Page 79 of Fall With Me
“What do I get if I win?” Finns asks.
“I will read an extra chapter inDog Mantonight. But if I win, you have to go to bed ten minutes early.” Yeah, that’s mean for a kid, but Dawson said he’d show me his appreciation, and the sooner Finn’s in his bedroom, the faster I get Dawson’s delicious lips on mine.
“No! I don’t want that.”
I shrug. “Then win and you won’t have to.” Though he doesn’t stand a chance against me.
“Let’s go.”
I count as we pump. On the third time forward, I say, “Jump!”
Flying through the air, I land with a hard thud on the wood chips a good ten feet from the swing set. For a half-second, tingles shoot throughout me.Yes, victory is mine!
I hear Finn’s feet smack into the ground, a sickening snap accompanying his landing.
He cries, “Aghhhhhhh! It hurts! It hurts!”
My stomach lurches up to my throat. Spinning, I run to his side. My pulse pounds in my ears. My hands shake. “What’s wrong? Where’s the pain coming from?”
“My leg,” he screams.
“Take a deep breath. Let me look at it.”
Finn holds onto his shin, tears stream down his red cheeks.
Oh my heck, why did I agree to Finn’s bet? I hurt him. Dawson’s going to kill me. Finn’s ankle swells, a massive bruise already forming.Please let it be a sprain and not a fracture.
“Okay, bud, do you think you can stand on it? We need to get you home.” If we rest, elevate, ice, wrap it, and get him some pain meds, he might be okay.
“No, no. It hurts too much.”
Shoot. Maybe it is broken. What have I done? I can’t believe the first time Dawson asks me for help I screw up. “I’m going to pick you up and carry you to the car, okay?”
Finn doesn’t respond, just cries. My stomach is hollow. Tears sting my eyes and nose. I can NOT melt down right now. This is my fault and I have to fix it.
Squatting, I put one arm under Finn’s bent knees and one arm behind his back. Standing, my legs shake, but I keep a firm grip on the boy who occupies a good chunk of my heart. I’ve never been so grateful for my muscles than I am right now. Finn feels like he weighs five hundred pounds.
Staggering to the car, I get him buckled in the back seat, his injured foot resting on the middle console between the two front seats. I want to take him home and wait to hear from Dawson and see if he thinks we should go to Instant Care, but with the way Finn’s ankle looks, I’m not sure waiting is the best idea.
I’m a failure. And absolutely should not be allowed to have a family of my own.
I pull out my cell and call Kate, since I know Finn and Carter are unavailable. She answers on the second ring.
“Hey, babe. What did lover boy want?”
“Kate,” I say in a panicked rush. “What network is your insurance on?”
“That is the weirdest question.”
I take a deep breath, trying to calm my racing heart. “Finn and I were at the park. We jumped off the swings, but Finn landed wrong and hurt his ankle. Dawson’s in a meeting with Carter. I need to know what doctor’s office to take Finn to that won’t cost Dawson an arm and a leg.”
“Take him to Granger Medical on thirty-ninth. I’ll head back to the office and let Dawson know.”
“Thanks, Kate. You’re the best.”
“You’re welcome. But hey…”
I pull out of the parking lot. “Yeah?”
