Page 7

I batted my lashes. “Why thank you.” I looked back at Jason.

“These are sterilized suture threads. What I’m going to do here is called an interrupted suture since each stitch isn’t related.

I will make one and then tie it off to make a different one.

I’m going to line up the edges and push the needle through at a 90-degree angle about a centimeter to the right of the wound. ”

Jason shook his head. “Oh, jeez.”

“So lean your head back against the seat and be still. Just imagine what a badass your friends will think you are after tonight.”

I started stitching and couldn’t help but notice Gabe taking in each move I made with his face just inches from mine.

“That is some damn fine work, Fern.”

“Why thank you. It’s kind of my thing.”

Jason used some impressively colorful language while I needled him but stayed completely still. “Let me tie this off, and we’re done.”

After a few minutes more, Jason let out a long breath. “Thank you.”

I zipped up my little bag. “You’re welcome. That will be six hundred dollars.” I giggled.

“Ha ha. But what in the hell are we going to do now?” Jason laced his fingers nervously.

Gabe leaned back. “I’m thinking I call the cops and tell them we’re coming in and that we’re not sure if these guys are going to find us on the way or not and see what they think.”

“I gotta take a piss. I’ll be right back.” The headlights shined ahead on a door in the front of the barn. Jason walked toward it, pulled it open, and let out a high-pitched scream. Twenty llamas suddenly burst through the door as Jason bolted in the other direction.

I blinked hard. “What the hell?” I laughed as the herd ran around the truck and disappeared out of the barn. “Gabe. What is happening tonight?”

I looked up to see a shocked Jason in the headlights who had not made it out in time to pee and stomped his foot, “Great. Now I pissed myself!”

Would I have expected myself and Gabe to be laughing tears in the front seat of a jacked-up truck after being chased and shot at? No, but there we were.

Jason climbed into the back seat as Gabe backed out of the barn. “I’m going east so we’ll end up on Highway 50 and go the back way into town.”

We drove through the snowy field with the moon lighting the way as the icy air blew through the nonexistent back window. Once back on pavement, Gabe looked over to see my eyes on him as we picked up speed. He dialed his phone, and a male voice filled the vehicle.

“Stillwater Police Department.”

“I’m Gage Wolkowski, and I’m coming to the police station after being shot at.”

“Is anyone injured? Are you being chased?”

Gabe was as cool as a cucumber. “We’re okay and not being followed at the moment. We lost them.”

It was then we passed a car, and I watched out the back where the window used to be to see that car whip around and start following us.

He hit the steering wheel. “Shit, they’re back. Where should we go? They have guns.”

Jason suddenly burst into tears. “I don’t wanna die!”

I eyed the pussy in the back seat in the rearview mirror. “Be a man for the love of God!”

“How far are you from town?” The Dispatcher’s voice bounced around the truck.

I narrowed my eyes as we zipped past a street sign. “I’m just passing Papillion Parkway.”

“Do you know where Halleck Park is?”

“Yes, I can be there in a few minutes. Fern, get over here,” I grabbed her shoulder and pushed her into my lap. “Jason, quick bawling like a chick and lay down.”

The dispatcher gave further instructions. “Police are on the way without lights or sirens. Lead them onto the baseball field and keep going toward the playground. We’ll be ready to do the rest.”

I disconnected the call just as a gunshot echoed. I scrunched down closer to the steering wheel. “Hold on.” I glanced at the dash to see the speedometer reach one hundred. WTF!

“You’re doing great, Gabe!” came from Fern as I looked left.

“Quick turn ahead!” The tires squealed as we slid around for a second, and I chuckled. “Who’s ready to steal second base?”

Fern sat up and peeked as we tore through the baseball field. “Do you see the police anywhere?”

“Nope. I hope they’re here. I got no back-up plan.” Truth, it appeared this might be the final curtain call for all of us.

Jason sat up. “I think the plan is to die, right here on the baseball fields. I knew I should’ve called in today. This blows ass!”

Fern peeked over the seat toward Jason. “Cut the negativity. You shut up, or I’ll punch you!”

I hit the gas. “Watch out. The girl has a wicked right hook.”

Her hand went over her heart. “Aw, that’s so sweet.”

I looked at the car behind us when suddenly the baseball lights went up, and seven police SUVs had a circle around the field, leaving the car nowhere to go. I stopped, and before I knew it, Fern hopped in my lap, and her arms went around my neck. “You did it!”

