Page 20 of Echoes of You

You owe me more favors than you’ll ever be able to repay in a lifetime.

Me

I can fix your parking tickets.

Doc

I don’t have any parking tickets.

Me

Please…

Doc

Fine. Come to the office in half an hour. Did you get another concussion? Road rash from a motorcycle spill?

Me

Thank you. It’s actually not for me. It’s for a friend. Go easy on her when you meet her. She’s been through a lot.

Three little dots appeared, then disappeared, then reappeared. Finally, a text came through.

Doc

Of course. Do I need a heads-up about anything?

I chewed on the inside of my lip as I stared at the screen. It felt like a betrayal to talk about Maddie without her permission, but I wanted Doc to have all the information she needed.

Me

Abusive ex. Her ribs are pretty banged up.

Doc

I’m sorry. Bring her in, and I’ll help in any way I can.

Me

Thanks. See you in a bit.

Doc was a good egg. She’d come in late nights and weekends when I hurt myself doing God knew what. She cared about the people of this town and always went above and beyond. I knew she’d get Maddie on the path to healing.

I let Maddie sleep for another fifteen minutes, tracing her breaths with my gaze and watching each rise and fall of her chest. I’d done the same thing when we were twelve, and she was in the hospital. My parents hadn’t been able to get me to go home for days. I’d sat in that hospital chair just watching her breathe, assuring myself that she was alive. Finally, a nurse had brought in a cot for me so I could get some rest, too. But I often woke in a panic, needing to see Maddie breathing.

I rubbed a hand up and down Maddie’s arm. “Time to wake up, Mads.”

She stirred, shifting in her sleep. “Mmm.”

My lips curved the barest amount. She’d always been hard to rouse—deep-sleeper through and through. At least when she was with me.

“We gotta get going.”

Maddie shifted again, this time rolling to her back. She blinked a few times before her eyes focused on my face. “Hi.”

I tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “How do you feel?”

Her gaze dropped. “Tired. Embarrassed.”

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