Page 33 of Wedlocked

“Jamie!” I roared.

The hands pulling me let go, and I fell onto the hard surface. I didn’t stay down. I lurched up onto my knees.

Jamie was there, carrying a limp Rory.

I started ripping off my jacket, thinking to put it on her, but it was soaked.

“Wes!” I yelled. “Rush!”

Jamie laid her down, and I practically fell over her, grabbing her chin, cursing the saturated gloves on my hands. “Rory,” I pleaded. “Baby, wake up.”

“Move back,” Jess yelled, pushing me aside.

I growled, but more hands grabbed me, pulling me away.

I cussed and kicked as Jess dropped to her knees and started CPR.

I went limp, watching. Praying. “Come on, baby. Breathe.”

Gurgling sounds erupted, and Jess pulled Rory onto her side. I watched her spew water and cough.

Lurching forward once more, I crawled to her side and pulled her into my lap. She was coughing and gasping, the best fucking sounds I ever heard.

“Get that coat off her,” Coach said. “She needs something dry.”

Her teeth were chattering as I ripped the coat away and then her drenched sweater too. Her skin was so pale you could see the blue veins just beneath. It was morbid and turned my stomach.

“Here,” Wes said, tossing me a hoodie.

My fingers were so cold they fumbled, lacking the ability to dress her.

“Let us do it,” Rush said, tugging Rory from my arms. I couldn’t even argue. She needed help and warmth immediately.

The guys closed in around her, pulling off their layers and covering her.

Bodhi, Coach, and Max appeared, pulling off my coat and sweater to jam theirs on me.

“Emergency responders are here,” Landry said, and the crowd formed around us parted.

“R-r-yan.” Rory’s wobbly voice reached me. When her wide gray eyes met mine, I blew out a breath and reached for herhand. I was so fucking grateful she was okay. I couldn’t even find it in me to yell.

Rory managedto walk away with only a mild case of hypothermia and no other injuries. They didn’t send us to the hospital even though I wanted them to. Not for me, for her. They promised there was nothing they could do at a hospital that couldn’t be done at home.

So here we were, back at the chalet and buried under blankets, trauma lattes in hand, and in front of the massive fireplace that Coach kept piling wood into. Frankly, I was beginning to wonder if he was trying to melt the walls.

Oh, what about me?

Bro, thanks for asking.

I was currently suffering from a bad case of fuck-around-and-find-out.

Or maybe it wasn’t me suffering but anyone who looked at my girl, touched my girl, or potentially breathed too much around her.

The adrenaline had long worn off, but my mind had yet to get that memo, still stuck in fight-or-flight. But cross out the flight part.

“Soup is ready,” Jess announced, coming into the great room from the kitchen, a small towel slung over her left shoulder. Her dark hair was pulled back in a ponytail, and there was flour smudged on her cheek.

“I told you it isn’t your job to be cooking for everyone. It’s your wedding week,” Kruger grumbled, trailing in behind her.

---