Page 16 of Reign or Shine

I’ve never felt more helpless in my life. What the hell do I do in a situation like this? I’m unprepared. A pampered fool who has never had to deal with any sickness or injury other than my own. Shit.

Shit.

Shit.

Still holding her ankle, Ellie tips her head back to the sky and lets out a long hissing breath. She’s trying to fight through the pain. Hiding it from me. And that’s the last thing I want.

“Sunshine, let it out. It’s okay. I’m here. I’ll help, however you tell me to.”

Her face keeps that smooshed grimace of pain for a second longer before it breaks and she cries out.

“Oh fuck. Fuck me that hurts. Ohhh my God.”

“That’s it. Let it all out.”

Tears begin to fall down her face. She starts to rock back and forth.

And I start to really panic.

Trying to play the part of a calm and collected partner, I continue to mutter nonsensical words to her, keeping a reassuring tone. But I can feel bile rising in my throat. What else am I supposed to do here?

“Henry? Henry!” She has to repeat my name in increasing volume before I snap out of my thoughts. Shit, I’m being selfish. Worrying about how to take care of her. “Why do you look like that?”

“Like what?” I try to joke. “Devilishly handsome?”

“No, like I have bone sticking out of my body and you’re about to barf.”

“THERE’S A BONE—”

“No, you idiot. It’s probably a bad sprain. But you look like you’ve just discovered a dismembered body in a serial killer’s kill room. I’m okay, just a bit hurt.”

Her words are said with humor, but I know I’m letting her down. I’m the one who should be comforting her, not the other way around.

Fisting my hands and mentally getting myself together, I duck my head. Okay, I could do this. There was no blood, no critical damage other than my pride. I could help.

“Sorry,” I tell her softly, shifting closer to her in the mud. “I—I’m not good in situations like this.”

“It’s okay,” she grits out through her teeth.

“It’s not, but tell me how I can help you. I’m here for you.”

Her pain-filled eyes dart over to mine. I hope she sees my sincerity. I do want to help her. No, I need to. Seeing her hurt and hurting is killing me.

Finally, with her teeth imprinting on her bottom lip, she nods.

“Yeah, okay.”

Pushing a strand of wet hair out of her face, I smile, feeling the fist around my heart unclench. “Okay,” I repeat. “Tell me what to do.”

“Umm, we need to radio for help. There’s no way I’m walking back to base headquarters.”

Right. We need to end our hike, obviously. My mood takes another dip before I remind myself that this doesn’t mean our time together would end.

Awkwardly pulling my backpack off, I start searching the pockets for my cell phone. “Give me the number.”

Her giggle catches my attention. “Use this.” A moment later a hard, square object is placed in my hand. A radio.

“Wow. I can’t believe how horrendous I am at taking care of you,” I say, more to myself than Ellie.

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