The first man cuts open Wade’s shirt, revealing the extent of the mark and its infection. The dark tendrils go clear down his abdomen and wrap up and around his shoulder to his back.
“We’re going to need to get him to the hospital,” the second man says, twisting around to face us. His dark, chocolate-brown eyes are empathetic as he stands up.
Rushing past me, he grabs the stretcher, dropping it beside Wade’s body. Together, the two of them lift Wade up and onto the mesh of fabric, metal, and plastic.
“Ready?” Burly guy number one asks, setting his blue eyes on the empathetic one, who nods in return.
My head is a swirly cyclone of confusion and panic as they lift him up and start to remove Wade from the kitchen. But the motion of it is the kick in the ass I need.
“Wait!” I cry out. “I’m coming with you.”
I follow them outside, watching them carefully maneuver the snow-covered walkways.
When we get to the back of the ambulance, they hoist Wade inside with ease, clearly used to this sort of thing. Their calm demeanor is almost unnerving as the brown-eyed man turns back to me.
“What’s your relationship to this man?” he asks, holding onto the doorway and blocking my entry.
Anger courses through my body and I practically scream at him, “I’m his girlfriend.”
He shakes his head, “I’m sorry. Only family can be in the ambulance with us. You’ll have to meet us at the hospital.”
“Are you kidding me?” I growl, getting ready to punch my way onto that ambulance if I have to.
“We’ll follow you,” Mom says, suddenly by my side. I hadn’t even noticed her standing there. “Come on, Autumn. Let them focus on doing their job. We’ll be right behind them.”
I unclench my fists, swallowing hard. “Fine.”
Spinning on my heel, I race back to the house, grabbing my purse and keys.
When I get back to the driveway, Mom is sitting in the driver’s seat of Blue, with the door wide open. “Pass the keys. You’re in no condition to drive.”
I don't have the willpower to argue. I toss the keys and race around to the other side. By the time I take my seat, the ambulance is starting to pull away. Mom takes off after it, staying right on its tail.
“How is this happening?” I whisper, fighting back the return of tears. “I don’t know what to do.”
“I don’t know if there’s anything you can do, sweetie. We need more information,” Mom says, reaching out and placing her hand on my arm.
My eyes widen with her words and I reach into my front pocket. I tug out my cell phone and dial the one person I know who might be able to see what’s happening—Diana Hawthorne.
The phone rings twice before she picks up. “Hey there, Autumn. Now’s not a—” she pauses for a moment and sighs. “Oh god, Autumn. I’m sorry. I know this is important, but I’m right in the middle of something dire, too.”
“But I need your help,” I plead.
“I know you do. I’m so sorry to have to say no to this. I know it’s a shitty thing to do, but you’re going to need to turn to someone else.”
“Someone else? Who the hell else has any sort of insights about the future?” I cry.
Mom takes the final turn to the hospital, rounding the corner a little too quickly. My insides clench as I grip the handle of the door.
“Call Dominic. He’s the best one to help you,” she says. “Shit, I gotta go. I’m sorry, Autumn. Call Dominic.” She hangs up without even saying good-bye.
“Dammit.” Without thinking, I close my fist and punch the dashboard.
Pain vibrates through my hand, but for a moment, there’s clarity in the discomfort. She’s right. If she’s unable, or unwilling, to help me—then I need to follow her advice. I’ll need to call Dominic.
The ambulance pulls into the emergency room port and Mom pulls into one of the first spots near the main entrance doors. As soon as the car is no longer in motion, I grab my purse and hop out.
Mom curses something behind me, but I don’t stop to let her catch up. I need to get inside. I need to be with Wade.
I rush up to the main desk, waiting for the slight, blond woman to get off the phone. It only takes a moment, but it’s long enough for me to be annoyed.
“Can I help you?” she asks, her voice calm and almost melodic.
I take a deep breath, trying to calm myself down. “Yes, I need to see my boyfriend. They just brought him in the ambulance.”
The woman’s fingers click against the keyboard as she turns her gaze to the monitor in front of her.
When she’s taking too long to say anything, I spit, “His name is Wade Hoffman. He can’t be alone—he doesn’t have any family. It’s just me.”
“And you are?”
“His girlfriend,” I say, a little too loudly.
“I’m sorry—”
“So help me, if you tell me I can’t be with him because I’m not married to him, I’ll punch your goddamn nose,” I yell at her, practically climbing over the counter that separates us.
Mom reaches out, tugging me back. “Autumn, let the woman do her job.” Her words are powerful, pulling me back from the edge of total insanity. I turn to look at her and she tips her chin and says, “Breathe.”
The adrenaline coursing through my veins begins to wane and I’m suddenly dizzy with exhaustion.
“No one is allowed in while they assess the patient. Relatives or not,” the woman says, settling back into her seat, relief clear across her face. “If you can just take a seat while they try to figure out what’s wrong, that’s the best thing you can do for your boyfriend right now.”
My shoulders slump as Mom grabs hold of them, turning me to face the seating area. “Thank
