by Kennedy Fox
“I don’t need to go,” Dylan says softly, trying to sit up. “I’m just fine,” he insists.
“You should,” I hear River tell him. “They need to make sure you’re okay, and that I didn’t fracture a rib or anything.” She smirks at him, and he actually decides to listen to her.
As Dylan’s pushed into the ambulance, I climb in behind and sit on the bench next to the gurney. The paramedics strap in and we take off to the hospital. On the way, all I can think of is how his mama is going to kill me as I replay every moment in my head.
One minute, he was being an asshole trying to cheat by knocking me off my board, and the next I’m dragging his unconscious body to the beach because he nearly drowns. It seems surreal, actually. I couldn’t find him, and when I did, adrenaline pumped through me so hard I rushed back to shore as fast as possible.
Once we arrive and Dylan is unloaded, they immediately move him to a private triage room as we wait for a doctor to evaluate him.
“What the fuck happened?” I ask when we’re finally alone, emotion thick in my voice.
“I don’t know,” Dylan tells me, making eye contact. “I was never a strong swimmer.”
I run my fingers through my hair. “How have we been friends for forever, and I never knew that? Why’d you agreed to get in the water then? And why the hell did you go out that far?” I’m throwing question after question at him because I don’t know what else to do. I’ve never felt fear like that in my entire life. “You could’ve died, Dylan. Do you know what your mama would’ve done to me if that had happened? I would’ve blamed myself forever,” I scold a little too sternly. My face softens, and I let out a long breath. “I’m glad you’re okay. You scared the shit out of me.”
Dylan smiles. “Not getting soft on me, are you?”
“You’re a dick,” I spit out just as a female nurse walks in, holding a file in her hand.
“Mr. Hart,” she addresses sweetly. “How are you feeling?”
Dylan sits up in bed. “Better. I’m breathing,” he jokes.
“That’s great to hear. Just to be completely transparent, the doctor wants to do chest X-rays to double-check there’s no fluid in your lungs or anything. Otherwise, you could get pneumonia, and that can be very serious,” she continues to explain. “The X-ray technician will be here in the next few minutes with their portable machine to do testing. But before then, do you have any questions for me?”
Dylan glances over at me, then back at the nurse. “How long do I have to stay here?”
“The doctor will follow up with you on that after the results come in, but normally it’s recommended you stay overnight so we can monitor your oxygen levels and make sure everything stays normal.”
Dylan huffs, and I can tell he’s unhappy with that answer. After the nurse exits the room, he starts his bitching.
“I’m a walking party foul! All I wanted to do was a have a good time and now look at me. Being pumped full of shit and having to get X-rays of my lungs…” Before he can finish his rant, the technician walks in, and I’m asked to wait in the hallway.
I sit in the waiting area and find myself becoming more antsy with each tick of the second hand on the clock. Standing, I walk to the window and stare out at the blue sky and thank my lucky stars that Dylan is alive. It was such a close call and frightening as fuck. Sure, I’ve had to deal with some shit on the ranch, like cuts and bruises, dying animals, and snake bites, but there’s nothing like watching my best friend lie unconscious. Before I’m allowed to fall too deeply into my thoughts, I’m told I can go back into the room.
I enter, and we sit there for at least an hour listening to the beeps of the machines before a doctor finally enters with a file in her hand and a smile on her face.
“Hi, Mr. Hart. I’m Dr. Jacobs. I’ve had a chance to review your X-rays,” she states sweetly.
“Howdy,” Dylan greets in return.
She opens the file and grabs the films before placing them onto a screen, and the X-rays light up when she clicks a button. “Your lungs look clear for the most part. This cloudy area down here…” She outlines the area with the end of her pen. “…somewhat concerns me, so just to be on the safe side, we’re going to keep you overnight for observation. I’d like to continue monitoring your heart rate and oxygen levels and keep you hydrated with the IV. I’ll order another X-ray in the morning just to be sure, and if everything looks clear, you’ll be discharged.” She flashes a hopeful smile, though Dylan looks displeased.
Dylan forces out a smile so as not to be rude.
Dr. Jacobs smiles back at him. “Do you have any questions for me?”
“No, ma’am. Thank you,” he tells her.
“If you need anything till then, you can press the call button, and the nurses will be happy to help. Don’t hesitate to reach out, especially if you start feeling any differently,” she says before leaving the room.
We sit in silence for a few moments, and that’s when Dylan groans.
“Suppose that means you won’t be texting the code word tonight.” I chuckle, breaking the tension, but he rolls his eyes instead.
“On a serious note, after I’m moved to my room, you should go back to the hotel where you can actually sleep comfortably. I don’t want you to be a prisoner in the hospital, too.”
I stare at him. “Are you sure? I’ll stay here with you. I don’t mind.”
“Yes, I’ll be fine,” he insists. “I’m gonna try to get some sleep so I can live it up the rest of the time we’re here. I don’t think what happened has completely set in yet, but I feel exhausted, and it’s barely five.”
