Page 4 of Hail Marry
Crickets.
“I guess…I’ll go with you,” the girl says to me. “But I’ve got mace in my purse, just so you know.”
“You can keep it in there.” I bend down to help her to her feet. She’s light as a feather compared to the guys I help up after a hard tackle. She smells a lot better too. “You good?” I keep a hand on her arm, watching for any sign of wavering as she orients herself on her feet.
“You should carry her,” Purple Pants Lady says. “A strong, strapping young man like yourself.”
Her friend nods vehemently. “Better safe than sorry.”
“I don’t need to be carried,” the young woman says, and she starts walking to the crosswalk again.
I scoop up her phone and AirPods on the pavement nearby, slip them in my pocket, and join her just in time for the walk signal to come on.
She looks both ways—twice—but still hesitates. There’s a deer-in-the-headlights look on her face, so I take the first step, and she follows.
I can’t blame her for being shaken up after almost getting plowed by a semi-truck. Heck,I’mshaken. The adrenaline’s still fading.
“I’m really feeling fine,” she says.
“Good. I’m still taking you to the hospital.”
She shoots a sidelong glance at me as we reach my car. The meter has six minutes left.
“You’re being bossy again,” she says as I open the passenger door for her.
“I’m still taking you to the hospital,please.” I wait for her to get in.
She smiles reluctantly.
“Watch your head.” I use my hand as a shield on the doorframe as she steps down and into the car.
“I’ve gotten into a few cars and crossed a few streets in my time, you know.” She pulls the seatbelt and clicks it in place. “I’m actually above average at both.”
I shut her door and head to the driver’s seat. Her head seems to be functioning all right.
“Thanks for doing this,” she says as I open the driver’s door and take my seat. She puts a hand to her pants, and her eyes widen. “Shoot. I left my?—”
I hold out her phone.
She stares at it for a second, then takes it. “Thank you.” Her hand flies to her ear, and she clenches her eyes shut. “Ugh. I probably?—”
I hold out her AirPods in my palm.
Her gaze darts to me and fixes there as she takes them. “I had a wad of cash too...”
I press the start button, and the engine comes on. “Nice try.”
She sighs, but she’s smiling. “Worth a shot.”
Slinging my arm over her seat, I reverse and pull out of the parking space to get on the road. It’s completely silent, and I glance at her, wondering why she’s suddenly out of stuff to say.
“Do you mind if I call my boyfriend real quick?” she asks.
“Go ahead.”
For the next couple minutes, I try not to listen to her side of a short conversation, focusing on getting us to the hospital as quickly and safely as possible.
At the light before the turn for the hospital’s ER parking lot, I get a text from my agent.
