Page 75 of The Overdue Kiss

“Des is fine. Take a breath.”

He says it like it’s so simple. Just inhale and calm down. How can I do that when I don’t know where Des is? I need to see him, to touch him, to know that he’s safe. Because if something happened...

Fat teardrops run down my face, and my eyes flutter closed. I refuse to continue that thought.

“Maya, he’s okay. I promise—he just forgot his phone at home. He’s worried about you too. That’s why he asked Cai to call.”

“He is? What is going on?” I croak, gripping the phone like a lifeline.

“It’s not Des—it’s Reese,” he says in a tight voice. “It’s a long story. The short version is she fell during some commotion with her ex-boyfriend. She’s in and out of consciousness still and we are waiting on test results.”

“Oh my goodness. Is she going to be all right?”

“We don’t know, but they think she has a concussion. But Des is... man... he’s a wreck. He’s split between wanting to stay and making sure you’re okay too. Could you meet us here at Lutheran Hospital? He needs you.”

I nod my head, then realize he can’t see it. “Yes, of course. I’m on the way now.”

“Good. We’re all in the ER waiting room.”

“I’ll be right there.” I hang up the phone in a panic. “Julia, Juliaaa.”

She comes around the corner in mismatched sweats, shaking her car keys. “I’m already one step ahead of you. Get in the car. I’m driving.”

I’m an emotional rollercoaster on the way to the hospital. Happiness that Des is all right and didn’t stand me up like I had originally thought but instantly replaced with guilt for not trusting him in the first place. It all churns together with worry and concern for Reese.

Julia pulls into the emergency room entrance like it’s a NASCAR pit stop. I leap from the vehicle before it’s stopped and dash into the chilled and sterile waiting room. My abrupt arrival has all the heads spinning in my direction. I search all their faces, but none of them are Des.

“Maya,” Cai says, splitting away from the small group waiting in the corner to jog over. “Des is still back there with Tristen and Reese. He’s been asking me to call you to make sure you know what’s happening. Thor had to cash in a favor to get your friend’s number so we could reach you. Why aren’t you answering your phone?”

“I’ve had it on me—oh, wait.” I flip through to my settings and groan. “My phone was still in Do Not Disturb mode from when I did my live.”

Brows furrowed, he looks like he wants to shake me.

I turn off the setting, and all my missed messages flood the screen. Panicked texts from Cai—who I think I blocked earlier.

Cai takes a deep breath and swallows what he was about to say. “Well, at least you’re here now.”

“How is Reese?”

“Last I heard she was awake.”

“What happened to her?”

“Burns snuck into the shop and tried to persuade her to take him back. When he didn’t take no for an answer, she fought back. Thank God Tristen was locking up the bar and heard her scream. He held him there until the police came to arrest him.”

“Good. The thought of that man roaming the streets...” I shudder.

Thor waves us over, dark circles under his eyes. I grab a seat across from him.

“How long have you been here?” I ask.

He shrugs. “Hours? I don’t know. I got the call in the night and left.”

“Is it just the three of us?” I ask.

“Tulip is around here too.” Cai scrubs a tired hand down his face. “Chris and Holt are both busy with work, so Tulip volunteered to keep everyone updated via the group chat. She knows a couple nurses, so she’s getting real-time updates.”

“When can we go back?”

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