“Em, what the hell’s wrong?” Olivia stood in doorway, her face edged with confusion.
Swallowing, Emily slid her phone closed. “Gavin went to go get milk, and he’s not back yet. He took his damn bike, too.”
Olivia shrugged. “Okay. It’s raining. He’s probably taking his time, chick. Calm down.”
Emily nodded. Olivia was right. For whatever reason, she was overreacting. She knew Gavin would be smart enough to not drive like an animal, however, something was off, and she couldn’t put her finger on it. Not quite a pull in her gut telling her something was wrong, but more of an emptiness slowly sneaking into her bones. As she tried to talk herself down from the cliff her mind was dangling over, the doorbell chimed through the air. Emily rushed to the bedroom window, and her heart stopped mid-beat as her eyes landed on a white and blue East Hampton patrol car. She flew past Olivia as she belted down the stairs. She came to a stop on the landing and brought her hand to her stomach as it cramped. Pain shot, ricocheting through her midsection. She curled her fingers around the railing and tried to slow her breathing, tried to slow her racing thoughts. Gavin was probably picked up for speeding. At least that’s what Emily attempted to convince herself of as she watched Chad open the door. Gavin’s full name…then the words. Although faint, they hit Emily’s ears loudly, knocking her off balance.
Lost control…
Grave…
Air lifted…
Critical condition….
Emily tried to breathe as her body instinctively sank onto the steps, her hand gripping the cold metal baluster. A flurry of chaos ensued around her, but she didn’t notice. She couldn’t. She couldn’t think or feel. Her mind slipped into a state of numbness, her ears blanking out Lillian’s crying screams. She barely registered Trevor gently lifting her from the stairs and helping her out into the warm, humid air. A heavy raindrop hit her scalp. Another, her cheek. Before she knew it, she was soaked and seated in Trevor’s car.
Green eyes staring blankly at the road flying past her, Emily’s muscles froze with fear. Rain rioted the roof as her galloping heart shook her whole body. While her mind dragged through thorny yet beautiful memories of the last few months, the cold realization sank Emily deeper into her seat. Gavin was critically wounded. What the officer said rushed through floodgates, dowsing Emily with grief. A torrent of tears spilled as a brutal headache made a permanent nest in the darkest eaves of her skull.
By the time they pulled up to the hospital, the rain had grown louder, its rhythm as steady as an applause at a rock concert. Emily threw open her door and climbed out. Mind a scattered mess, she prayed as she made her way into the emergency room. Still unable to speak, Emily listened to Trevor and Fallon ask where Gavin was. After taking some information, the nurse behind the desk pointed toward the end of a hall. Eyes glistening with tears, Emily held onto Trevor’s arm for balance as they stepped into an elevator.
“Emily, listen to me,” Trevor whispered, his voice cracking. “He’s going to be okay.”
Fallon stroked Emily’s rain-drenched hair. “He is, Em. You can’t give up hope.”
Lost control…
Grave…
Air lifted…
Critical condition….
Emily shook her head, her words stuttered. “You hea…heard what the off… officer said.”
Fallon pulled her into her arms, holding her tight. When the elevator opened onto the ICU, Emily’s blurry vision zeroed in on Gavin’s parents, Colton, Olivia, and Jude talking with a doctor. Emily wanted to run to them to find out what was going on, but her body was frozen. Her feet wouldn’t move. Her arms hung to her sides as cold as icicles hanging from gutters. With Trevor’s aid, Emily stepped from the elevator. A deep sense of nothingness slithered through her chest as she slowly started for the group. The crisp, hospital air was loosely laced with the smells of ammonia and sickness. A chill shot down Emily’s spine as her gaze drifted into several patients’ rooms. Lying motionless with blankets drawn up to their necks, most were unconscious. As she approached the group, Emily could see the fear in Chad’s eyes and it made her tremble. Her heart smashed, vibrating her body.
Lillian swept Emily into her arms, her tears soaking through Emily’s top. “Oh, God. My baby. My baby boy. They’re not sure if he’s going to make it.” Lillian’s crying hammered though Emily’s head, and her despair sliced right through Emily’s heart.