Page 354 of Small Town Firsts

I don't make the same mistake I did with the ambulance. "Yes, her husband."

Gabe nearly chokes on air, garnering him a few strange looks.

The woman behind the desk gives me a soft smile. "She was brought in about ten minutes ago. That's all I can tell you at this time. You fellas can take a seat in the waiting area, I'll do my best to keep you updated."

"Thanks," I say tersely, balling my hands into tight fists by my sides.

"Hopefully the doctor will be out to speak with you soon."

Gabe grabs the back of my shirt and tugs me toward the waiting area.

"Husband?" he asks, as we each drop down into a too-small yellow chair.

The unforgiving plastic bites into my side, another painful reminder of where I am and why I'm here. "Told the paramedics I was her boyfriend and he shut me out."

Gabe nods. "At least you did something smart."

"Listen, I get you're upset?—"

"Upset?" Gabe bellows. "Try furious! You're nothing but bad news."

"Listen," I say, my voice deadly calm, despite wanting to shout and rage. "I love her. I. Fucking. Love. Her. We had a fucked-up start and a crooked journey, but she is everything to me. Do you hear me? Everything. And you can blame me all you want, you can hate me all you want, but it'll never be more than I hate myself."

I hunch over, propping my elbows on my knees, burying my head in my hands.

"You love her?" Gabe asks quietly from beside me.

"Yeah, man. I love her."

"Where is she?What's happening? Is she okay?" Zach demands as he approaches where we're seated.

"We don't know anything yet," Gabe says, opening his arms for his boyfriend.

Zach leans down and pulls him close before releasing him. He then leans over and hugs me, too, shocking the hell out of me.

"So how is it your boyfriend over there punched me and you're hugging me?"

Zach smiles, but it doesn't reach his eyes. "Because he didn't see the look on your face when that video came on for everyone to see. He didn't see how utterly devastated you were. I did. A man doesn't fake a look like that, especially when he doesn't have an audience. Now, what happened?"

"Overdose."

"Damn. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but it's about to get worse."

I sit upright in my seat. "Why? What do you know?"

"Nothing. It's just... one of us has to call Stella."

"Shit. Not me!" Gabe says. "There's no way I can break my sunshine's heart."

I sigh and pinch the bridge of my nose and then pull my phone from my pocket. "I'll do it," I say, dialing her number.

"Hey, Sterling?"

"Yeah, it's me."

"What's going on?"

"Listen, have you gotten any weird texts tonight?"

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