Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 90951 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 455(@200wpm)___ 364(@250wpm)___ 303(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90951 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 455(@200wpm)___ 364(@250wpm)___ 303(@300wpm)
“Beatrice,” I say. “Beatrice Nix. Yes, that’s fine. I’ll wait here. Where are you taking her, so I can—”
“Ochsner. It’s the closest ER and a great hospital,” she says as they quickly split Clover’s leg, then her arm, a process that has her whimpering again by the time they prepare to lift her. “Almost done. Now, let’s get you on the stretcher, Miss Clover.”
The pair moves with practiced efficiency, a fact I’m grateful for as I watch blood seep through the bandage on her arm.
God, my poor friend.
My poor, musical friend, who won’t be using her fretting hand on her bass anytime soon. The weight of that part of the fallout hits for the first time, making my voice crack as I call after her, “I’ll be right behind you, honey. I’ll find you at the hospital as soon as I can, I promise. Hold on and stay strong.”
They wheel her toward the ambulance, loading her into what reminds me of an old-school station wagon with quick, careful movements. Moustache crawls into the small space in the back with her, and the woman slides into the driver’s seat.
Then, the sirens start up again, and they’re gone, speeding away down the highway, even as new sirens draw closer.
A beat later—before I can thank Jessica or Benjamin or any of the other people who stopped to help us—a police car slides into the vacant spot the ambulance left behind. Two other police vehicles zoom past us, headed for Mr. Higgins, who is now burning with enough heat that I can feel it on my back, even from several dozen yards away.
“Anything you need,” Benjamin reminds me, giving my arm a gentle squeeze as one of the police officers exits the vehicle and heads toward us. “Don’t be afraid to call or message anytime.”
I nod. “Thank you both so much. I’m so grateful.”
“She’s going to be okay,” Jessica assures me as she comes to stand on my other side. “She’s a trooper, I can tell.”
I nod before lifting a hand to the almost painfully young-looking officer stopping in front of us.
If Clover’s a baby, this guy is a fetus. His golden facial hair is patchy, and his Adam’s apple bobs in his thin throat as he says, “Officer Broussard, ma’am. I’m assuming you’re the other injured party who needs an ambulance? They said I’m looking for a pregnant woman with long brown braids.”
“Yes, that’s me,” I say, before breaking off with a shake of my head. “I mean, yes, I was in the accident, but I’m not injured. I do need to go to the hospital, though.” I motion over my shoulder. “I was just hoping someone could get our purses and phones from the car, first, if it’s safe. Then I can go—”
“I’ll have someone see about your things,” Officer Broussard cuts in, “but I think you need that ambulance, ma’am.” He glances quickly down, then back up, his tongue darting out to dampen his lips. “And maybe you should sit down? Get that up in the air?”
I blink. “What?”
“Oh God,” Jessica whispers, her hand flying to cover her mouth. “Oh, God, I’m so sorry. I was so focused on Clover, I didn’t notice that you were bleeding.”
“What?” I follow her gaze down to my combat boot.
And the not-at-all-small puddle of blood around said boot…
“Oh.” I stare at it, confused for a second. Then, I remember that stabbing sensation as we pulled Clover from the car. It hurt at the time, but then, like Jessica, I was so focused on Clover that…
“Oh, well, that’s not good,” I whisper, my voice sounding strangely…floaty.
“Let’s get you off your feet, honey,” Jessica says, slipping an arm around my waist. “I’m a nurse practitioner, officer. Help me get her over to the edge of the minivan? By that open sliding door? We can sit her there, and I’ll check her out while we wait.”
Officer Broussard nods. “Yeah, that looks good. The other unit should be here any minute.”
“Sorry,” I say as Heroic Lawyer steps in to help, too. “I can’t believe I…”
I trail off, wondering why my head suddenly feels like it’s not fully secured to my body.
Before I can ask Jessica if that’s a bad sign, the edges of my vision go gray, then white, like that time someone tossed a shit ton of what turned out to be baby powder at us onstage during a festival and screamed that it was anthrax. Security had to stop us mid-performance, evacuate the area, and rush to make sure we hadn’t all just been poisoned while trying to play music and have a good time.
Because that’s the world we live in. A world where a few jerks seem determined to ruin the good time for the rest of us
It’s my last thought before my brain goes under. I’m dimly aware of Benjamin catching me, lifting me, keeping Bean and me safe, and then I slip into the darkness.