Page 44 of Overtime
CHAPTER 14
MADDIE
Wow.
There are stars in the sky. Even though a second ago, it was dark gray from clouds loaded with snow.
Wait, no. My eyes are closed. It just hurts like a bi?—
I groan. The sound awakens me to a reality I can’t believe. I must’ve slid on black ice, and sure enough, as I paw around, that’s the cold asphalt beneath me. Now I’m not sure what hurts more: my womb, my butt, my head, or my ego. Hopefully no one witnessed this.
Something odd registers. It takes me another second to make out approaching footsteps. I finally open my eyes right as someone drops to their knees beside me. Did I hit my head so hard that I’m hallucinating?
“Where are you hurt?”
Nope. I would recognize the voice that is smooth like velvet and rich like a wine and makes me feel heady. Or that last part could just be the headache sinking in.
“Aran?”
He pauses his inspection. “Glad you recognize me.”
Just my luck that the hottest guy I’ve ever met has been selected by fate to witness every one of my humiliations. I don’tknow whether to laugh or cry. Sliding my elbow up, I attempt to sit, but his hand on my shoulder pushes me back.
“Stop.” At the strength of his command, I have no choice but to obey. “Don’t move. It could be dangerous.”
“Huh?” I blink hard.
“Where did you hit yourself?”
“Um, my butt and my head, I think. Maybe my elbow too?” It’s throbbing like a toothache.
The lampposts cast a weak light around the area, which is probably why I didn’t notice the frozen patch. Even so, I can make out how Aran’s expression darkens almost to the point of anger.
“Let me check a few things before you move.” He leans down the opposite way, and I feel his hand cinch around one ankle, then the other. “Felt that?”
“Yeah.” Like brands on my skin, but I don’t say this part.
“Move your feet for me.”
I will move a mountain for him if he keeps talking all soft and concerned like this. Clearing my throat, I stretch out my feet a little.
“Okay, lift your arms.”
I do.
Sighing, he holds on to my hands and slowly pulls me up. I didn’t bother putting on my gloves before getting out of the car, because it’s hard to fiddle with my keys while wearing them. But he isn’t wearing any, either. The heat of his skin is shocking against mine. It feels feverish, but he looks healthy. Maybe he just runs hot in more than one way.
Too quickly, I’m on my feet and swaying. His hands abandon mine to steady me by my upper arms.
“Whoa, are you dizzy?”
“A little,” I admit.
Air hisses between his teeth. “Depending on how hard you hit your head and where, you may have a concussion.”
“I don’t think it’s that bad?—”
“And I don’t underestimate blows to the head or the spine,” he snaps.
