Page 34 of Meeting Me, Loving You (Hearts of Maple Lake #1)

“I know. Okay, you can carry me.” Her eyes flick up to mine. “But tell me if I’m too heavy or if you need a break. We can take breaks, and hopefully someone will come along to help so you don’t have to carry me the whole way.”

It’s such a Juliet thing to say. She’s the one bleeding and suffering from a twisted ankle, but she’s going into nurse mode for someone else. She’s worrying about me and putting herself second.

For a moment, I’m surprised to be the recipient of this kind of attention. I’m not used to having someone think this much about how I’m doing or what I need. But then again, it’s Juliet. This is who she is. Why wouldn’t I have expected this?

But that thought is completely washed away by the tide of concern I have for her. She’s not usually the patient, and I see in her eyes that she’s feeling not just pain, but out of place in this new role.

“Don’t worry about me,” I shake my head. “Why do you think I work out every day?”

“To pick up girls?”

I laugh heartily, which makes her smile, even in her pain.

“No, not to pick up girls.” I slide my arm under her knees and the other around her back. As I lift her, she stiffens. “I work out so I can be ready for anything, physically and mentally.” I adjust my hold on her, being careful not to bump her injured shoulder against my chest. “Is this okay?”

“Yes.” Her deep brown eyes meet mine, only inches from my face. Up close, she’s more beautiful than ever. She wraps her hands around my neck, holding on for added support.

As I start the trek back to where we began, the sun shines on her and she closes her eyes against the light.

“Are you feeling tired?” I ask.

“A little foggy. I think I definitely have a concussion.”

“Lay your head on me, but don’t fall asleep. I mean, you’re the nurse though. Is that right? Should you stay awake?”

“At least until I’m evaluated by a doctor,” she says sleepily. She hesitates, but then rests her head against my shoulder.

Her breaths whisper across my bare chest and I walk faster. I’ve imagined holding Jules in my arms, but not like this. Not when she’s injured. I can’t think of anything else but getting her back to the truck and driving her immediately to the ER.

She’s quiet, and I wonder if she’s already fallen asleep.

“Jules?” I don’t want to sound panicked, but I don’t know what could happen if she sleeps right now.

“Mhm,” she hums.

My hand tingles as I hold her firmly in place, my fingers gripping her tightly under the armpit to keep her from slipping out of my grasp .

“Talk to me, Jules.” I nudge her head gently with my chin, and strands of her long hair catch on my beard. “I want you to stay with me. Stay awake.”

“What should we talk about?” Her voice is quiet, and I strain to hear her over my heavy breathing as my legs work to get us down the trail.

“Anything you want.”

“Your tattoo. You’ve never told me anything about it.” Her lips almost brush my chest as she speaks.

“It’s a pine tree, to remind me of home—of here. I got it when I was in college. I was missing my roots and wanted to have a way of never forgetting where I came from.”

“There’s a picture… inside of the tree, isn’t there? What is it?”

I don’t know how far I’ve walked, but there hasn’t been another biker or runner anywhere in sight. So I keep up the pace as best I can.

“Instead of branches, the outline of the pine tree is filled with a mountain landscape and other trees. It looks a lot like the view we saw on our hike with Tyler.”

“Tyler. He’s going to be so mad at me.”

I frown and look down at her, but her eyes are still closed. “Why would he be mad at you?”

“Because I got hurt.” She shifts her head, making herself comfortable against me. Everything she says is slow and quiet. “He’s going to feel bad he isn’t around to check on me. I always tell him not to worry about me, but now he’ll be more worried than ever.”

There’s silence for a moment as I think of what to say.

Although Jules isn’t heavy, it’s difficult to carry her while keeping up a conversation.

If she weren’t in need of medical help, I’d be glad to have her in my arms, relishing in the feel of her cheek against my chest and her hands around my neck .

“I’m here, he has nothing to worry about.”

Juliet’s fingers play with my hair at the base of my neck, and I wonder if she even realizes she’s doing it. I shiver, despite the sweat running down my back.

As I carry her, I keep her talking. She tells me about her patient, Ellie, and how well she’s doing now since her infection has healed.

She tells me about her parents and their latest trip to Texas.

We talk about our next adventure and whether or not camping or boating can be more dangerous than a bike ride.

I don’t take any breaks, wanting to get her to the ER as quickly as possible, and after an hour, we finally make it back to the bike shop and my truck.

I settle her inside the vehicle and reach across her to buckle her seatbelt, being cautious around her shoulder.

The bleeding has slowed, but I’m not willing to remove the bundled-up T-shirt in case it starts the flow again.

She holds it in place, using her good hand to apply pressure.

I’ll have to deal with the bike rentals later. Without entering the shop, I hop in the driver’s side and head to the hospital.