Page 47 of These Pucking Boys: Part Two

“How’s your breathing? Can you get air into your lungs?” June asks, sounding panicked.

“Yeah... I can breathe. I just can’t feel my face, and my stomach is hurting so badly.”

“How much longer until we get to the hospital?” June asks.

I press on the brakes suddenly and make a sharp turn. Everyone complains. “Sorry. I almost missed the exit.”

“Maybe slow down and try not to kill us all,” Jake retorts.

“Shut up! You drive the next time we have an emergency.”

“Please... no more emergencies. You guys are giving me premature stress lines,” June replies.

“Sorry, Peaches. There’s the hospital. But... where the hell is the entrance to the emergency room?”

“Read the signs, Ryan!” Jake points ahead. “There, take a left.”

“Stop yelling at me!”

He presses a fist against his forehead. “I swear to God. You can’t drive for shit.”

“Fine. Take an Uber home.” I stop the car right in front of the ER’s double doors and turn to look at Lachy. He’s resting his head on June’s shoulder, and his eyes are shut. Damn it. His face looks more swollen. “How are you, buddy?”

“I feel like I’ve been run over by an eighteen-wheeler, and I’m now roadkill.”

“We’re at the hospital, sweetie. They’ll make you feel better soon. I promise.” June kisses the top of his head.

“Go on. I’ll park the car and meet you inside.”

Jake grunts as he opens the door and gets out of the car, then slams it shut. I don’t know why he’s so fucking angry. I couldn’t have guessed Lachy was allergic to quinoa.

He helps Lachy out of the car, then June joins them, standing on Lachy’s other side to help him walk. I watch three of the most important people in my life disappear into the emergency room and try to keep the panic at bay. Lachy didn’t survive an emergency plane landing only to die of a food allergy. That would be the cruelest of jokes.

CHAPTER 21

LACHLAN

Iwake up and don’t know where I am for a moment. The pillow and bed sheet don’t feel right, and the room is painstakingly white and bare. It doesn’t help my case that my head is filled with cotton candy. I start to panic when June comes into my line of vision.

“Lachy... you’re awake.”

“Where am I?”

“At the hospital. You had an allergic reaction.”

“Oh, that’s right. They gave me a shot, and then I kinda passed out.”

“Yeah, the doctor said you would feel tired. We could have taken you home, but Ryan and Jake thought it was better if you stayed here overnight, just be safe.”

“Where are they?” I press the button to lift the back of the bed so I can see June better.

“They just went to get coffee.”

“What time is it?”

June looks at her watch. “Ten to six.”

I blink fast. “In the morning?”

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