of the woods yet and I can’t fathom where this forest ends.
I nod to Paige. “Thank you. We’ll take it from here.”
Nick starts moving toward Grandma again and I roll up my sleeves. I haven’t the foggiest idea what the hell to do.
“Ward—Mr. Brandt—I think you should stay put,” Paige says harshly.
Nick’s forehead creases and he looks at me—the big brother—like he expects me to tell her to go to hell.
God, Nick. Don’t do this to me. I can’t even think straight right now.
He takes another step.
I’m going to have to give him an errand. I rack my brain to come up with one.
Paige puts her hands out, palms up. “I—I don’t think she should be overwhelmed right now, and we can’t move her until the EMTs get here.”
He stops in his tracks and shoves a hand through his hair. “But—”
“Nick, can you do me a favor?” I sigh.
“What’s up?”
“Go downstairs and wait for the paramedics. That way, you can show them where she is, and they won’t waste any time,” I say sternly.
“Yeah, shit. Good thinking.” Nick nods and leaves the room, pumping his legs in a run.
Paige keeps watching Grandma, making sure she’s breathing and occasionally checking her pulse.
Her blond hair spills down over her shoulders. The sun filtering in through the vine-covered windows turns it into a scene from a movie where I’d swear an angel just descended.
“Thank you for—for everything,” I say, brushing a hand across hers.
I can’t help it.
I’m scared shitless we might lose Grandma. Somehow that’s almost as scary as thinking my foul fucking behavior could’ve cost me Paige Holly.
What the hell would be happening if she wasn’t here right now?
Paige nods but doesn’t say much. She just stands over Grandma, loyal till the end, intent on giving everything she can.
Two paramedics burst through my grandmother’s office door a second later. The woman unfolds a gurney while her partner checks Grandma’s pulse the same way Paige did multiple times.
“Present but slow,” he calls.
“We’re ready for her,” the woman answers.
The other paramedic lays her on the gurney, and they start rolling to the elevator with her. Paige and I follow behind at a rapid clip.
“Where’s Nick?” she asks.
“Nick? The guy panicking in the lobby?” The lady paramedic walking backward behind Grandma shakes her head. “Some people don’t handle this well.”
“One person can ride in the ambulance. Everyone else takes a separate car,” the male paramedic says.
“Ward, you should probably ride in the ambulance. Nick, he’s—well—Nick.” Paige’s voice is quiet.
Damn if I don’t smile for the briefest second.
That’s the best way to sum up my little brother I’ve ever heard.
“Come with us?” I ask.
Fuck, I hate the way I sound. That wasn’t supposed to be a question.
“What? Why? Really?” she asks, blinking those lush green eyes.
“Yes, really. I need someone who can think straight. It’s not me today, and you’ve met Nick.”
“He’s upset today, too.”
“I know, so we need you,” I whisper.
What the hell am I saying? I don’t need anyone.
Miss Holly nods.
At this point, we’re getting off the elevator on the first floor behind the paramedics.
Nick stands in the middle of the hall, looking distraught. “They were here and then they weren’t.”
“It’s okay. We’re going to the hospital right now,” Paige says.
I veer my head toward her. “She’ll drive you. I’m going in the ambulance.”
“Why?” he asks.
“Unless you’re comfortable and clearheaded enough to okay medical interventions, I need to be in the ambulance.” I hate the bite in my own voice, but this man can be such a knucklehead.
He nods, recovering his wits. He grabs Paige’s hand and pulls her outside. Reese is parked right behind the ambulance. I watch them jump into the back of the car.
Nick, calm the fuck down, I think.
But there’s no time to fumble. Not when Grandma needs us like never before.
The second she’s in the ambulance, I climb in, steeling myself.
For everyone’s sake, I need to step the fuck up.
The three of us sit in a hospital waiting room for hours.
Miss Holly excuses herself, and when she comes back, she’s holding a mocha in one hand and a black drip in the other.
I snort with surprise when I take the cup.
“Just Ward today? No decaf? No rat in a heat-resistant suit waiting to jump out?” I joke.
“Not today.” She just gives me this gut-punching smile.
“Paige, thank you,” Nick says as he takes his mocha and slurps before saying, “We’re not at work and this is an emergency. You didn’t have to fetch the coffee.”