Page 187 of Wild Like Us
Sulli squats next to him. “What do you need? Tylenol?”
He nods stiffly.
Sulli races back to our bags and starts digging in them.
Panic has already shot off in me. “Your head hurts?”
He nods. “Like a nail-gun to a…” He can’t even get out the words. He turns his head and pukes on the concrete. “Fuck,” he groans and spits.
“I have water,” Sulli calls out, rolling the bottle to me while she keeps searching for Tylenol.
I grab the water and crouch down to him, my hand on his shoulder.
He bangs his head back, face stuck in a grimace.
“Can you drink something?” I ask, popping the plastic lid to the water bottle.
Banks feels for the bottle, but I put it in his hand. He squirts some water in his mouth, swallows hard.
I grip my phone again. “You need a doctor—”
He shakes his head.
“Banks, I can’t just let you sit here and mask whatever’s happening with pain meds.” My voice is shaking. I’m angry that I haven’t pushed him to see a doctor earlier—like Farrow.Farrow.We’ve been around a fucking doctor forweeks, and I never brought up Banks’ headaches.
And I’m afraid that this is just a symptom of something bigger that’s happening rightnow.
Banks opens one eye to glare. “My brother…”
He knows if I call an ambulance, he’ll be stuck in a hospital, and he’ll miss the wedding. We all will, because there’s absolutelyno wayI’d leave him.
He’s one of my men.
But it’s more than that.
“I can’t let you risk your own life to make a wedding—”
“My brother,” he forces, his eyes bloodshot.
“Thatcher would understand,” I retort.
He shakes his head. “I can’t do that—”
“You could die,” I cut him off hotly, standing up. “You could fuckingdie, Banks. Your migraines could be a symptom of something bigger, and you could end up flat on your backunconsciousandseizing.And I love you too much to let you die out in the middle of fucking Minnesota!” My pained voice echoes through the parking deck.
Shit.
I look around quickly for strangers.
Sulli is safe.
No one else is here.
I told Banks that I loved him before telling Sulli I love her. Awesome.
So very awesome.
I push my hair back. My heart rate accelerates even faster, and Banks tilts his head, looking up at me from his slouched spot against the tire. His knowing, understanding gaze just punctures me more.
