Page 69 of Hot Girl Summer

I’m pretty certain that I haven’t hit my head, but when a white SUV pulls up alongside a grey Audi, I have to question my reality. Within moments, Danny is in front of me, cupping my face in his hands. I must be mildly concussed.

“Are you okay?” he asks, his eyes tight with worry as he searches mine. “You’re cold.”

He rushes towards his car as April flees to my side. I touch my cheek where Danny’s hand had been moments ago.

“Are you hurt?” April asks, pulling me into a hug. “I didn’t know what to do. I was so worried, I couldn’t drive, so I called Ollie.” I follow her gaze to the white SUV. “We’ll take your bike.”

“And I’m taking you to hospital,” Danny says, reappearing again. “Here, put this on.” He wraps a hoodie that smells like him around my shoulders, and opens the Audi’s passenger door. I hug the fabric closer to my skin and breathe in that Riviera scent.

“Hospital?”

“You need to go to Accident and Emergency.”

Disorientated, I climb in, and say goodbye to April through the open window while Ollie loads my bicycle onto the rack of the SUV. New car scent and leather triggers my senses, and I realise the interior of this Audi isn’t the one I’m used to.

“You got a new car,” I say, as Danny climbs into the driver’s side. It’s more of an observation than a question. I don’t expect an answer.

“I figured it was time for an electric upgrade. Be a little kinder to the environment.”

“Mr Bougie,” I say, half teasing, half not knowing what the fuck I’m talking about.

It’s probably the trauma speaking, but there is no end to the ways this man can impress me. He pulls his seatbelt across his body, and I follow his lead, pausing to rub my left shoulder to ease the ache. He passes me a bottle of water.

“Here, drink this. Small sips, you might be in shock.”

The engine roars to life, and he drives away from the curb onto the road. I gulp some water, and my throat instantly thanks me for it.

“Danny, I don’t need to get checked over.”

“You could have a head injury.”

“I’m fine, I promise. Just take me home, please.”

“I’m not taking any risks.”

“You’re so cute when you’re mad.”

“Sophia, I’m not mad. I’m worried.” A muscle ticks in his jaw, and he white-knuckles the steering wheel.

So cute. So easy to love.

I try to erase the last thought that popped into my head. Maybe I do have a head injury, after all.

“You’re lucky,” Dr Khan, the emergency room doctor, says after examining me.

After a brief consultation and the relevant diagnostic tests, she’s ruled out any serious injury.

“You could have potentially been looking at a broken bone or dislocated shoulder, so congratulations on your ability to fall off a bike correctly.”

I shoot Danny a pointed look to say, “I told you so.”

“I’m happy to send you home, but I will ask that someone stays with you for the majority of the time, as other injuries may become more apparent in the coming days.”

“That’s no problem, she can stay with me.”

Erm...what now?

“What should we be looking out for, Doctor?” Danny asks.

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