Page 116 of More To Us

"Yeah." She holds onto me and I lift her into my arms. "Mark, can you grab my wallet and keys? They're in my locker." I give him my locker number and combination and moments later, he's back and helping us out the door. We go to my truck and he opens it and I set Kira inside. "You still doing okay?"

"Yeah," she says, but she doesn't look okay. She looks scared and in pain.

I secure her seatbelt in place and look at her. "It's gonna be okay."

She nods, but still looks scared.

I go around to the driver's side and head to the nearest hospital. I reach over and hold her hand, and when I glance at her, I see her quietly crying. Shit. She's in pain. What am I doing driving her? I should've called an ambulance.

"Is the pain getting worse?" I ask.

"No. It's the same. I just..." She closes her eyes.

"What?" I squeeze her hand. "What is it?"

She shakes her head. "I don't want to talk about it."

The hospital's just up ahead. I spot the emergency room sign and follow it to the entrance. I park the truck right by the door.

"Wait here," I tell Kira. I go inside and find a nurse.

A few minutes later, Kira and I are sitting in the waiting room, her in a wheelchair with her leg up, and me sitting beside her as she fills out the insurance forms.

My phone's been buzzing for the past ten minutes. I'm late to work. I call Nash.

"Hey, I can't come in," I tell him.

"Why? What's wrong?"

"Kira got hurt at the gym. We're in the ER."

"Shit. What the hell happened?"

"She was using one of the weight machines and hurt her leg."

"Did she break it?"

"We don't know yet. She's waiting to see a doctor."

"Don't worry about work. I'll bring a guy in to cover your shift."

"Thanks."

I must sound nervous because Nash says, "Austin. She's gonna be okay."

I nod. "Yeah."

"Call me if you need anything."

"I will. Bye." I shove my phone in my pocket.

"Can you take this up there?" Kira hands me the clipboard with the insurance forms. I bring it up to the nurse's station, then sit down by Kira again. I'm anxious and fidgety, my foot tapping on the floor.

Kira puts her hand over mine. "Austin, stop worrying. I'll be fine."

I shake my head. "I never should've made you do those extra reps."

"It's not your fault."

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