Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 89892 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 449(@200wpm)___ 360(@250wpm)___ 300(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89892 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 449(@200wpm)___ 360(@250wpm)___ 300(@300wpm)
Preppy switches from singing to humming as I switch from pumping on her chest to breathing into her mouth again. After a few more tries, I check her pulse again, pressing two fingers against her neck, but I don’t feel anything but crippling loss.
I breathe into her mouth a few more times, then press my two fingers to her pulse once again. I count out loud, ready to resume CPR if I don’t feel anything by ten. “One. Two. Three. Four. Five. Come on Lenny. Six. Don’t die on me. Don’t you dare fucking die on me! Seven. Please, I fucking love you! Eight.”
“Nine,” the count continues on a strangled whisper, but it doesn’t come from me or Preppy.
Lenny’s eyes flutter open.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
NINE
“Why am I the one in this bed?” I ask, looking around the hospital room. “Poe,” I rasp as Lenny’s face comes into focus. She’s hovering over me, smiling with dried blood caked on the corner of her mouth.
“Maybe, I don’t know, because you were the one who was shot multiple times? Just a guess. Whereas I only took a small swan dive, swallowed some water, and broke my leg. Well, both my legs.” She points to the two casts that start at her toes and end all the way at the top of her thighs. They’re in a pointed position, resting on leg supports connected to her wheelchair. “Boys, such fucking pussies. Can’t take a couple of bullets and lose most of your blood without fainting all over the damn place,” she teases.
I laugh but stop abruptly when sharp pain stabs me in my chest. “Yeah, I’m a fuckin’ pussy. You got me.”
“Don’t move too much. One of the bullets went straight through but missed your heart by only centimeters,” Pike says. “It’s gonna hurt like a motherfucker. Trust me. I know.” He points to his arm, which is in a sling. He’s standing by the window, which is propped open with the help of a rolled-up magazine. He takes a drag on his cigarette and flicks it out before pulling the magazine and letting it fall closed. “I’ll give you two a minute alone,” he says, smacking me on the leg with the magazine on his way out the door. “And Lenny’s right. You’re kind of a fucking pussy.”
I raise my hand just enough to shoot him a middle finger.
He laughs and closes the door behind him.
“Lenny, I’m so sorry. I should have told you about Jared. I was so afraid of losing you, of hurting you more than you’ve already been hurt. It’s not an excuse, but it is my reason,” I say.
She places her hand on the side of my face. “I was waiting at the RV to tell you that it’s okay. That I’m okay. I trust that you did what you had to do. I hate that you kept it from me, but we’ve had a more than unique start to things, so I think a pass or two will be in order from time to time.” She smiles. “This being one of those times.”
“Fuck, Poe. I thought I lost you again when she pushed you…” I begin to say, “I saw it. I saw everything.” The terror I felt pierces through me at the memory, and I can’t bring myself to finish my sentence.
Lenny looks down to where her hand rests on mine. “She didn’t push me. I jumped. It was my only chance, and I took it.”
Despite the pain, I reach up to touch her face. “So fucking brave for someone who lives in a constant battle with fear. You’re incredible. You tempted fate twice. Do me a favor, and don’t fucking do it again.”
She quirks an eyebrow. “This coming from the guy who I’m told ran directly into the bullets being fired at him?”
“I was having a moment,” I mutter. “One where getting revenge on the bitch I thought killed you mattered more than surviving.”
“Don’t ever do that again,” she says, her eyes filling with tears.
I squeeze her hand. “Where you’re concerned, I can’t promise that. It’s not like I even decided to do it. It’s just what was happening.”
“Okay, well then, I can’t promise that I’ll never tempt fate again, but I will promise to never again jump from the causeway.” She places her hand over her heart. “Scout’s honor.”
“I’ll take that promise…for now.” I take her hand in mine.
“What do you mean for now?” Her brows furrow.
“There’s a lot more promises I want from you, that I want to make to you.” I try to sit up and fall back down when the pain rips through me like I’m being simultaneously electrocuted and cut through with a saw. “But they’ll have to wait until the second I can breathe without feeling like my ribs are being crushed.”
Poe pushes a button, and a nurse comes into the room and pushes a needle through my IV. The world turns fuzzy, but I don’t want to pass out just yet. I don’t want Lenny’s face to fade.