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CHAPTER NINE

FALIN

I pace the waiting area of the emergency room, too scared that if I take a moment to breathe, somehow Blake will take a turn for the worse. Damon showed up a few minutes ago and I’ve never been so grateful to see him rush to Blake’s side.

I lift my eyes to find Jasper maneuvering his large frame around a family who look to be in a similar state as me. When we lock eyes, I can’t hold in the emotion anymore. It all comes pouring out like a fucking floodgate. Tears spill down my cheeks, smearing my makeup, and my body shakes uncontrollably.

This isn’t me. I’m the one to keep my cool. But seeing Blake that way was the single worst thing I’ve ever seen in my life, and that’s saying a lot.

Jasper quickens his pace and wraps me in his arms. His scent envelops me, calming my frayed nerves. “Shh,” he whispers. “It’s okay. She’s going to be okay. You did so fucking good, Falin.”

“I-It all happened so fast,” I say as I suck a breath in through my clogged nostrils. “She was sitting across from me, laughing and talking and then… she just… stopped. Her hand went to her throat and she got this look in her eyes… this terrified look. I knew something was wrong when she started scratching at her neck. Red splotches… like welts. They spread on her skin. She tried to tell me something, but her voice came out all hoarse and wheezy. Her lips were swelling up right in front of me, and her face… God, her face got so puffy. She knocked over her water glass trying to stand, her legs couldn’t keep her up.”

Jasper’s reassuring hold tightens. “I can’t even imagine how scared you must have been.”

I nod, burying my face in his chest and taking a deep breath before going on. “I screamed for help. Someone shouted about an EpiPen. Her face got so pale except for the welts. I can’t stop thinking about her eyes—they were so wide, so scared as she slumped forward. That’s when it all got crazy. People running, shouting, the manager calling 911, someone saying they were a doctor. I just… I just kept holding her hand. Even after they got her on the floor, even while they were jabbing her with the EpiPen. I kept telling her to stay with me, to keep breathing, that help was coming. The minutes before the ambulance arrived felt like hours. I’ve never felt so helpless in my life.”

“I know, baby. You did so good. I’m so fucking proud of you.” He rubs my back with his palm, sending a shiver through me. I didn’t know how much I needed this until now. The praise, the comfort, it’s everything.

“How did she look when you were back there?” I had to step out when Damon and Jasper arrived. I needed a minute and there’s only so much space in the small curtained off area. When he doesn’t answer immediately, I back away to look into his eyes. They’re wide and vacant. I’m sure I look just as scared. “Still the same?”

“I don’t know how she looked when it first happened.” He swipes his palm down his face. “She’s still covered in hives and puffy. They’ve got her on oxygen and an IV. I’m sure it’ll be a long night.”

Our conversation is interrupted by a man in scrubs yelling from the check-in area. “You can’t go in there, sir! You need to sign in!”

I look up to find Leon, pushing his way past multiple employees. “Shit,” I say. “Did anyone call him?”

Jasper hurries over, and I watch him smooth the employees over with a few words. He talks animatedly to Leon, gesturing toward the corridor right off the waiting area. I should go to them, fill Leon in, but I can’t bring my feet to move. Leon’s shoulders slump and he chews his bottom lip while he takes in what happened tonight. The weight of almost losing Blake. Jasper talks to the employee again and within seconds, Leon is led away toward Blake’s side.

I grip the arm of the chair next to me as another bout of shivers make their way through my body. Jasper’s hand wraps around my waist, once again holding me up. “I’ve got you. Come on, I’ll take you home. Damon and Leon are here with her.”

“No,” I argue. “I’m fine, just cold.”

He tightens his hold around my waist with one hand and tilts my chin up to meet his eyes with the other. “You’re not fine. None of us are. It’s okay to rest. She’s in good hands.”

She’s in good hands.

I let those words mull around in my mind. A few weeks ago, I would have immediately protested. There was no way these three guys could possibly be good enough to take care of Blake. But right now, I have no argument. She is in good hands. Damon would spill his own blood if it kept Blake safe. And Leon, as quiet as he is, I know he cares about her in his own way. Jasper does too. And really, what can I do that the doctors and nurses aren’t already doing? I’d just be in the way.

I nod slowly, and the corner of Jasper’s lip tips up. I hate to admit it but that small smile sends a pang to my chest.

