Page 65 of Presidential Bargain
I scanned the area, searching for anyone who could give me an update. They were all occupied, but I didn’t care. I marched over to the man who had been feeding Sean information allafternoon.
“Tell me what happened,” I demanded, barging in on the conversation he was having with someone on the other end of the cell phone pressed tohisear.
“Senator, just give me a moment. I’m getting that information now.” The man didn’t look too happy to have me hovering over him, but his eyes told me he shared my concern or, at the very least, heunderstoodit.
The officer turned away and placed a hand over his ear, trying to drown out any ambient noise. I paced nervously, waiting with bated breath for him to finish hisconversation.
“Senator,” he said gruffly, directing his attentiontowardme.
“Tellme.”
“Ms. Washington was injured. We’ll have someone take you over to thehospitalsoon.”
“Fuck that. Take me to her now before I drivemyself.”
There was a tense stand-off between us where we both just stared, waiting for the other to relent. The officer gave infirst.
“Fine. I’ll have someone take you overtherenow.”
That was the only answer I was willing to accept. I quickly informed Sean I was going to get Georgie and even though I knew he wanted further explanation, I didn’t give it to him. Georgie needed me and I was desperateforher.
The ride to the school only took a matter of minutes, but it felt like days. Every second that passed was a momenttoolong.
When we finally pulled up to the scene, it was pure chaos. Ambulances and police cruisers were parked haphazardly, with their red and blue lights swirling. Huge, black armored tactical vehicles also dominated the area, and men dressed in head-to-toe black stood around, removing helmets, goggles, and Kevlar vests. My body’s memory instantly recalled the heaviness of that equipment and I rubbed automatically at a phantom ache in mychest.
I had the door to the police cruiser open before it came to a complete stop and I sprinted toward the scene. I stopped just in front of the school’s entrance and frantically searched the crowded area forGeorgie.
My body began to tremble the instant my gaze landed on her. She was sitting on a gurney, an oxygen mask covering her nose and mouth. Blood was matted along her hairline and the sleeve of her navy blue blouse had been torn away. An EMT was next to her, pressing a fresh bandage over a heavily bleeding wound. Her normally vibrant green eyes were dull. She seemed to be in a daze and the only sign of emotion was the occasional wince when the EMT pressed on herinjury.
I covered my mouth with a shaky hand and tears began to slide down my cheeks. She was alive and she would be okay. She had yet to notice me and I made no move to leave my spot. I feltfrozen.
I could have lost her, and then what? My life would no longer be complete. She made me whole, made me worthy. She gave new meaning to everything I did, and I could have lost her. She could have died without knowing how I truly felt, leaving me with the heavy burden ofregret.
My feet moved quickly and, without realizing it, I was running, sprinting really,towardher.
“Georgie!” I yelled. “Georgie!”
Her heavy-lidded gaze landed on me and then her eyes widened before tears began to pour down hercheeks.
I reached her just as she started to choke on her sobs. She tugged at the oxygen mask, but I was quick to grab her hand. I covered it with mine and held the mask firmly inplace.
“Breathe, sweetheart. Just breathe. I’m here now.” I stroked her hair while she looked up at me, focused only on her breathing. I leaned over and kissed the top ofherhead.
“I was so scared, Georgie. So scared that I lost you.” The words just tumbled from my lips. “I don’t know what I’d dowithoutyou.”
I took a deep breath and finally confessed my truth. “I love you,Georgie.”
Every girl dreams about agrand,romantic gesture and if they say that’s not true, then that girl is straight up lying. When Jameson shouted my name and my heavy eyes landed on him, I was anchored. Jameson was my anchor in this swirling madness. He reached me and tears streamed quickly down my cheeks. I was so overcome that I forgot to breathe. His warm hand over mine, holding the mask in place, steadied me, and I could relax and take a few deepbreaths.
And then his confession. “I love you, Georgie,” hefinallysaid.
I smiled weakly. I longed to reach out and touch his face, to run my hand along the dark spiky stubble that lined his cheeks. “I love you, too,” Iwhispered.
He bent his head, our foreheads connecting, and I felt his lips brush against my hairline. It was the last thing I remembered beforepassingout.
I came to and wasface-to-face with a set of intense blue eyes. They belonged to Jameson and he was watching me attentively, holding on tomyhand.
“Jameson,” I murmured, half-asleep.
