Page 126 of Mine to Take

“Oh my god, what happened?”

I shake my head. “I don’t know. She’s burning up. We need to get her to the hospital.”

Indecision flashes across her face. “Should we call an ambulance?”

“The closest hospital is ten minutes from here. Let’s just get her there, all right?”

Thankfully, Willow’s guard dog doesn’t argue.

“I’ll grab my keys.”

Her car is parked in front of the townhouse. It’s a rusty piece of crap that has seen better years. Make that decades. But as long as it gets us to the hospital as quickly as possible, I don’t give a shit.

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.”

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