Chapter 6
Ari
When the show is finally over I sprint backstage, glad that we already handled the VIP experience stuff before the show started, and I fill the guys in on the whole situation.
Bach levels me with an investigative glare, Scooter jokes around, but Fish listens intently.
When I finish the story and explain that I offered to bring her car to the hospital, Bach and Scooter are telling me how crazy I am when Fish speaks up.
“I’ll follow you so you have a ride back.
” He says it calmly, supportively, and I slap him on the shoulder as I hug him.
I know this is all a hair on the side of crazy, but it feels right.
Once we’ve changed into the dry sets of clothes we keep backstage, so we don’t have to leave the show in sweat-dripped gear, Fish drives around to meet me in the parking lot after I find Erica’s car.
Her friend’s instructions were clear, and luckily for me, Erica doesn’t drive a boring, easy to miss kind of car.
They always park near a labeled pole and take a picture, so they can always find their car later—a trick they learned after the third time losing the car at a large festival, she explained.
Using the picture for reference, I’m able to easily locate the periwinkle Volkswagen Beetle parked under the light pole labeled G2.
I smile at the little car sticking out like a beacon in the otherwise dark lot, getting more of a sense of who Erica is.
It takes a unique kind of person to drive a Beetle, and an even more special kind of person to drive a periwinkle-colored car, but when you put those two things together, you’ve got a one-in-the-universe kind of person.
The same person that might be my mate. My soul mate. Mine.
I snap a picture and send it to Erica’s number. I’m not sure whether she has her phone or if Max does, but I want to keep them updated on my progress.
I don’t get a response, but I don’t expect to, so I drop the phone back in my pocket.
I hit the unlock button on the key fob, then open the door and lean into the car to make sure the seat is far enough back that I don’t give myself a concussion. Erica looked quite a bit shorter than me, from what I could see, and I’m all legs.
It looks like Vann must have driven them because the seat is far enough back that I don’t have to move it when I climb in.
There’s a cute little fairy hanging from her rearview mirror, and the small ornament makes me smile.
Like maybe someone who loves fairies enough to hang one in her car might not totally freak out if she learns her soul is tied to a merman’s.
Laughing at myself for my runaway thoughts, I close the door, start the car, and head for the hospital that she was taken to, following the directions on my phone.
When I pull up in front of the emergency entrance, there’s a parking spot with a clear view of the doors so that I can see her when she’s ready to come out. Not that I’m in a rush. I’ll sit here and wait for her all night if that’s what it takes.
Fish pulls into a spot a few lanes down from me, turns off the rental car, climbs out, and joins me where I’m leaning against the side of Erica’s bug.
We talk about anything except why we’re here and what I think Erica is to me.
There was far too much stimulation at the show to be sure.
Her car also had a bit of a scent that was trying to reach me, but with the other people having been in the car—hours ago—I still can’t be certain. But oh, how I want to be.
We’ve been here nearly three hours—Fish gave up and went to nap in the car until it was time to go—when I see a nurse pushing Erica out of the hospital, Max at her side.
I shouldn’t smile like a fool, but seeing her upright, well, and being allowed to leave the hospital is a good sign that she’s okay and will continue to be okay.
When she gets close enough, I can see that her eyes are a bit red and puffy, but I don’t care. She’s still the most amazing creature I’ve ever seen, and I’ve seen a lot.
Her cheeks redden a bit and she lowers her eyes. Max looks almost surprised that I actually came, like she thought I wouldn’t show, her eyes widening and a crooked grin finding her lips.
The nurse stops pushing Erica when she reaches the curb. I’m confused for a moment before I realize they’re waiting for me to bring the car to the front so she can get in. Gods, I’m an idiot.
I rush around the car, tripping over my feet but not falling, and sling myself into the driver’s seat, back the car out of its spot, and pull up in front of where they’re waiting.
As soon as the car is in park, I’m out the door and rounding the car to try to help but Max beats me to it.
She helps Erica into the car, but thankfully doesn’t shut the door when she walks around to the other side.
Taking that as my opportunity to make a real first impression, I drop onto the curb, sitting with my feet partially under the car so I don’t make her uncomfortable by towering over her or crowding her in.