Page 17 of If You Were Mine
So I smiled at Ms. Patty, squeezed her hand like she needed me too, and continued my jog with Lucky.
We trekked up a hill to the edge of the forest where the trail continued on. We would have to turn around soon because Lucky would get cold, but he was still having fun, and I just needed to focus on trying to breathe. Of course, the pace was a little more than I bargained for, and at this high elevation, my lungs seized.
I was an idiot. I hadn’t brought my meds, hadn’t even thought about them. So when the first sting sliced into my lungs, I tried to suck in a breath. Only shards of glass replaced my air, and I gasped.
I ran my hand over my chest, forcing myself to stop as I bent over, trying to catch my breath. Lucky nuzzled my face, and I ran my hands through his fur.
“I’m okay. We just should head back.”
He gave me a look as if he were judging me, or maybe he was just worried. Or maybe I was losing my damn mind.
I knew better than to jog in the cold at this altitude without taking care of myself. After everything my body had gone through, I knew I should take it slower. Who was I trying to impress? Why was I even bothering?
No, I wasn’t going to think about that. That was a very bad road that I was not going to go down.
Instead, I turned back down the path and went over the hill so I could go back to the center of town and get through my day.
One step at a time, and then maybe it would stop hurting. Maybe the numbness that they kept telling me would sweep over, would finally settle in.
Lucky barked and sped up. I groaned and tried to keep up, but the leash slipped from my grasp.
“Lucky! Stop. Heel. Lucky!”
He sped up, leaving me behind, and I ran, ignoring the sharp pains in my lungs as panic seized me.
“Lucky!”
As I turned the corner, I slid on an ice patch, and my feet went out from beneath me. My hips slammed into the ground, an arc of pain radiating through me as I landed awkwardly on my shoulder.
Of course, that wasn’t the only pain that decided to make itself known as I realized why my damn dog had run away from me.
“Harper. What the fuck?”
Dorian limped towards me, Lucky at his side, as he scowled down at me.
“What the hell were you thinking? Running out here alone? You’ve hurt yourself, dammit.”
I hadn’t seen the man in almost a year, and the first time I do I’m bruised and battered on the ground, and humiliated, and he was yelling at me.
Sounded about right.
I tried to shove off his arm as he reached for me, but the man was too big, even though he had lost weight since I had last seen him. Instead, he lifted me up, and I couldn’t help but notice the pain in his eyes as he did so.
It seemed I wasn’t the only one hurting. Not that he would ever admit it. But hell, I wasn’t about to admit it either.
“Are you okay? Let’s go to the hospital.”
“I’m fine. My pride hurts more than anything.” Though I did rub my hip.
I scowled down at Lucky. “Traitor.”
He just did his little golden retriever smile before he looked longingly at Dorian.
“Seriously. Are you okay?” His hands went to my hips, and my cheeks burned before I batted at him.
“Stop it. I’m fine. I’m a klutz. We both know this. You’re the one limping. Are you okay?”
I could have rightly bit off my tongue at that. Because we both knew he wasn’t okay.
