Chapter 21 #2
Pointing to my head, I tried to sit up, then gasped when I felt a twinge in my ribs.
That triggered another round of coughing, which Ray eased with more sips of water before he helped me into a sitting position.
The thunderous expression in his eyes gave away the storm raging in his mind.
Ray was going to blame himself for this entire incident and use my injuries as an excuse to build walls between us again.
It was happening before my very eyes. The loving touches Ray had given me had grown clinical as he searched for signs of injury.
Clink, clink, clink went the bricks. “Point to where it hurts,” Ray said, his voice terse from strain.
I carefully tapped my rib cage and tried to whisper what happened, but Ray held the water to my lips instead. I took two more sips, then pulled back.
“No talking,” he said. “Did you fall?”
I nodded and reached for the bottle, wanting to down the rest of it so I could explain what happened.
Ray eased it away. “Slowly,” he reminded me as he kept a firm grip on the bottle.
I nodded, and he helped me drink some more. With each passing second, Ray’s defenses crept higher until I barely recognized the man in front of me as the same one who’d made tender love to me just that morning.
Ray shuttered his expression and said, “I knew the door handle should’ve been replaced. Accepting a repair instead almost killed you.” Ray’s voice broke on the last two words, and he closed his eyes.
I gripped his arm tightly, hoping he’d meet my gaze, but Ray only lowered his head.
Damn it. I couldn’t lose him now. Not after crawling through a burning building to get to him.
I wanted to say that, but my voice was a mere croak by that point.
The noise was enough to grab Ray’s attention, and his shattered expression shredded my heart into a million little pieces. It was too late. I’d lost him.
The emergency vehicles roared up to the building, and we got caught up in a flurry of activity.
One minute, Ray was within arm’s reach, and the next, he was talking to a first responder while the firemen battled the flames coming out of the building’s roof.
Holy fuck. The reality of how close I’d come to dying hit me like a ton of bricks.
My pulse must’ve spiked because the EMT assessing my vitals looked at me with concern.
I couldn’t remember her name, but she had kind brown eyes.
“Drink some more water,” she said. “Try to take slow, even breaths between sips.”
She handed me a bottle of coconut water, explaining that it would help restore the electrolytes I’d lost while inhaling smoke.
She’d cautioned me to go slow, and I sipped the water while I watched Ray.
He was only a dozen feet from my gurney, but he might as well have been a hundred miles away.
His body language was tense, and he’d completely shut down his emotions, running purely on his training.
It hurt too much to look at him, so I glanced at the large group of people barricaded off to the side for their safety.
Caitlyn stood in front with several of the staff members to ensure the residents stayed safely out of the way.
A wave of dizziness washed over me, so I closed my eyes and willed myself to calm down.
I was roughed up but not injured. I’d probably sound like a chain-smoker for a few days, but everything would heal, and I’d be back to myself in no time.
And where would that get me? Back in my bedroom at my parents’ house?
Returned to a time before Ray showed me how good life could be?
Tears filled my eyes and pushed against my eyelids.
I was seconds away from bawling like a baby and making a massive fool of myself.
The EMT lifted the stethoscope from my chest, but I kept my eyes shut. “I don’t like the way your lungs sound. I think it’s best you head to the hospital for further evaluation.”
Unable to speak without giving my devastation away, I just shook my head.
Footsteps approached from Ray’s direction, and I hoped it was the other first responder coming over to assess the situation.
But I recognized the no-nonsense stride, which only made my eyes well up more.
I’d fallen in love with Ray, and I’d never get the chance to tell him.
The surrounding air stirred as Ray reached the gurney, and the remaining hair on my arms stood at attention to salute him.
“Atticus.” Ray’s voice was gentle, but I knew the look I’d see if I gave in and opened my eyes. “Please go to the hospital and get checked out.” Then he said the one thing that would guarantee my cooperation. “Do it for me, okay?”
I squeezed my eyelids tighter but gave him a slight nod.
“Do you want me to call your parents for you?” Ray asked.
The sudden panic nearly made me capitulate and meet his gaze, but I held steady and simply shook my head. “I only want you,” I whispered hoarsely.
Warm lips landed on my forehead, and the tears I’d held in check cascaded down my cheeks. Gentle fingers brushed them away, but they just kept coming. Ray withdrew his hand and said, “I have to stick around here for a little while longer, but I’ll be at the hospital as soon as I can.”
I forced my eyes open and met his gaze. Maybe Ray believed his words, but his somber eyes told the truth.
Someone from RAVEN would show up at the hospital, but it wouldn’t be him.
I was too devastated to say or do anything but give him a slight nod.
Ray kept his eyes locked on mine for a few seconds before one of the firemen called him away.
The EMT strapped me to the gurney for transport, and they loaded me into the back of the ambulance.
Ray kept his back to me the entire time, and I wanted to howl at the unfairness of it all.
The rig rolled forward, and a siren split the air once more, taking my last nerve and running it through a paper shredder.
To distract myself, I tried to guess which guy would show up in Ray’s place.
Archer would seduce someone, Ethan would bring his golden retriever energy, Nico would offer comedic relief, and Vaughn would bring a calm assurance that everything would be all right.
I knew in my heart who Ray would choose and was proven right when the medical team finally allowed my visitor back after what seemed like hours.
They hadn’t told me who had been pacing the waiting room floors, but they hadn’t needed to.
The curtain whisked to the side, and Vaughn entered my triage area with the ease of someone who’d known me for years, not weeks.
I’d run through a gauntlet of emotions while waiting for this moment, trying to figure out how I wanted to handle the situation.
By sending Vaughn, Ray signaled we were through, and I didn’t fucking accept that.
“No,” I simply said. My voice was a little raspy, but much stronger than it had been before my breathing treatment.
Vaughn’s brow rose as he dropped into the chair next to my bed.
“Hell no. Ray’s not getting away with this.”
“What do you have in mind?” Vaughn asked.
“This situation calls for a grand gesture, and I know just the thing.”
Vaughn’s mouth curved into a huge smile. “I knew you were worthy of him.”