Suddenly Jason threw himself into the front seat, and it turned into maybe the best group hug I’d ever been a part of.

After a stop at the cop shop for statements, we found out the bad guys were wanted in Minnesota and Nebraska for drugs and gun running. The police assured us the criminals would never know our names, and they’d be hauled out of the area the next morning.

Jason was shaking like a leaf, and Fern’s eyes were twitchy so I immediately took them around the corner to a hole-in-the-wall bar where they both sucked down a few rums and Cokes before we dropped our new friend at his apartment.

The cops said he could get his car back in the morning.

I’d never been happier to shut a weirder-than-shit chapter in my entire life. Peace out!

Once in the cabin, I dropped my coat onto the floor. My hands had finally stopped shaking when a hiccup snuck out. “Here we go. Whenever I drink, I get the hiccups, and they last forever .”

Gabe picked up my coat, being the sober one in the room, and put it on the hook. “I can get rid of them.”

I popped my hands on my hips and was trying to reel in my sassy tone. “Is that so? For a guy who can’t even hula hoop, I find that rather hard to believe.”

“Wow.” His brow popped up as he narrowed his eyes at me. “But I am the fella who saved our asses tonight so I can surely help with hiccups.” He pointed to the ground. “Lay down.”

“I may be tipsy, but I’m not stupid.” Hiccup.

“Come on, you have a problem, and I have the solution.” He flashed me a magnificent grin.

“Again, tipsy. Not stupid.”

He dropped to the floor and lay on his back, before raising his legs in the air. “This totally takes them away. When your legs are elevated, it restricts the amount of oxygen you can take into your lungs, and after a few minutes, the hiccups will subside.”

“Huh. That does sound kind of medically, like maybe you know a little something.”

“Give it a shot. Can’t hurt to try.”

After the roller coaster of a day I’d had, I suddenly wanted to give a lot of things a shot on the living room floor.

I dropped next to him on my back and held my legs up, hoping I wouldn’t accidentally toot or something equally as embarrassing.

After a minute, I hiccupped again. “This isn’t working. ”

He rolled up on his elbow. “You have to give it a minute to work, missy.”

I looked over to see he was closer than I’d expected. “Okay.” I should’ve looked back up at the ceiling but instead kept staring at the face that belonged on a sexy romance novel cover. I’d never seen a man who was tough and beautiful at the same time.

Not many males could be considered beautiful, but his cheekbones, green eyes, and thick brown lashes reminded me of the shirtless hunky model guys doing sexy dance moves on a Tik Tok thing.

Then I realized I’d been examining his facial features for probably a solid minute while he just stared back at me. A flash of fire hit my stomach as I quickly looked away, just as a hiccup popped out. “Are you sure this works?”

“Nope.”

I looked back over as a mischievous expression crawled across his beautiful mug. “Nope?”

“It seemed like it might so I thought we should give it a try.”

He’s the guy who seems to have a girl he’s messed with around every corner. Don’t even look at those lips. Go upstairs now. Haul your tipsy ass anywhere this man is not! “Shut up.”

His eyes shot open. “Excuse me?”

“I was just talking to myself.” I sat up.

“Are you always that mean to yourself?” He hopped up, extended a hand, and helped me to my feet.

“Only when I need it. I should probably get to bed.” I looked down to see my hand still in his and gently pulled it away. “Thanks for your help today, along with a killer bar experience, and a high-speed shoot-out like no other.”

“Yes, a night to remember. And you did rock The Cheeky Monkey this evening. I can’t wait to see your mug on the wall next time. Good night, Fern Ethel.”

I gulped knowing if I leaned in one single inch, it would happen. I was suddenly very aware we were alone, and things could happen.

“Good night.”

I walked up the stairs, feeling his eyes burning into me, but I didn’t look back.

Once in my cozy black pajamas with little knives all over them, which at first glance might appear perfect for a serial killer but my nursing friends thought they were made for me, I plopped on the bed.

I stared at the dark sky outside my window while Gabe ran through my mind like the 100-meter dash at the Olympics.

Even through the tilt-a-whirl that had been the last few hours of my life, I’d never felt so at ease with someone I’d met just met.

His ability to become a superhero at a moment’s notice, the humor that resonated with me in a huge way, along with his muscles and green eyes that twinkled when he teased me, made it almost too much to bear. Ugh.