Page 166 of Just This Once

They disappeared through the entryway with both doors swinging shut behind them.

I stared at the closed portal in a daze, hoping to God that hadn’t been the last time I’d ever see her alive.

“Sir?” the receptionist said, jarring me from my stupor. “Could you answer some questions so we can admit her?”

I shook my head dumbly. “I don’t—” Feeling lacking, I realized I knew very little about Hope. Her name and birthday were probably it.

But the woman only nodded in reassurance. “Just fill out what you can,” she said, handing me a clipboard. “We’ll get the rest of her information later.”

“Okay.” I took the forms. “Okay.”

Remembering that Hope had stashed her purse in the center console of my truck before we’d gotten on the boat earlier, I went back outside to fetch it. While I was there, I parked the Ford somewhere else and sent a harried text to Alec, commanding him to get to the hospital as soon as fucking possible.

After returning to the waiting area inside, I broke into Hope’s purse to get a list of her prescriptions and information from her driver’s license and health cards.

I had already turned the clipboard back in and was pacing relentlessly when Hudson and Faith came barreling through the emergency intake doors, looking as if they’d been yanked out of bed and had thrown on the first clothes they’d found.

Spotting me, they rushed over, and I hurried to meet them, relieved to see familiar faces.

“Shit, man,” Hudson accused, shaking his head and pressing a hand to his chest. “What the fuck is going on? We thought you were dying.”

I merely blinked at them for a moment, not able to make sense of their presence. Then I asked, “What’re youdoinghere?”

Hudson’s jaw dropped.

He and Faith exchanged a confused glance before Faith answered, “You group texted us, telling us to get to the hospital ASAP.”

“I group—?” I squinted, not understanding. “What?” I shook my head. “No. I texted Alec. I just needAlec.” Glancing around, I demanded, “Where the fuck is Alec?”

“Well, he was part of the group text,” Hudson said, shaking his head in confusion. “I’m sure he’s on his way too. Now what the hell is going on? Who’re we here for?”

My mouth moved, but I couldn’t speak. I couldn’t say the words, couldn’t voice the fact that Hope was in trouble and might already be gone.

Black spots stole my vision, and I wavered unsteadily.

“Whoa. Hey!” Strong fingers gripped my arm, steadying me. “Ohrley,” Hudson’s voice commanded. “Look at me, bud. Focus. Right here.”

I blinked at him, my breathing picking up pace as the panic mounted. But my sight had just cleared enough to bring his face into sharp detail when the doors that had taken Hope away opened again.

I whirled out of Ivey’s grip, thinking someone was returning with some news. But only a woman in scrubs who I hadn’t seen before stepped out to call another patient’s name to admitthem.

“Fuck.” I gripped my head and paced some more. My hands started to shake so hard that when I looked down at them I had trouble believing they were my own fingers, and I shuddered out a hoarse sob.

“Parker?” Faith asked in a small, concerned voice, reminding me that she and Hud were still there.

I glanced at them, but my chin only trembled, letting me know I still wasn’t going to be able to talk if I tried.

Raina arrived next, her hair in disarray. She wore sweatpants and an overly large Stallions shirt that she’d probably stolen from Foster.

Hurrying over as soon as she spotted us, she looked right at me as she demanded, “What’s going on? Are you okay?”

I stared back bleakly, still feeling too twitchy to speak, so Hudson filled her in for me. “Apparently, we’re waiting for Alec to show before he can talk.”

Raina frowned in question. “Alec?”

Two more people rushed into the emergency room. Turning my attention to Damien and Oaklynn, I lurched their way.

“Where’s Younger?” I demanded.

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