Olivia glances at the wound, and her brow creases as she redirects her attention. “Okay. A warning would have been nice.” She pulls in a deep breath.
“Let that air out. In. Out. In. Out. In,” Rose instructs.
“I’m not in labor,” Liv says.
“I need a Xanax,” Rose says.
“Where is your chill?” I don’t specify who my question is intended for because both are acting like stress cases, talking too fast and breathing too heavily.
“I hate blood. She hates hospitals. We’re the only girls on earth who wouldn’t want to be stuck in Forks, Washington.”
“Forks, Washington?” I ask.
“Vampires,” she says.
“Did you hit your head?” I ask her, placing a hand on her forehead.
She goes nearly cross-eyed as she tries to look at my hand. “If I had, it wouldn’t cause a fever.”
I nod. “Just crossing that off the list as well.” She looks pale, her eyes too big, and her lips too red.
“I’ll call Whitney or my dad. Can you take Rose home?” Liv asks.
I shake my head. “Ian,” I holler at him from across the room as he says something to Quinton. His gaze cuts to me, and without my asking, he heads over to where we’re standing, followed closely by Quinton.
“What’s up?”
“I need to take her to the hospital. Can you take Rose home?”
Ian glances at Olivia’s wound as the party resumes, and the music begins again. “Shit. Is she okay?”
“Find out who started this shit,” I tell him.
Olivia shakes her head. “It’s over. There was nothing malicious. Obviously, I wasn’t the only outsider not used to seeing platters of food being passed around at house parties.”
“There’s food?” Quinton asks.
“Was,” Rose says. “Pretty sure the servers read this situation way better than we did. They knew to get out while we stared in surprise. I blame Olivia.”
Liv smiles, but she’s still too pale. “Here we go with the hick jokes again.”
“We need to go to the hospital,” I say.
Rose nods. “We’re not pulling that out at home. You’re going.” She snaps her attention back to Olivia’s back. “I don’t even know how we’re going to get you out of the house without bumping it.”
“I don’t feel it much,” Liv says.
“That’s the adrenaline,” I tell her.
“And the alcohol,” Rose adds. “Speaking of which…” She hands Olivia her full glass of punch. “I wish it were a shot, but it might be equivalent if you finish it all.”
Olivia takes a long drink and sets the rest on the counter. “Okay. Let’s go.”
Rose leans forward, kissing her cheek. “I’ll come with.”
Olivia shakes her head. “I’ll just have Arlo drop me off and take a cab or Lyft or something back home.”
Rose stares at her—emotions flooding her expression. I’ve never seen her personality waiver from confident and sarcastic—much less this version of explicit vulnerability.
“It’s a small scratch. Have fun, and I’ll see you tomorrow.” Liv looks at Ian. “Get her home safely.”
Pax appears with a cut lip. “What happened to you?”
“Have you ever seen what happens when Hoyt gets mad?”
Hoyt is another defensive linebacker, a guy from the Deep South who talks slower than Liv and constantly wears a smile. “No, but I look forward to hearing about it. I’ve got to get her to the hospital, though.”
Pax drops his gaze to her shirt and then me. “Come on. I’ll help get her out of here.”
The party has thinned as some debate the next step while others are happily taking advantage of the free booze.
“Okay…” I glance at Olivia as we hit the front porch. “You need to be careful. We don’t want this to rip, so small steps. Try to keep your weight balanced.” I grab the bottom of her shirt and look at the wound again.
Paxton pulls his head back and then blinks as he stares at the wound. “Should we carry her?”
“No,” Olivia answers. “It’s small, and I feel fine.”
“This is the coach’s daughter?” Pax asks, realization dawning on him.
I nod.
“Shit,” he grinds out the word. “We should call an ambulance.”
Olivia chuckles. “Only here would that make a difference. I don’t want an ambulance or a scene. Let’s just go, and maybe they’ll give me some glue and tell me I don’t have to wait for three hours.” She descends the stairs easily.
Pax looks at me as I follow her, alarm sounding in his eyes. “Maybe you really are cursed.”
I salute him. “About time someone realized this.”
I make it only a few more steps before Jade comes into view. “Just a friend, huh?” Before I can respond, she turns on her