Page 154 of Here With Me

He sends a still photo from the security footage, and I gasp.

ChapterThirty-Two

Fisher

Every inch of my body is stiff and achy, but I’d rather that than burning pain. My head hurts like a motherfucker, but from what I’ve randomly heard from the nurse, there hasn’t been any swelling or cause of concern beyond a concussion. The dumbass who hit me managed to whack me just hard enough to knock me out but not keep me down.

When I regained consciousness and realized the barn was on fire, I booked ass to open the horses’ stall doors. The fire started in the loft, which gave me more time to get them loose before it engulfed the entirety of the lower floor. It’s a miracle I was able to get on Donut and escape in one piece. The flames were closing in on us, and he was too spooked to go on his own. He wouldn’t move until I jumped on him. By the time we barreled through the doors, I was suffocating and couldn’t breathe.

Noah squeezes my hand as if she knows I can feel her. Whatever meds they’re pumping through me have been slowly wearing off, and now I’m fighting for the energy to open my eyes.

“Hello?” A faint knock echoes through the room. A voice I’d recognize anywhere.

“Hi,” Noah greets softly. “Who’re you?”

She’s about to meet the man who saved my life and changed it for the better.

“I’m Damien Lancaster. It’s a pleasure to finally meet ya, Miss Hollis.”

“You’re Fisher’s childhood friend.”

“I am.”

“And you know who I am?” Noah asks as if she’s shocked I’d talk about her to a friend. Considering he’s still a detective in the next town over, I’m not surprised he heard about what happened.

“I do.” His voice is closer now, and soon, his palm rests on my arm as if he wants me to know he’s here. “He called and left me a voicemail the day after y’all met and said, ‘Damien, I met her. The woman I’m gonna marry someday.’”

Although I’m not even sure I can talk, I force out the words anyway. “You bastard. Ya weren’t supposed to tell her that.”

“Oh my God! You’re awake?” Noah squeals.

Finally, I manage to lift my eyelids halfway and smile when I see her beautiful face. “Hi, Goldie.”

My throat is raw like I’d swallowed a thousand knives, and my voice is hoarse, but it’s enough for her to hear me.

Noah covers her mouth as tears fall down her cheeks. “Hi.”

“Are the horses okay?” I choke out. My voice is barely audible, but I need to confirm they survived. Once I opened their doors and they ran out, I wasn’t sure where they ended up.

“Yes.” She breaks out into sobs, nodding. “Thanks to you.”

I smile weakly when she buries her head in my chest. Although my limbs feel like concrete, I manage to wrap my arm around her. I’m not wasting this moment with her.

“Hey, man. Glad to see ya alive.” Damien shoots me a knowing grin.

“Yeah, we gotta stop meetin’ like this.”

He barks out a laugh. “Once a decade, you’re right on schedule.”

Between my bull riding incidents that landed me in the hospital, the suicide attempt, and now this, Damien’s seen me at all the lowest points in my life.

“How’s your ankle and ribs?” I ask Noah.

I don’t know how many days I’ve been in here, but by the looks of her disheveled hair and the dark bags under her eyes, she hasn’t left this room.

“The pain ain’t comparable to what it’s been like waitin’ for ya to wake up.”

“Sorry.” I grin, cupping her cheek when she leans in.