Page 39 of Only Ever You
“What the hell for?” Parker muttered.
Graham glanced toward me as worry sliced through me. “He injured his shoulder on the rocks. I’m going over with Kincaid as well. Before you get too worried, Parker is fine. Everybody’s fine,but it’s protocol. Kincaid probably needs to get his ankle set, or at least braced. Parker needs clearance that there’s no infection, and he may or may not need stitches.”
Graham was way too calm for this. “Stitches?!” I exclaimed.
Madison approached, stopping at my side. “Life with firefighters. It sounds like everyone’s gonna be fine,” she said encouragingly. “Why don’t you let Graham take them and you and I can go get coffee?”
When I looked at her, she slid her hand through my elbow and squeezed. “I have to go with him,” I insisted.
When I met Parker’s gaze, I wasn’t sure what he wanted. “Do you want me to go with you, or do you want me to wait with Madison at the café?”
Fuzzy continued to circle his legs until Parker knelt down to pet him thoroughly. “Graham has to go with me,” he said with a put-upon sigh as he straightened again. “Why don’t you meet us there in about a half hour? I promise you I’m fine.”
“I’m going with you,” I insisted.
Parker’s lips curled in a slow smile. “Okay.”
A short drive later, we were in the waiting area at the walk-in care clinic at the hospital. I’d left Fuzzy in the car with a chew toy and the windows cracked open after a brief bathroom break for him. Holly usually worked in the ER, but she came over to check in. Madison had come with me to keep me company after calling Graham’s older daughter to pick up their son.
“I’ve already seen Parker. He’s fine,” Holly assured me.
“Why aren’t you back there with him?” I demanded.
Holly didn’t even react to my demanding tone. “Because they don’t need me. He doesn’t even need stitches. They’re doing a deep clean and putting a fresh bandage on.”
I let out an impatient sigh. “Is it bad?”
Holly shook her head. “He’ll have a nice scar from meeting with a sharp rock. There are plenty of options in the wildernessof Alaska for that. He’s good.” She tipped her head to the side, her assessing gaze studying me for a beat. “It’s official.”
“Agreed,” Madison said, pressing her lips together to keep from smiling.
“What’s official?” I was legitimately confused.
“You’re in love,” Holly said, all matter of fact.
Alarm jolted my heart. “I don’t think I’m in love. I mean,” I paused, considering my feelings for a minute before reality all but punched me in the chest. “Oh, my God.” I dropped my face into my hands and let out a sigh. When I lifted my head again and my hands fell to my lap, they were both waiting with knowing smiles on their faces. “Is this love? When I’m in a panic and I’m afraid Parker might die from a cut?”
“Would you be panicking this much about a friend? Holly has clearly told you he’s going to be fine, so there’s no need to panic,” Madison pointed out calmly.
My breath puffed my cheeks as I let it out. “Oh, my God,” I repeated. “I’m not ready to say that out loud.”
“Understood,” Holly said, her lips twitching.
“Pretty sure Parker’s in love with you too,” Madison said hopefully. “I saw the way he looked at you. He wasn’t expecting you to show up at the airport.” She waggled her brows. “And he was really happy to see you.
“Oh, my God.”
I insisted on bringing Parker back to my place. “I have food and everything. Fuzzy loves it there.”
Parker’s gaze slid toward me in the car. All the while, Fuzzy’s tail was squishing back and forth on the seat behind him, and hischin was resting on Parker’s shoulder. He was so happy Parker was home.
“You don’t have to baby me,” Parker said with a sigh. “I assure you I’m fine. I didn’t even need stitches.”
“I know.” My heart twisted just thinking that he might’ve needed stitches. “We can get takeout for dinner, and I can make something for dessert and?—”
Parker reached across the console between us, resting his palm on my knee and giving me a reassuring squeeze. “I’m home, Luna.” He cleared his throat. “I’m really glad you came to get me.”
My heart felt like it was tumbling down a hill, the beat racing at a breakneck pace. My emotions were so intense, it felt as if they were pressing against my skin.
