Page 110 of Crazy Imperfect Hearts

He pretends to read the back cover of the book. “Whatever helps you sleep at night.” He looks back at me. “But seriously, how could someone like you get a man like him into bed?” He puts down the book and takes a step closer. “Did you drug him?”

My pulse pounds in my ears, and his voice echoes through my mind as if I’m in a tunnel. My head twinges with pain as I become vaguely aware of the chimes over the door.

“Regan?” a familiar voice asks. “Are you okay?”

“Lucas!” I steady myself on the counter, feeling myself starting to spin.

“Lucas?” David says. “Well, if it isn’t the baby daddy.”

Lucas steps around the counter, putting himself protectively between David and me. “And who the fuck are you?”

“David,” I say, my vision narrowing. “It’s David.”

Then everything goes black.

Chapter Thirty-eight

Lucas

I catch Regan and ease her to the floor. She’s out cold.

“Call a fucking ambulance!” I yell as fear paralyzes me.

David holds up his arms and backs away. “I’m outta here.”

“Regan!” I put my fingers to her neck and feel a pulse. It seems slow. I dip my cheek to her face to confirm she’s breathing as I pull out my phone and call 911.

Ryder appears at my side. “What the hell happened?”

“I don’t know. She just collapsed. That David asshole was here. Go make sure he’s gone.”

“David? Her college boyfriend?”

“Yes,thatDavid.” I motion to the door. “Make sure he’s nowhere near this place when the ambulance comes.”

He darts to the door and when it opens, I can already hear the sirens.

Regan starts to move. “Easy there,” I say, brushing a hand down the side of her face.

Relief floods through me. She’s not dying. She just fainted. I could kill that asshole for coming in here and scaring her like that.

The paramedics come in and rush to Regan’s side.

“I’m… I’m okay,” she says, clearly out of breath.

“Why don’t we let the professionals determine that?”

I step aside and let the paramedics do their thing. I don’t recognize one of them, but I went to school with the other.

“Regan, your blood pressure is dangerously high,” Jessica says. “We’re going to take you to the hospital.”

“I’m coming,” I say and turn to Ryder. “Man the store?”

He scoffs. “I hardly think the store needs to stay open.”

“I don’t need you both hovering,” Regan says to him. “Please stay here.”

“If anything happens, I’ll call you. I promise.” I glance around. “And if that asshole comes anywhere near here, let me know. Better yet, call Sheriff Niles and tell him what happened.”

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