Page 24 of Fit for Love
And I didn’t have my phone with me.
What the hell was I going to do?
In a situation that should have had me weeping into my sweaty T-shirt, I ended up howling with laughter, until tears really did start to come.
When I thought I was about to get my act together, something stupid had to happen like this.
How on earth was I going to get back?
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a taxi fly past and thought about waving it down, but it was obviously already on a job. My heart sank. There hadn’t been many vehicles go past in the short time I’d been sitting there. I could be here a while.
The light drizzle became full-blown rain, and I shivered. Hypothermia on top of a broken ankle? What else could go wrong?
Chapter Thirteen
Ethan
As I sped down Turner’s Hill, I thought I saw Cora sitting on the pavement, but I told myself I was wrong. What would she be doing there anyway? I glanced in the rear-view mirror again.
It was her.
When I reached the bottom of the hill, I performed an illegal U-turn and began the climb up again. She was still sitting there, clutching her ankle. I pulled up by the pavement and opened the door.
“What happened? Are you hurt?”
Her gorgeous blue eyes were watery with tears.
“Of course I’m hurt! You were in the pub with someone else last night!” she yelled.
That hadn’t been the reaction I’d been expecting, although she was absolutely right. We’d talk about that later; right now I was more concerned with her physical well-being.
“I meant how come you’re here?”
Cora sighed. “I went for a run, slipped on the leaves and I think I’ve broken my ankle.”
I slid out of the car and crouched down beside her. My fingers gently probed the bone, noting the evidence of swelling and bruising. “Can you move it?”
She tentatively waggled her foot, her pretty face contorting in pain. “Just about.”
“We should get you to a doctor.” I straightened up and held out my hand to her.
“I’m not going anywhere with you.” She folded her arms across her chest.
“Don’t be ridiculous. There isn’t anyone else around and you can’t stay here.”
Before she had chance to protest, I leaned down again and grabbed her under her triceps, pulling her upright, and swept her into my arms. I took her around to the passenger side, opened the door and deposited her into the seat, swiftly reaching for the seat belt to secure her in place.
“Ethan! What are you doing?” Unfamiliar with the seat belt, she didn’t have a chance to unfasten it before I jumped back into the driver’s seat, slammed the door and fired up the engine.
“I’m taking you to the doctor. No arguments.”
She pouted for the whole journey and refused to answer any of my questions. It was one of the most frustrating journeys I had ever had.
The car park at the medical centre was relatively full, but I managed to get one of the last available spaces, even though it was quite a way from the front door.
Reluctantly, Cora got out and attempted to walk under her own steam, but it was a losing battle.
“Do you want me to help?” I offered, expecting her to rebuff me.
