laying Penny down in the back, I make sure her head is supported before carefully shutting the door. Gigi meets me on the driver’s side.
“What are you doing?”
“Taking her to the hospital. She woke up, but only briefly.”
Gigi’s eyes get watery as she looks at her friend in the back seat. “Do you think something is wrong?”
I don’t want to lie to my sister, but I also can’t give her the full truth. Head injuries are serious injuries. And continually passing out is not a good sign.
“That’s what we’re going to find out. I’ll call you as soon as I know anything, okay?”
She nods, biting down on her quivering lip at the same time. I give her a nod, adjusting my seatbelt at the same time. I’m reaching for the door when I reconsider. Gigi is obviously anxious and worried. Penny is passed out and hurt but in no immediate danger—at least from my non-professional inspection. She doesn’t know that, however.
