Page 53 of Broken Bonds

The schoolyard was covered in debris, fallen branches, shattered pots, lawn chairs, and all sorts of things. People whispered in shock, pointing out the giant tree trunk that had kept us captive.

Ace’s hold on me tightened as he surveyed the damage, fear flickering in his eyes. We were almost trapped in that. We’dliterallymade it in the nick of time. Any longer, and we would both be dead. I knew that with absolute certainty.

A firefighter came up to us, his red helmet askew on his head. “Do you need medical assistance?”

“Yes,” Ace blurted at the same time I said, “No.”

The man sighed, looking between the two of us. “Well, which is it?” he demanded.

“She needs medical assistance.” Ace’s firm tone left no room for argument. I scowled up at him. There was nothing the paramedics could do for my legs.

“Asshole,” I hissed. He rolled his eyes at me as we followed the fireman to the ambulance on standby.

Thirty minutes later, the paramedics had checked my vitals, noting I was dehydrated, as could be expected, and that my legs needed to be checked out by a specialist. I could have told them that from the beginning, hence why I didn’t think it was necessary to be checked out by paramedics.

They checked Ace too after hearing my story about our near-drowning episode, discovering he had a concussion. The female EMT recommended we go with them to the hospital to get tested for water in our lungs, but I declined, not wanting my parents to be stuck with that bill, especially since I knew they would take me to the doctor themselves when I got home.

“We’ll go to the hospital if any of the symptoms you mentioned appear, I promise,” I told the young woman, who eyed me warily. She clearly wasn’t okay with letting us go, but she couldn’t force us either.

“You shouldn’t play around with your health. I really suggest you come with us,” she urged.

“I’m fine, really. I just need to go to my specialist to fix the nerves in my legs.” Ace stood beside me, his hand reaching for mine where I was sitting on the pop-up gurney.

“We need to get home and see our families. They’re very worried about us,” Ace told her, his hand squeezing mine. I knew he was just as eager to get out of here as I was. I wanted to behome.

“If you insist,” she said with a huff. Ace pulled me into his arms, holding me protectively to his chest.

“Thank you for checking us out,” he said with a nod and smile.

He walked us over to Oscar and Barbara, who were speaking with some of the people from inside the school. “Thank you again for everything. You saved us.” They smiled at me.

“Of course, my dear. It was our pleasure. I hope your legs heal quickly.” Barb’s hand rested on my leg, rubbing it affectionately. I swallowed the urge to scream at her to stop touching it becauseGod, it hurt.

“Y’all survived the biggest storm I’ve ever seen! That new relationship of yours will be a piece of cake.” I barely bit back a snort. “I expect an invitation to the wedding, you hear? Just send it to the school, and we’ll be there, right, Barb?” Heat flushed my cheeks. I wanted to look at Ace, but I couldn’t.

Barb laughed, shaking her head. “Ossie, don’t scare the poor kids. Look at how red you made them!” She playfully slapped her husband on his chest.

“Look at that chemistry—just like us. I just want to see them get married.” Oscar smiled at us, thinking he knew everything, and yet, he knew nothing. Ace and I weren’t even together, and we never would be. He would never betray Ryan.

And I wasn’t his type. He’d made that pretty clear.

“We’ll send the invite. Don’t you worry, Oscar.” I heard the tease in Ace’s voice, but shock settled in the pit of my stomach. Why did he have to keep doing this? It just gave me false hope. My heart refused to get online with what my brain knew to be true.

“See, Barb? The man knows what he wants, just like I did. Now, let’s see if I can find you a ride to that beach house you mentioned. Can’t have you walking all the way there,” Oscar grumbled, hobbling off to the rescue workers. I grimaced at the thought of having to walk all that way again. Judging by Ace’s tensing muscles, I knew he felt the same way.

Oscar came back a minute later with a young man. “I heard you need a ride?” the man asked, jingling a pair of keys in front of us.

“Yes, please,” Ace and I said at once.

“See? Chemistry,” Oscar pointed out, earning a laugh from everyone.

chapter twenty-one

CELINE

“We should’ve walked,” I griped as the truck went over yet another pothole, jostling everyone. I swallowed back a shout of agony. Why did this have to hurt so fucking much? There wasn’t anyone else on the roads. Couldn’t the damn driver avoid them?

“You mean, I should’ve walked because you can’t.” Irritation laced Ace’s voice. I knew he was tired and ready to get out of this truck just like I was, but he didn’t have to be a dick.

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