Page 88 of Duke's Daring Bookworm
“How is he?” I asked while she checked his vitals, heart in my throat, my worst fears running circles in my mind.
“He’ll be ok. Just a big bump and some blood loss. Head injuries always bleed more. The doctors just want to monitor him,” she answered.
He would be ok. My breath hitched in my chest as I nodded, relief flooding me.
“Would you like me to bring you a blanket? The chair leans back. It’s not the best bed, but a blanket will help.”
“Please. Thank you,” I said, grateful she wasn’t pushing me out.
He didn’t wake again that night and I fell asleep in the uncomfortable chair, exhaustion winning over my desire to watch him.
1998
“The height. Oh, the height!” cried Sammy as he thrust a stick up to touch the top of the doorway before running out of the house with me hot on his heels. It was Sunday, and that meant I could come with my dad to work and play with the boy that lived here.
We headed straight for our favorite spot, one my dad had made at the back of the property, just for him to play in. The little patch of dirt and sand contained all the bugs and worms it could for us to investigate.
Today, we wanted to see if worms still wiggled if you cut them in half, and then make mountains with the dirt we dug up.
Cold drops of water hit my head with a splat, theafternoon rainstorms starting up just in time. The dirt would soon turn to mud. I couldn’t wait to squelch it between my fingers and toes. The heavy rain drenched us quickly, and I knew my dad would not be happy about the mess, but Sammy and I loved to get dirty.
“Wait for me!” I yelled at Sammy as he rushed on ahead. He was so much faster than me, but he always waited when I asked him to. He turned around and stuck his tongue out at me as I ran up to him.
“Slowpoke,” he called, but he still waited for me. “I’ll race you the rest of the way. I’ll even let you go first.”
“Deal.” I pushed off as fast as I could, the wind blowing through my hair and cold drops of rain turning to pinpricks on my skin. I felt like an airplane flying through the sky.
“I’m almost to you!” Sammy called from behind me, and I ran faster. He always beat me. My cousin Charity said it was because boys are faster than girls. She’s old, so she must know, but I really, really wanted to beat him.
We made it to the dirt pile and found it had turned into a mud puddle already. I didn’t slow down and jumped right into the nearest puddle of water, screaming when the muddy water splashed into my face.
“I hope we’re friends forever,” I said when Sammy reached me. I think he let me win this time.
“Me too,” he said before throwing a handful of mud at me.
Sunday was my favorite day.
PRESENT DAY
“Lily.” I bolted out of the chair at the muttered word.
“Duke. Oh, my god.” I sat on the side of his bed, wanting to crawl into it with him, but not wanting to disturb all the equipment.
Duke apparently had no such reservations and pulled me into him. I laid out beside him, tucked in tight on the small hospital bed.
“Fuck,” he groaned as he kissed the top of my head.
“Yeah.”
“We’re ok.”
“I almost lost you, Duke.” My hand shook where it traced the anchor tattoo on his arm, relief and remembered fear wreaking havoc with my endocrine system.
“I’m right here, baby.”
I nodded and kissed his throat. We stayed like that for a long time, just feeling each other, alive and safe.
“Duke!” an alarmed voice called as the door to his room opened with a bang. I was back in my chair, reading while Duke ate a cup of jello. It was her, the woman from the office and the ball.
