Page 83 of Off-Limits Daddy
“Ari,” he mumbled.
A moment passed where he looked like himself. Then his head dropped forward.
Marco caught him.
The ambulance pulled in just minutes later, but it felt like a lifetime. Doors slammed. EMTs jumped out, fastand professional. Words flew past me. Head injury. Possible concussion. Pupils not equal. Keep him awake.
“I said I’m good,” Daddy muttered, gritting his teeth as he pushed himself up on one elbow. His arm buckled. He collapsed back against the pavement with a grimace.
Marco reached to steady him, but Daddy waved him off. “It’s just my back—knocked the wind outta me. I’m good, Marco. Just gimme a second.”
His words slurred again. Not as bad this time, but enough to make Marco’s mouth tighten.
“Morgan,” Marco warned, crouched low beside him now. “Stay down.”
“I’m not dying,” Daddy mumbled, clearly annoyed that no one was buying it.
He looked right at me again as they brought the gurney over. Tried for a smile and barely managed it.
My breath broke in my chest.
“I’ll ride with him,” I said.
One of the EMTs shook her head. “Only space for staff. You can follow us.”
They moved quickly. Boone stepped back to let them through.
Daddy turned his head on the stretcher. His eyes found mine—glassy now.
“It’s okay,” he whispered.
No, it wasn’t.
Not when he was strapped down. Not when his hands weren’t steady. Not when the guy who could carry three people out of a burning building could barely keep his eyes open.
Boone’s grip didn’t let up, his palm like iron on my bicep.
“Boone,” I rasped. “Please.”
He glanced down at me, eyes full of conflict. “You can’t help him right now, Ari. Let them do their job.”
I watched as they slipped the oxygen mask over Daddy’s face. The neck brace clicked into place. Every sound landed like a hammer to my chest.
I hadn’t said it.
God, I hadn’t told him I loved him.
Not once. Not out loud. Not when it was quiet and safe and we had all the time in the world.
And what if we didn’t?
Boone’s fingers loosened. Just barely.
“Don’t get in their way,” he muttered. Then let go.
I moved forward, legs shaky, ribs tight like something inside me might shatter.
My throat closed so tight it felt like I couldn’t breathe. My mouth moved, but nothing came out. Not at first.
