64. Blake
BLAKE
Those three little words, said with such conviction, send a warm smile whistling through me. My lips curl at the corners as he hands me a couple of pain meds. I take them without complaint, my chest still buzzing as everything he’s said to me starts to sink in for real.
He loves me
My home is with him.
When he stands and holds out his hand to me, I take it without hesitation.
Helping me up, Grady’s strong arm then comes around my waist and steadies me.
It’s going to be a long hike back to the parking lot, but I can do this.
I’ve still got the shakes and am feeling kind of wrecked, but a few more pulls from his water bottle boost my determination, and I cling to his shoulder as he supports me along the track.
It’s narrow and steep, and at one point, I have to drop to my ass and do a butt-shuffle routine to make it down to the bottom of the hill .
Grady coaches me through every step, quietly encouraging me and steadying my body whenever it’s practical.
Once we reach flat ground, it gets a million times easier, and even though the trail is awkward walking side by side like this, Grady keeps a steady hold on me. He’s so strong, so calm, so quietly determined.
“I would give you a piggyback, but I don’t want to jostle your ankle. I know it’s slower this way, but I think it’s less painful for you.”
Exhaustion is eating at me, and I can’t even find the energy to respond.
He glances down at my face. I can practically hear his brain running through a quick assessment, and when I stumble over my next step, he stops and winces.
“Think you can handle it if I do give you a ride? You’re flaking on me, girl, and I’m starting to worry about hypothermia.”
I give him a slow blink—silent permission to do whatever the hell he wants. I can’t think anymore. I just need him to act.
Treating me like cracked porcelain, he leans me against a tree trunk, arranging his pack to sit over his chest before crouching down and coaxing me onto his back.
He’s right about the pain in my ankle; it spikes and snips at me with every swing of my foot, but I’m too tired to care. He’s walking at a quick clip, and I close my eyes against the discomfort, gripping his shoulders and trying to keep my head upright.
I feel like everything inside me is getting slower, and by the time we reach the parking lot, I’m hoping he’ll offer to let me lie in the back of his Jeep and sleep my way home.
But the screeching of tires has me looking up, and there’s my brother, struggling out of the passenger side of Zander’s SUV.
“Blake!” he calls, pausing in obvious frustration to take a crutch off Satch, then hobbling toward me.
She’s smiling, her eyes all glassy and tearful as she watches her big-ass boyfriend lumber toward us.
Grady gently lowers me, checking my face, his forehead creasing with worry. “Hang in there, baby.”
“I’m okay,” I whisper, feeling anything but.
“Blake, thank God,” Wily whispers, pulling me against him as soon as I’m within range. “Don’t you ever fucking scare me like that again, you little shit.” He’s laughing… or maybe crying, I can’t tell.
All I know is that he’s crushing me to his chest like I matter.
“Careful with her, man,” Grady starts complaining. “She’s got a busted ankle. Let her breathe, for fuck’s sake.”
Wily lurches back, steadying me with his arm and studying my face. “She’s really pale.”
“We need to get her to the hospital. She’s dehydrated and cold, and that ankle needs looking at.”
Grady gently nudges my brother away from me and swoops me into his arms. “Come on, baby.”
“I’m coming with you guys.” Wily hobbles beside us, then turns to look for his girlfriend. “Satch?”
“Yeah, I’m right here.” She runs up behind him, nearly tripping in her haste. He reaches out an arm to steady her, and she shoots him a grateful smile before following us to Grady’s Jeep .
“Let’s take my truck. It’s got more room.” Wily glances at me. “Tell me you didn’t lose my keys, butt face.”
I pat the deep pocket on the side of my yoga pants, relief washing through me. Finally, I didn’t screw something up.
“I didn’t lose your keys, shithead,” I softly mumble and am rewarded with a deep laugh from my brother.
“I’m driving,” Satch announces, surprising everyone, and helps me wrestle the keys out of my pocket.
Grady doesn’t complain, looking at Tyrell and ordering him to drive his Jeep back to Football Frat.
Holding out his hands to catch, Tyrell takes the keys Wily digs out of Grady’s backpack, and then we fuss around the cars for a few minutes, deciding who’s gonna sit where.
Wily and Grady get into a short bickering match until Satch asks if Wily can please sit in the front with her.
“I’ll feel better if you’re beside me.” She glances at Grady, and I don’t miss the little wink she shoots him.
