No… No, No, it's too soon to know. I chided my inner self. Suddenly, I was taken out of my thoughts when I heard a ring; it was Jake's phone.
"Yes." Jake said in a stern voice after picking up the call.
"What? When?" He stood up hastily, completely shocked.
"How is she?"
"Text me the address."
Jake took a deep breath after disconnecting the call. His eyes were restless, and his body language was tensed. I was scared at his reaction, whoever was on the phone, definitely gave terrible news.
"What happened Jake? Is everything alright?"2
"I need to rush Emma. It's an emergency. Sorry, but I have to go."
Jake started wearing his shoes and picked his coat lying on the sofa before making his way out. "Wait! You are scaring me. What happened?"
"Don't worry. I will call you later today and explain everything." He gave me a quick kiss on my forehead and quickly strode out.
I stood there dumbfounded, still comprehending what just happened.
Chapter 24
Caught in the Crossfire
Emma
I was still numb, Jake rushed out in such a hurry, and I was really worried about him.
I shut the door, and entered my living room, that's when the doorbell rang again. I almost ran back to open the door, assuming he might have returned.
I opened the door, hastily, "Jake?"
"Hi, Emma. How are you??" Niki exclaimed while giving me a tight hug.
"I was so eager to meet you that I took a detour here before heading to the gallery. I have been so worried about you ever since you told me about your hiking accident." Niki squeaked while still squeezing me in a tight hug.
She looked fresh as a daisy, and a warm feeling engulfed my heart just by having her around. She sure was my detox to all the worries in the world.
"Thanks, darling. I am glad you came. I have so much to tell you."
"That's why I am here. And did you just call me Jake? Right now? When you opened the door? Were you expecting him?" She asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Well, yes. I umm… he was here actually. He stayed the night." I stuttered nervously.
"What???"
"Yes, a lot happened in Norway." My cheeks were flushed as a sheepish smile crept up my face.
"Oh My God! Emma? Are you both together now? Like together?" Her mouth and eyes were both wide open.
"Yes. Sort of." I whispered gawkily.
"Wow! This is huge. I am so happy for you. I want all the details, especially the juicy ones. I can't wait to know every damn thing." Niki screamed, almost jumping in excitement.
"Yes, yes. But I need to get ready for office as well. I have to report back to work today. I already took two days off." I reasoned with her trying to calm her down a bit.
"Of course. Does it count as absence in office, when the boss himself kept you busy?" Niki and I have always talked boys before, yet now when she was teasing me by taking Jake's name, I felt good, like a soft, soothing breeze just brushed against my skin. I liked hearing my name with his, our union Afterall felt inevitable. I had never been happier.
"That's fine. Don't bother answering. Look at you. All shy and nervous. I will die in excitement. Go get ready, I will drive you to work, and you can tell me every damn thing on the way."
"Great. Give me fifteen mins, and we can head out together. There is coffee and food on the table, munch if you want."
"Wait. What's that?" Niki asked curiously.
"What?" I asked her as she was pointing in my direction.
I looked at her confused, unable to understand what she was referring to.
"Is that a freaking hickey?" She gasped in shock.
"Well, umm, that. No. Umm....actually yes, it is. But we will talk about it later." I was so nervous; I almost ran to my room trying to avoid her from stopping me again.
"Emma. Come back here. You are dead meat, darling. I just left you for a week, and I see you with love marks. Did you guys do it? Oh my god! You guys did it right?" She was elated, screaming from outside my washroom now, chuckling and grinning throughout.
"No. We didn't. I will tell you everything, just calm down for fifteen fucking minutes." I retorted from the shower, trying to hide the embarrassment in my voice.
I took a deep breath and was smiling ear to ear at Niki's continuous banter from outside. I think it's safe to conclude that my best friend was legit crazy; and perhaps, that's why I loved her so much.
She changed my mood. Even though my mind was wandering back to Jake, but I was sure Niki's company won't allow me to ponder on anything else, not until she knows every part of our story.
I hope everything was fine and not as bad as it looked from his reaction. I prayed for him in my heart.
***
Jake
I immediately drove to the address that Augustin sent me. I had a thousand questions in my mind; something felt incredibly odd, I was just not able to put a finger on it.
I rushed inside the hospital and met Augustin at the reception.
"Where is she?"
"8th Floor."
"How is she?"
"Out of danger now, she has been requesting your presence since last night. She is being so adamant about it, not agreeing to talk to anyone else. Not even the cops. "Augustin explained.
"Don't worry. I will handle this."
We headed upstairs and were now waiting outside her room, as a team of doctors were checking her.
After 15-20 minutes, the door opened, and a doctor, along with many staff members, appeared in the corridor.
"How is she, doctor?"
"She is fine,
