Page 151 of Take My Hand

“I’ll Z the tills and then stick the trays in the safe,” I told Marcus. “We can bag it all tomorrow.”

He saluted me and then turned to watch Dilly lean over the bar and grab a cloth to clean down the tables. I shook my head, despairing of his bloody desire to hook up with her, no matter how many times I’d told him it wasn’t happening.

“Dills, leave that, love,” I told her. “You get off. Your car is by the door, right?”

“Yep.” She placed the cloth on the bar. “Sure, it’s okay to go?”

I waved her away. “Me and Marcus can wipe down.”

As she left, shouting a final goodbye, Marcus narrowed his eyes on me. “You knew I was going to make a move tonight, didn’t you?”

“No,” I laughed. “And I’ve told you, don’t.”

“Why not?” he smirked, like he thought I was the most stupid person on earth.

“Because she’ll say no, and your ego won’t take it. Then you’ll sulk for days and be a pain in my fucking arse.”

He gave an empty laugh as if the idea of her saying no was absurd. I threw the cloth at him.

“Get wiping, stud.”

As we both set about cleaning up my phone rang in my pocket. It was almost midnight, and there were only two people who would call me—Maya or Maddy. I pulled my phone out, expecting either of their numbers, but it was unknown. I almost didn’t answer it, but something inside of me told me I had to.

“Hello.”

“Will, it’s Jack, Maya’s brother.”

“What’s wrong?” I knew something was. I just felt it. My heart was racing. With my legs feeling like jelly, I grabbed for a stool. “Is Maya okay?”

“She’s had a car accident,” Jack said, his voice shaky and breathless. “She was on her way to see you and some fucker rear-ended her on the M62.”

I literally felt the colour drain from my face as my stomach dropped. “Is s-s-she…”

“She’s in hospital. Manchester General. I’m on my way there now, but you’ll probably be able to get there sooner than me. I’ve told them you’re her fiancé so you can get information. Mum and Dad are leaving Scotland now, so should be at the hospital in about four hours.”

“Right, okay, I’m going now.” I pushed up from my stool and had to force my legs to move. If her parents were on their way, it had to be bad. “Message me any details that you think I might need. I know her date of birth but I…” I blew out a breath as I turned full circle, no idea what I was looking for. Marcus had clearly picked up on the fact something was wrong because he threw me my keys that I hung up behind the bar.

“Will, just drive carefully. She’s going to be fine.”

“You know that?” I grasped at the idea like I was drowning, and it was a lifebelt because that was exactly how I felt—like I was drowning. My lungs were tight, and I could barely breathe.

As soon as the call ended, Marcus ran to the door and pulled back the bolts, and swung it open.

“Maya’s been in an accident,” I told him as I ran a hand through my hair.

“I guessed.” He slapped my back, gently pushing me outside. “Go and be fucking careful.”

Then everything melted into the background because the only thing in my head was getting to Maya.

I made it to the hospital in record time, knowing full well that a speed camera had flashed me. Thankfully I’d found a parking space, and with Jack telling the hospital that I was Maya’s fiancé, I’d been allowed onto the ward. I was waiting for the doctor to come and talk to me. All I’d been told was that she was comfortable.

My knees bounced as I sat and waited, seeing as pacing hadn’t helped at all. I leaned forward, hoping to alleviate the pain in my stomach, but it wasn’t helping in any way. Looking down at my phone, I saw I had been there almost forty minutes,which meant that Jack couldn’t be far away. Standing up, I went to the door and looked through the glass. There was no one around, and I was getting more and more anxious. I started pacing, which still didn’t help, and carried on waiting.

After a few more minutes, the door was flung open, and Jack came barrelling in breathing hard.

“What’s happening?” he asked, trying to catch his breath.

“They’ve just told me that she’s comfortable. That’s all I know.”

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