4. Connor
Four
Connor
I grabbed Emma tighter as she almost fell, but I was too late to notice anything was wrong again. Just like always. I couldn’t save Clair, and now I failed Emma. Twice in one day. I lifted her into my arms as I ran across the street to my car and gently laid her down in the backseat. I could call an ambulance, but I knew I could get there faster, and I was too worried to think straight. Flinging the driver’s door open, I sat down, put the keys in, and drove as fast as I could to the hospital.
We weren’t far from it, so within less than ten minutes I was pulling into the ER parking lot and lifting Emma out of the car. My mind was spinning with everything, thinking I was going to lose her and how it would be my fault for that. It was clear from her posts that her parents aren’t in her life, but she has an older brother who adores her, and honestly, I wouldn’t blame him if he kicked my ass for not making sure she had food in her.
I rushed through the door, and a nurse ran over, looking at Emma’s lifeless body in my hands.
“She has type one diabetes. Her Dexcom said she was at 50 mg/dL. She last ate a salad about five hours ago. I don’t think she has had anything since.” I rushed out in a jumbled mess. From all the research I did, I wasn’t sure if this was normal to pass out that fast or why her Dexcom didn’t alert her sooner, but maybe she was just weaker today from what happened earlier. All I knew was that I was freaking out.
“Bring her over.” The nurse pointed, leading me to a bed.
I placed her down, stroking her hair and once again hating myself for this.
“Her name is Emma Flynn. She’s 25. She forgot to pause her pump, but I stopped it.” I told her.
“Okay, sir, thank you. We have her. Can you please go sit in the waiting room? I’ll let you know when we have an update.”
I shook my head, not wanting to leave her, but the nurse looked at me with scary mom eyes that I’d seen too many times in my life. I quickly kissed Emma on her forehead and whispered that she would be okay before I walked to the waiting room. Looking at the small room and all the other worried people, I ran my fingers through my hair for what must be the millionth time today. Someone had to call her brother. He would want to be here. Although if some strange man that he’s never heard of calls him and says, ‘Hey, I was out with your sister, and because I’m a dick, I didn’t make sure she ate, and she passed out.’ Yep, I’d kick my ass, too.
Heading toward the nurses station, I flagged down the first one I could find. “I just brought in my friend, and I was wondering if you could call her brother. He should be her emergency contact.” Giving her all the information on Emma that I knew from stalking her social media, we were able to find the correct one, and the nurse called her brother, Jake.
I paced the waiting room, keeping my eye on the hallway and hoping like hell someone would be out here soon to tell me what was going on and if she was going to be okay. I know low blood sugar can happen, and nothing is foolproof, but passing out seemed a little more serious than just a low reading where you need a little sugar and you’re fine.
The automatic door swished behind me as someone ran in and headed straight for the desk. “I’m here for Emma Flynn. I’m her brother. I got a call saying she was brought in.”
The nurse looked at her computer before giving him a smile and answering, “Yes, the doctors are still with her, but someone should be out here soon with an update. Her friend is waiting over there if you’d like to wait with him.”
Jake whipped his head back, sending daggers at me. Okay, yeah, he was mad, but fuck, he didn’t even know what happened yet. It didn’t take him long to be standing in front of me with a mix of confusion, anger, and worry on his face.
“Who the hell are you?”
“Connor Easton. I’m a friend of Emma’s.”
“A friend?”
“Yes. Coworker… kind of. I own a construction company, and we’re the ones working with her at the moment.”
“Did she pass out at work?” He crossed his arms over his chest.
“Not exactly.”
“Where?”
“At Miller Park.” I told him.
“Why was she there?”
“Because we were on a walk, and that’s where we stopped. Look, I’m really sorry. I only just found out she was diabetic today. But I should have made sure she ate.”
“Just a friend, huh?”
“As far as I’m aware.” I shrugged.
“Don’t be a smartass.”
“Mr. Flynn?”
