Page 3

“I’m here!” I yelled as loudly as I could. “I’m here, help!”

Pounding footsteps on the stairs reached me and I looked up to find a firefighter in full gear looking down at me.

Everything took on a blurry surreal quality, and not just because of the smoke. The firefighter asked if I could walk and I pointed to my now-swelling ankle. Their voice was muffled through their mask. Several other firefighters pounded up the stairs to check the rest of the building.

Next thing I knew I was being picked up and fucking carried down the stairs by a firefighter as if I was an actress in a movie. There was a surreal quality to all of this. Like any moment someone was going to yell “cut!” and everything would go back to normal.

The firefighter set me down outside and an oxygen mask was put on my face and I inhaled cool, fresh air. Finally, I could breathe. I was never going to take that for granted again.

I shoved the mask off my face. “Did everyone get out? Please, you have to make sure they got everyone out. Oh my god, you have to get everyone out!” I should have checked the other rooms before going downstairs.

The firefighter took off their mask and helmet and held the oxygen up to my face again.

“Whoa, whoa. Easy there. Take a few deep breaths for me.”

My entire body shook like I’d had about fifty cups of coffee and I couldn’t really feel my fingers. How was any of this real?

I looked up into a pair of eyes that could have been brown, green, gold, or some combination of the three.

“That’s it,” the firefighter said as I took her in. Dark blonde hair cut shorter on the sides with the top that flopped over in a careless way. Oh.

“Don’t worry. We’re going to get everyone out, but let’s focus on you right now. What’s your name?”

I had to think for a second. The lights from the firetrucks and the commotion and the smoke were too much. Too much pressing in on me at the same time and I wanted to close my eyes and make it all go away.

“Hunter,” I said. “I’m Hunter.” Couldn’t remember my last name.

“Well, hi, Hunter. I’m Stace. How do you feel about letting these nice paramedics look you over?”

She spoke with a soothing tone and I knew in the back of my mind that I was flipping out or going into shock or something. I saw the name STACEY on a patch on her jacket. Was there a special name for a firefighter’s jacket? There probably was.

“Okay,” I said, and Stace waved someone over.

The paramedics sprung into action and started asking me questions that I did my best to answer. Stace picked up her mask and helmet and I knew she was going to leave.

“Where are you going?” I blurted out, as if I had a right to ask.

“Just going to make sure the building is clear. Don’t worry.” She winked before she put her mask and helmet back on, obscuring her face again.

Stace was gone and then I was somehow in an ambulance and on the way to the hospital, in spite of me saying, repeatedly, that I didn’t need to go to the hospital. They didn’t pay attention to me.

Somehow, I’d remembered to grab my phone so I was able to call Cade and tell her what the hell had happened when I got to the hospital.

“Oh my god. Okay. Eloise and I are on the way. Do you want me to call Reid too? What about your parents?”

Right now, I didn’t want to deal with my parents. And Reid didn’t need to leave work for this. I informed Cade of my wishes and she said she would be there as soon as she could.

Time lost all meaning as I waited in the ER to be seen and then for x-rays and other tests to check my lungs. Cade and Eloise had arrived as a nurse was evaluating me, and it was such a relief to have someone with me.

One diagnosis of a sprained ankle and mild smoke inhalation later, I was more than ready to go home. The whole thing had taken hours. I couldn’t have done it without Cade. She’d taken control of my phone, including speaking with the yoga studio owners to get the story of what happened, giving Reid updates, and seeing about my care instructions.

Eloise also made her presence known, which included interrogating the doctor to check his credentials and asking if I should get a second opinion, all of which made me roll my eyes. I had very simple injuries and they didn’t need to make a big deal out of it. The hospital offered me crutches, which Cade and Eloise made me accept, even after Eloise questioned the quality and price. I just sat there and let her.

I tried to listen to the doctor, but my brain was completely checked out. My throat was raw, and I was still coughing from the smoke. At least they’d given me something for the pain in my ankle.

“Hey,” Cade said, getting right in my face as Eloise made a call and I waited to get discharged. “You have two options right now. You can either go back to your place and I’ll come with you and stay the night, or we can go back to El’s house and I can take care of you there. Either way, you’re not staying alone. And Reid might join us after her shift.”

Of course.