Page 92 of Broken Hearts
Blood pounds in my ears and I’m warm all over.
“What?” Rhett asks like he’s not sure he heard her right. His grip around my waist tightens.
“She didn’t make it, baby. I’m so sorry.”
My breathing gets shallow and my knees buckle.
“Shit, Sienna. Are you okay?” He turns his attention to me. There’s no look of sadness on his face, but his eyes are hard and his jaw is set. “You’re white as a sheet. Sit down. I’ll be right back.”
He helps me sit on the high curb and he takes off.
“I’m so sorry,” I say to his parents, and then I close my eyes and focus on my breathing.
27
Rhett
“I’m fine, really,” Sienna says, trying to stand.
“Let’s give it a few more minutes.” Jeff places a hand up to stop her and sits with her on the curb.
“There’s no reason for everyone to wait. The bus should at least go back.” She ducks her head. I’m standing in front of her, shielding her from anyone who might look, but I don’t really think anyone is paying attention.
“My parents and I can give her a ride,” I say to Jeff. I’m thankful our trainer was here. He came just to watch as a spectator, but I grabbed him the second Sienna went limp in my arms.
“Are you sure you don’t want to go to the hospital, just as a precaution?” he asks her for the third or fourth time in the past thirty minutes.
“I’m sure. They’ll only tell me what I already know. I need to rest.”
“Okay.” He stands and looks to me. “Text or call me if she needs anything.”
“Thanks, man.”
He pauses and lifts a hand to squeeze my shoulder. “And I’m sorry for your loss.”
Swallowing the lump in my throat, I nod. Focusing on Sienna, I push out everything else. I can’t go there right now. I’m on a teeter-totter with a nine-hundred-pound man. One second, I’m flying high, winning a national championship with my team and the woman I’m stupid in love with by my side, and the next I’m hitting the ground hard. Carrie’s dead? Nah, it doesn’t make any sense.
Dakota, Reagan, and Ginny move forward when Jeff leaves, hovering over Sienna like three mother hens.
“Give her some room,” I instruct. Instructions that fall on deaf ears.
“I’m okay,” Sienna says. Stubborn woman.
Adam appears at my side. “Hey, I just heard the news. Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. Listen, I’m going to stay with Sienna tonight. I already ran it by coach, and he said it was cool. Room’s all yours.”
He stares blankly.
“Dude,” Mav says, joining us. We’re a freaking circus act. He hugs me tightly, squeezing the air out of my lungs. “I am so sorry for your loss. What can I do?”
His tone is soft and sympathetic and I cannot handle it right now. I’ve gotta get the hell out of here. “I’m good.”
“What’s going on?” Reagan asks. The girls don’t know yet, and I don’t want to be around when more people find out.
I remove myself from Mav’s hold and look to Sienna. “Angel, you ready? My parents will give us a ride. I’m going to stay with you tonight.”
“Oh.” She glances at the girls. “It’s okay. Go be with your family.”