I stood up straight, giving my attention to the doctor who was walking toward us. Jake’s whole body fell as he looked at the doctor, and I got it. He had been Emma’s sole caregiver for almost her whole life. They were closer than siblings, and I would be an asshole to me too at this moment.
“Is my sister okay?”
“We got her blood sugar leveled. She woke up and responded well. She’ll be okay. She’s tired and a little out of it, but otherwise okay. This gentleman got her here in time.”
“Thank you.” I nodded, feeling relieved that I could at least do that for her.
“Can I see her?” Jake asked.
“Yes, she’s being moved to a room right now, and then you can both go up. As long as she eats, drinks, and is not showing signs of confusion or dropping her sugar, she can go home in a few hours. We’ll make sure her pump is giving the right dose.”
“Thank God.” He sagged, all the tension leaving his body.
“I’ll have a nurse come get you when she’s set up.” The doctor said before walking away, leaving Jake and me alone again.
“You can go home now.”
“What? No.” I shook my head.
“You did enough. You couldn’t even make sure she was eating.”
“She’s an adult, and if you haven’t noticed, she’s pretty damn stubborn. You think I didn’t try that? She told me not to worry about her.”
“Don’t try and act like you know her more than me. You didn’t raise her. I did.”
“You’re overprotective of her, and you should be. I’m glad she has a brother like you, but I would never hurt your sister.”
“Just go home. Thanks for getting her here in time. If she wants to see you, she’ll call.” He muttered before turning around and going down the hallway.
There was no way in hell I was leaving before I got to see Emma and make sure for myself that she was okay. Plus, I owed her an apology once again for letting her down. Sitting down in a nearby chair, I placed my head in my hands. Emma was okay. She was going to be okay. There wasn’t anything to worry about anymore. It’s fine. I’ll be more careful, and I’ll make sure she eats. Despite what I told her brother, Emma did need someone to take care of her. But not in the way he can provide, and I’d be damned if he told me what to do.
* * *
It’s been three hours of sitting in the waiting room. Not knowing what was going on was killing me. I thought about storming into her room, but I didn’t want to cause her more trouble or stress her out. Jake punching me or whatever probably wouldn’t be good for her. I kept waiting to see if she’d get released and come down this way, but so far nothing. Then that’s when I saw Jake turn the corner with bloodshot eyes and heading right for me.
“She wants to see you. Alone. Room 254.” He slumped down beside me, looking almost defeated.
“Thanks.”
“Don’t thank me. It was all her. I told her it was a terrible idea.”
“Listen, if I were in your shoes, I’d be mad too, but I’m not the villain here.”
“That’s what she said.” He rolled his eyes.
“She’s a smart woman,” I laughed. “For what it’s worth, I am sorry. It’ll never happen again.”
“Make sure of that.”
I gave him a small nod before turning on my heel to find her room. I needed to see that she was okay. Following the signs, I knocked softly on her door. When I heard the sweet, angelic voice that I had become slightly obsessed with telling me to come in, I pushed the door open. Seeing Emma in a hospital bed made my chest ache. Her hair was a mess around her, but she looked slightly better and not nearly as pale as before. Her eyes never left me as I walked up to her bed and grabbed her hand. She squeezed me back, giving me a reassuring smile.
“Gonna take a lot more than some low blood sugar to take me out.”
“Oh, Little Fighter.” I smirked.
“I’m sorry if Jake was an asshole to you. He can be… protective.”
“It’s okay. If you were mine, I’d be protective of you, too.” I winked.
Her cheeks reddened as she looked away, nibbling on her bottom lip. “Aren’t you already protective?”
“In all the ways that I know how to be.” I whispered.
“Thank you.”
“Always, I mean that.” I bent down to place a soft kiss on her forehead.
“At least you no longer ruined the date? It was for sure me.”
“Fuck, are you kidding? Best date of my life.” I laughed.
“Does that mean I get a second date?” She asked in that voice that would drop me to my knees.
“Promise it won’t be at the hospital?” I raised my eyebrow.
“Promise.”