“Let’s go say goodnight,” he says, leading me out of the waiting area toward the beds. “I’ll get the keys to Leon’s bike.”

* * *

It’s been a long time since I’ve ridden on the back of a bike. I’d forgotten how incredible it feels. That surge of adrenaline as the bike speeds up, the wind whipping against my chest and helmet, that feeling of complete freedom. The engine vibrates through my entire body, a steady rumble that matches my racing heartbeat. With my arms wrapped around Jasper’s waist and knees pressed firmly against his hips, I’m all too aware of how good it feels to let myself touch him. To have an excuse to hold him close. His body radiates warmth against the cool night air, flooding my senses. After what I witnessed tonight, I need him more than I want to admit.

When he pulls up to the curb outside our apartment building and turns off the engine, I feel my muscles tense up again. I hesitate to get off, knowing that for the first time in weeks, I’ll be walking into complete silence. Jasper pulls his mask off, and holds his hand out. “I got it,” I say.

Accepting any more comfort from him might give him the wrong idea. And tonight, after everything, I don’t have it in me to argue or push him away if he relents. I’d thoroughly soak up anything he’d give me and that would just complicate things.

“You need help with the helmet?” he asks, reminding me that I still have it on. I shake my head, pull it off, and hand it over. Once I swing my leg over the bike and stand on hard earth again, every ounce of energy I have disappears. I wobble, grabbing onto his chest for balance.

His palms wrap around my shoulders, steadying me. “Shit. I’m fine,” I say.

“Clearly you’re not.” I shrug to loosen his grip, but he holds firm. “Come on, Trouble. Or do you want me to carry you? Promise I won’t grab your ass… unless you ask nicely.”

I scoff, and step toward the door. “Don’t even think about it. Remember what I can do with a switchblade.”

As we climb the stairs, I feel his gaze burning into my back. Or maybe that’s just my body on fire from how much I’d love to stab him. Or fuck him. One of those… I haven’t decided which tonight.

The kittens run to us, meowing, and rubbing against our legs. “You hungry?” Jasper asks.

“They’re not you, they don’t need to eat seventeen times a day,” I say. I swear Jasper’s been feeding them every hour.

“How dare you body shame them,” he says as he picks up Havoc. “You’re growing girls, aren’t you?” And there’s that baby voice again.

“That was a dig at you, not them.” I rub my eyes and grab a water from the fridge. “I’m going to go shower and lay down, but first, let’s text the guys and check in.”

He opens a new bag of kitten kibble and pours some into their bowl. “Go ahead, I’ll text them and let you know when you’re done.” I stand rooted in place, watching him feed and pet the kittens. He pulls out his phone, and looks up, realizing I’m still there. “Need help in the shower too? I volunteer, and you don’t even have to ask me to grab your ass. I’ll do that and more.”

I snap out of it and give him the finger. “Be right back. And make sure they tell Blake that I love her.”

“Anything else, dear?”

God, he’s irritating. “Yes, go play in traffic.”

“Might be too late at night for that. Will have to wait for rush hour.” He smirks and turns away, leaving me scowling at his retreating frame.

I take an extra long shower, letting the hot water loosen some of the tension in my shoulders. It helps, even if only for a few minutes. Wrapped in a towel that barely covers my ass, I open the door, letting the steam billow out.

“Jesus Christ,” I yell, almost losing the grip on my towel. Jasper’s leaning against the wall opposite the bathroom, waiting for me. “Why are you standing there like that?”

He shrugs. “Why not?”

“Well… don’t. It’s creepy.” I pull my towel tighter and head toward my room, Jasper following close behind. “Did the guys answer?”

“Yeah, no changes. They’re keeping her for the night to watch for a secondary reaction. I guess that can sometimes happen hours later. Leon answered the text. I think Damon’s still losing his mind.” His voice hitches, sending a flutter through my chest.

“Thanks for checking in.” We linger at my bedroom door, both drained from the day, but not quite ready to breathe yet. I don’t know whether to feel relieved that all is well, or hang on to the anxiety. My body wants to decide for me—worry. “Let me know if you hear anything else.”

“Yeah, of course,” he says. He turns to go, but pauses. “Try and get some sleep, okay?”

He sounds so gentle, so caring, that I want to pull him by his shirt and throw him onto my bed. But I don’t. I nod, and close the door before I do something I’ll regret.

