Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 86199 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 431(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86199 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 431(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
She races ahead of me and opens the door so I can slide onto the back seat, all the while holding Willow against my chest. Then she hustles around to the driver’s side and starts up the vehicle. A handful of seconds later, we’re hauling ass out of the parking lot and into early morning traffic. That’s when I realize the sun is barely peeking over the horizon.
“I don’t even know your name,” I mutter, stroking my fingers over Willow’s cheek, trying to rouse her before we reach the hospital. I’d feel so much better if she’d just open her eyes.
Her roommate’s gaze meets mine in the rearview mirror for a heartbeat. After our terse convo yesterday, I’m prepared for her to bare her teeth.
“Holland.”
“Interesting.” I say it more because nothing else comes to mind. This girl isn’t exactly the chatty sort.
She’s more the piss-me-off-and-I’ll-shank-you-in-the-eye sort.
What can’t be denied is how protective she is of her friend. Even though this girl is as prickly as a cactus, I can’t help but like her for that alone.
Just when I think the rest of this ride will be made in silence, she clears her throat. “We’ve known each other since elementary school.”
My gaze roams over Willow’s face as Holland continues to talk.
Her voice wavers as she admits, “I honestly don’t know what I’d do without her. No one else gets me the way she does.”
I glance at the rearview mirror and notice that moisture has gathered in her eyes.
“She’ll be fine.” I have no idea if it’s the truth, but, in this moment, it’s what we both need to believe.
Holland swerves into the hospital parking lot before pulling into a space and cutting the engine. She jumps out of the car and jogs around the hood to the other side before yanking open the door. It doesn’t take much jostling before I’m out of the vehicle and we’re both racing through the glass emergency room doors. As soon as we step inside the vestibule, hospital staff descends on us. As much as I want Willow to get the medical care she needs, I’m reluctant to let her go. Memories of my mom getting wheeled off to surgery flood my brain and try to take hold.
“Sir? You need to hand her over,” a woman says. The briskness of her voice is enough to snap me from my thoughts.
I jerk my head in a nod before gently setting Willow’s limp body on the gurney. The moment I release her, she’s whisked away, disappearing through a set of double doors. A woman sitting behind a glass partition fires off questions, trying to understand what they’re dealing with so they can figure out the best course of treatment.
Holland fills in more details along with her medical history, which I quietly listen to. My gaze is continually drawn to the doors Willow disappeared through. Every second that ticks by only ramps up my agitation.
I plow a hand through my disheveled hair. “Can I go back with her?”
The woman looks up from the computer screen. “Are you family?”
Fuck.
When I glance at Holland, she pops a brow.
“Yeah, I’m her fiancé.”
The woman peers at me from over the rim of her reading glasses. “Are you sure about that?”
I straighten to my full height. “Yes.”
Air gets trapped in my lungs when Holland jerks a thumb in my direction. I’m afraid of what’s going to come out of her mouth.
It wouldn’t surprise me if she outed the lie.
Security would get called and then I’d get tossed out on my ass.
“This is Maverick McKinnon. You know, the hotshot defenseman for the Western Wildcats? The one turning pro next year?” When the woman doesn’t blink, she adds, “His father is Brody McKinnon?”
Apparently, that means something, because her expression transforms as she sucks in a deep breath before gushing, “I had the biggest crush on him when he played in the NHL. He was so big and blond…” Her voice trails off as she gets lost in the memories.
Yikes.
When Holland side-eyes me, I clear my throat. “So… I can go back and sit with her?”
“Sure, sweetie. Follow me.”
I huff out a relieved breath.
As I turn to follow her, I mouth to Holland, “thank you.”
She jerks her head in a nod. “I’ll call her parents and let them know what’s going on.”
40
Willow
The voices are what first capture my attention and tug me toward the surface. It’s a struggle to make sense of the words. My eyelids feel like they’re weighed down by cement blocks. After a minute or so, exhaustion creeps back in at the edges and I give up, happy to be sucked back under.
The second time it happens, my eyelids flutter and I squint against the light that pours in through the windows. It takes a moment to focus on my surroundings. My brows draw together when I realize nothing looks familiar. Everything is white or cream colored and sterile.