Page 5 of This Time I'm Keeping You
“That smile,” she hissed.“It opened more zippers and buttons in college than lunch wrappers.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” he said, smiling.
“I’m immune.Hell, that hurts!”
“I know, Poppy, but we need to immobilize it.Hang in there.Almost done.Small breaths.”
“I’ve called an ambulance,” someone said above them.
“No ambulance, please, Nick.”
“You must go to the hospital, Poppy.Your head could need a stitch, and your arm an X-ray.”
“No hospital.”Her words were desperate.
Nick took the fingers she dug into his forearm and held them.Most people tried to stay clear of hospitals, but he could see by the terror in Poppy’s eyes that this was more.
“I’m pretty skilled at most things, Poppy, but stitching and setting breaks is even out of my range.”
“I won’t go back to the hospital again.”
Again?What the hell had happened to her since that day she’d told him she no longer wanted to be friends?
Chapter3
“You’re going by ambulance, Poppy.Now suck it up.”
“I’m hurt.Y-you can’t speak to me like that!”Her face was pale and pinched.
“Sure, I can.Asshole, remember?”
She tried to glare but winced instead.
“I’m taking off your stilts now.”
Poppy didn’t speak, just concentrated on breathing as Nick removed her left shoe.Her ankle felt small in his hand.
“How the hell do your feet survive being jammed into these things?Mine are weeping just looking at them.”He studied the high heel.
How did she balance?
“I’m sh-short.They make me tall.”
“You really expect me to believe that?”He scoffed, trying to take her mind off the pain.“I mean, fashion has shit all to do with it, right?”
“I-I like shoes,” she whispered.
He slid the other one off her foot before speaking.“I like shoes too.Sneakers, flat and comfortable.”
“D-do you still live here in Brook, Nick?”she asked.He rolled with the subject change.Clearly, Poppy was trying to focus on anything but her pain.
“Yes.Generations of Athertons come from Brook.”
They both heard the siren, and her breathing grew even more erratic.
“Breathe, Poppy.Inhale and exhale.”
“Help me up, Nick.I really don’t want this.I want to go home.”