Sleep won’t come no matter how hard I try. Every time I close my eyes, I see Blake’s terrified face. We’re always so careful with her allergies—checking labels twice, grilling waiters, carrying her EpiPen. Yet somehow, I failed her today. I can’t believe I let this happen.

Needing a distraction, I grab my phone from the floor where it’s charging. Not having a bedside table isn’t something I’ll ever grow accustomed to… but at least my bed is near an outlet.

The pull to analyze that party invitation is strong, but work mode means thinking and thinking means no sleep. I dive into mindless scrolling instead.

Teenager lip-syncing. Swipe .

Amateur standup. Swipe .

Baby hippo learning to swim… Okay, that’s fucking adorable.

I swipe up and something familiar catches my eye. My heart stops. What in the hell? Someone recorded us at the restaurant. There’s Blake laying on the floor. Me kneeling beside her, holding her hand. That doctor who appeared out of nowhere like a guardian angel.

The view count makes me dizzy. It’s got over one hundred thousand views and counting.

I jump out of bed and race down the hall toward Jasper and Leon’s room. Before I reach it, I hear the shower going. “Jasper!” I call from outside the door. No answer. I knock and call again. Is he alive in there? The water doesn’t muffle sound that much. “Ah, screw it,” I say as I twist the handle and push the door open.

Steam escapes the small space as I step inside. My eyes dart from the closed shower curtain to the clothes scattered across the floor to a small plastic baggie on the vanity. My blood runs cold. I snatch up the pill. The video will have to wait.

The curtain rings screech against the rod. I meet Jasper’s eyes right before my gaze betrays me, dropping to his wet, sculpted body. Holy crap, he looks good.

“See something you like?” His smirk fades as he takes in the baggie in my shaky hand.

“What the hell is this?” I hold the bag up in front of him and watch his eyes shift to the wet tile floor. The silence stretches until I can’t stand it. “Jasper? Talk to me.”

“It’s nothing,” he finally answers as he reaches for the towel on the rack. “As much as you yelling at me normally turns me on, can we just not right now? I… can’t.”

I close my eyes, let out a long breath and release some of my initial anger. “Fine, but you’re not getting this back.” I shove the baggie in my pocket until I can get rid of it later. His head snaps up, his eyes wide. Something in my chest cracks from his look. When I speak again, I soften my tone. “I’m here for you, okay? You can do this.”

“You don’t know that.” With the towel wrapped low on his hips, he bends to pick up his clothes.

I place my hand on his bare shoulder, offering some connection, hoping he can feel the truth in my words. His hand covers mine, warm and calloused from years of playing guitar. “Yes, I do.”

We stand frozen in that moment, the steam curling around us mirroring the cloud of emotions in my mind. There’s too much that we refuse to talk about. Fear and hope and want all tangled up in a jumble of unspoken truths.

His thumb traces small circles on my skin, and I can’t tell if he’s trying to comfort me or himself. Maybe both. “Okay,” he finally whispers.

My forgotten phone buzzes, breaking us apart. I remember the reason I came in here. “Shit,” I say. “I need to show you something.” A ghost of a grin lines his face and I know where his mind is going. “Not that. How are you thinking about anything even remotely sexual right now? You know what? I don’t need to know the inner workings of your mind. Just look.”

I restart the video, taking notice of the additional fifty thousand views and dozens more comments from when I first watched it. As much as I want to turn away, I force myself to watch the entire thing again with Jasper.

“Shit,” he mutters once it’s played through. “Hold on.”

He rushes out of the bathroom, his towel barely holding on, and grabs his phone from his bed. “What are you doing?” I ask, utterly confused.

He taps away at the screen and brings up a video. When I look closer, I see it’s a local news channel that does live streams and recaps. “If it’s gone viral, there’s a chance the news picked it up. Did you see any press there when you got outside?”

I rack my brain but the events of the night are such a blur. There were people everywhere, everything happened so fast. “I don’t know. Maybe. This is bad.”

As the words leave my lips, a headline flashes across the screen, along with a video of me and Blake getting into the ambulance.

Drama At Downtown Bistro: Off-Duty Doctor And Restaurant Patrons Rally To Save Woman In Anaphylactic Shock

“So fucking bad,” he says.