Thankfully, Wily is already moving for the front, and I get to sit in the back with my legs stretched out and my throbbing foot resting on Grady’s lap.
He’s still treating me like a delicate petal, and I don’t mind so much.
It’s nice to be treated with such tenderness, and I soak it in, resting my head against the back of the seat and looking at him until I can’t keep my eyes open anymore.
With the heat blasting and danger no longer an imminent threat, I drift into a thick doze that makes me feel groggy and hungover when I’m shaken awake what feels like only a few minutes later.
“We’re here, Bee.” Grady’s voice is soft and gruff .
I force my eyes open and give him a bleary blink.
When did he get over there?
He’s standing behind me now, on the ground, lifting me out of Wily’s truck.
I whimper when my foot catches on the side of the seat.
“Sorry.” He winces, securing me in his arms and walking into the emergency room.
I didn’t expect to be back here so soon.
Yeah, well, maybe if you hadn’t acted like an insane person, you wouldn’t be.
The weight of what I did is hitting me hard now, and I can’t even look the receptionist in the eye as Grady and Wily check me in.
They take me straight through, nurses fussing around me as they get an IV into my arm. Zander must have called ahead, because they were obviously expecting me. Before I know what’s happening, my dirty clothes have been stripped away and I’m wrapped in a heated blanket that is all things delicious.
It feels so good, I just want to close my eyes and drift into oblivion, but the voices around me won’t let that happen.
Satch is helping to fill in all the forms while I rest. Grady stands beside me, absently brushing his fingers through the top of my hair.
It feels so good.
“Have you let your parents know?” Grady asks over me, and I turn my head to take in my brother. He’s found a chair and has his leg propped up in Satch’s lap.
Shit. All this running around can’t have been good for him .
Closing my eyes, I silently berate myself for being so thoughtless. So self-absorbed.
“Yeah.” Wily’s voice is rough and gravelly, kind of distracted.
I open my eyes to see him pointing to the form and answering Satch’s question.
“I called them as soon as I heard from you. We were already on our way to you by then. I couldn’t just sit around at home.
When you called to tell us you’d found her tracks, we piled into the car to come after ya. ”
My lips curl into a grateful smile.
So much care.
So much concern.
For me.
“Mom was freaking out and wanting to call every emergency service provider there was. I’m pretty sure she was seconds away from hiring a helicopter to start the search herself, but I told her to stay put.
She hasn’t slept all night, and Blake doesn’t need Mom’s fussing on top of everything else.
I’ll call them as soon as she’s been checked, give them another update.
” He looks right at me then, his blue gaze intense.
“Be warned, they’re coming later today. I don’t think anything can stop that from happening. ”
I wince, my gut clenching at the thought of having to face them.
“Hey…” Wily lightly squeezes my uninjured leg. “It’s gonna be okay.”
Closing my eyes, I softly mumble, “I can’t think about it right now.”
“Okay.”
He lets me be after that, quietly murmuring to his girlfriend while Grady keeps running soothing lines over the top of my head and brushing gentle kisses across my forehead.
I keep my eyes shut, my body drifting in and out as the medical staff tend to me and deal with my ankle.
Thankfully, it’s not broken, but it’s a bad sprain, so I’ll be sporting a walking boot for a week or two. And they want to keep me overnight to make sure I’m fully rehydrated and stable.
Shit. I really don’t want to spend my entire day and night in here, but sleep takes me out before I can complain.
I wake up alone a few hours later, my gut twisting as I gaze around the darkened space. The curtains have been drawn for me, and I don’t like it.
I don’t want to lie here in the dark.
All by myself.
My chest starts to rise and fall in rapid succession, and when the door opens, I actually let out a terrified squeak before I see that it’s my brother.
“You okay?” He limps toward the bed.
“Yeah, I just…” Looking around, I rest my hand on my forehead and force a breath. “Where’s Grady?”
“The guy was dead on his feet, so Satch took him home. He was complaining big-time, but he’s no use to anyone if he keels over. I’m sure he’ll be back soon.” Wily’s forcing a smile. I can tell.
Eyeing him up, I watch him hobble around the bed, then plunk into a chair.
“Are you all right?” I quietly check .
“Yeah, I scored me some sleep when you were out of it. The nurse let me lie in one of the spare beds.”
I nod, gratitude pulsing through me. He didn’t leave me, which means maybe he doesn’t hate me.
My eyes dart back to his, and that fake smile he’s wearing turns a little sad.