Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 76006 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 380(@200wpm)___ 304(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76006 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 380(@200wpm)___ 304(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
So many things could go wrong, so he didn’t want to take any chances. Even though his mom always suspected he did. He liked the thrill of heights and speed, but he wasn’t stupid or irresponsible. Okay, maybe when he was younger. He was always twisting his ankle or bruising muscles.
Soon enough he got into the right headspace where all his thoughts narrowed down to fingers and footholds and breathing. His heart pumped wildly in his ears as it always did, the adrenaline propelling him to the next position without losing his balance or his nerve. He wheezed with effort as he made it to the crux of the climb, considered the hardest part, and when he raised his head, he could just see the summit ahead.
Suddenly there was a shout from down below that made his body stiffen, and he almost lost his footing. Heart beating out of his chest, he listened more closely to Martin’s stricken voice. “Falling debris, try to take cover.”
He glanced up just as a chunk of rock skirted by Jill and sideswiped his shoulder. Fuck.
He looked all around for someplace to move to out of the debris field, and he noticed Jill doing the same in a panic as her fingers gripped a stone fissure even tighter. If they could just slide more to the right, there was a better foothold until the dust settled. Anything could kick up rocks—the wind, an animal—but he had no time to speculate what was causing this latest mini avalanche.
Just as he opened his mouth to shout his plan to Jill, a larger boulder—or what felt like one coming at that speed—hit him square on the top of his helmet, and he heard it crack right before sudden, dizzying pain seized him. The last thing he remembered was letting go of the side of the mountain and falling.
2
Emerson
“There’s been an accident.”
It was the same feeling all over again, getting the call about Rhys. That tightness in his gut that made Emerson feel like the walls were closing in on him. Except this time, Rhys was in the ICU in serious condition from a climbing accident, but he was still alive. Thank fuck. Still, it’d made Emerson’s stomach turn upside down, and he’d vomited in the toilet immediately after hanging up with the nurse.
“He has you in our system as an emergency contact,” she’d said, and that had only minimally surprised him. It made sense, considering Mrs. Lancaster no longer lived in the area and they had unquestionably become like family over the years.
Emerson changed into jeans, then called his aunt to ask if she could possibly check in on the kids for a couple of hours so he could get himself to the hospital.
Next, he broke the news to Audrey and Sam as they finished their breakfast.
“Will he die too?” Sam asked.
“Don’t say that!” Audrey scolded, then stormed out of the kitchen. Her emotions were often masked as frustration toward anyone in her path.
Emerson reached for Sam and hugged him tight, feeling a bit emotional himself. “No, buddy. He’s hurt, but we’ll help him get better.”
He would do anything needed to help his friend recover. Christ, he couldn’t believe this was happening. Laying eyes on him would hopefully help ground him.
“Can we see him?” Sam asked earnestly.
“Oh, buddy, I’m not sure.” Even though he worked in the billing department of another hospital, the rules were pretty typical for all of them. “I think they only allow family in the ICU.”
“We are his family.”
Yeah…yeah they were.
He sighed. “I’ll see what I can do.”
He stood and reached for his keys. He found Audrey curled up on the couch and gave her a peck on the head, knowing she needed time to process the information. But also trusting her to step up when she needed to as far as her brother was concerned. “Aunt Janice will be here within the hour. Hold the fort until then. I’ll text you soon.”
He called Rhys’s mom on the way to the hospital. She immediately burst into tears, and he gripped the steering wheel, trying to keep his emotions in check.
“Will he be okay?” she rasped as his chest tightened, in a viselike grip. She had been there for him when his parents passed, and now he needed to be strong for her too.
“Definitely. Try not to worry.” Easier said than done, he knew all too well, so he hoped his words did not ring hollow. “I’ll fill you in on the details as soon as I get them.”
“Thank you. You’re a good friend.” She breathed out as if in relief. “I’ll book my flight while I wait for your call.”
Once he parked and entered the building, he inquired about Rhys at the front desk. He was pointed to a bank of elevators, and he willed his legs to move as he stepped inside and pushed the button.