I nod, not wanting to argue with him because I can only imagine how he feels. Though I don’t feel right about leaving him here, I don’t argue with him. An hour passes and Dylan is finally moved to his room. I go with him, and when we enter, I’m almost grateful he doesn’t want me to stay. It’s small and stuffy, and there’s a chair in the corner with a blanket draped over the arm. A nurse closes the blinds and tells Dylan the kitchen will close pretty soon. He smiles and nods, but I can tell he’s too tired to eat.
“If you need me before tomorrow, don’t hesitate to call me. Also, text me when you get discharged, okay? And don’t be too damn stubborn while you’re here.”
“I’ll let you know,” he says.
As I walk toward the door to leave, Dylan calls my name. “Alex.”
I turn around and look at him. “Yeah?”
“Thanks for saving my life.”
I smile. “Really glad you weren’t a statistic, man. Next time, no fucking water sports.” I point a finger at him as if I’m scolding him. “Honestly though, without River, I don’t know what would’ve happened.” I shrug, hating to admit that and terrified of the what-ifs.
“Well, from the sounds of it, both of you saved my life. I owe you one,” he says sincerely, pulling the blanket up to his chest and releasing a yawn. “You better not tell my mama.”
“I won’t. I’ll see you tomorrow,” I say as I exit.
After a taxi ride across the island, I arrive at the hotel and head up to the room. As soon as I get in the room, I jump in the shower and wash the day away before changing into some jeans and a button-up shirt. I grab one of the miniature whiskey bottles from the wet bar and slide the balcony door open. I plan to soak up the late evening breeze and forget about what happened. From a distance, I can see the calmness of the water and hear the wind blowing through the palm trees.
Glancing around outside, I scan the bar outside near the pool, and that’s when I see her.
River.
She’s smiling and chatting with Natalie, and I find myself watching her play with her long locks. I notice a few little things, like how she throws her head back when she’s truly laughing. One can only imagine the conversation they’re having after all the excitement today, and Natalie seems like the kind of friend who constantly gives her shit regardless if she saved a man’s life or not. There’s no telling what they’re discussi
ng.
I let out a small chuckle and realize I never properly thanked her for stepping in without hesitation and saving Dylan.
That changes now.
Chapter Six
RIVER
After the day’s excitement, I need a drink. Or ten.
I’ve saved many lives before; hell, I’ve worked on a child’s chest, pumping and giving him CPR while the mother screamed and cried and called me every curse word in the book. I’ve also had many experiences with life-threatening emergencies, even before I was in nursing school, but the Dylan situation definitely made me nervous.
“Look at the hero walking in,” Natalie teases as soon as I take the seat next to her at the bar.
“Stop,” I groan. “I can’t escape it.”
“Of course not! You’re the town hero!” she mocks, lifting her shot glass up victoriously before tilting her head back and shooting it down her throat.
I give her a look that tells her to tone it down a notch.
No one could’ve anticipated what happened with Dylan today. Over the years, I’ve found when emergencies arise, I don’t give myself time to even think before rushing into action. As soon as I saw that blond guy pull Dylan out of the water, I knew something was wrong. I hurried over and immediately saw how pale he was as he lay motionless on the sand.
The entire scene has been running on repeat through my mind nonstop. Relief flooded through me when he finally came to, and I assume he’s going to be okay now, or at least I hope. I’m thankful he agreed to go to the hospital because you never know what other issues can arise from situations like that. That alone eased my mind because there have been many instances of others not being so lucky after nearly drowning.
“Hey, you’re that girl who saved that guy on the beach today!” the bartender shouts loud enough for everyone in the pool area to hear.
Natalie responds before I can. “She sure fucking did!”
I glance at her and scowl, not wanting the extra attention.
“Drinks on me, pretty lady,” he says with a wide grin. “What you did was amazing.”
I force out a smile. “Thanks. I’m a nurse, so it’s just instinct,” I respond, trying to brush it off so he stops talking about it.
“So what can I get you? You deserve one!” he insists.
“She needs sex on the beach!” Natalie hollers before I can speak, again.
“Nat!” I scold.
“Oh, sorry. I meant, she’ll take a Sex on the Beach.” She looks over at me and winks. All I can manage is to shake my head at her and laugh.
“You got it,” the bartender responds, reaching for a clean glass.
“Fruity drinks get me drunk way too fast,” I complain, just loud enough for Natalie to hear me.
“That’s the point,” she states matter-of-factly. “Unless you plan on staying sober this trip?” She grins.
“Not if you’re going to be this way the entire time.” I chuckle, and she’s too drunk to even realize that was a burn directed at her.
Moments later, the bartender serves me my drink and winks before walking to the other end of the bar to help another customer.
Natalie holds up her drink before I can even take a sip of mine. “To River!” she shouts, making Adam and me hold our drinks up, too. “For being a kick-ass nurse!”
Okay, I can drink to that, I think to myself before clanking my glass with theirs and taking my first sip. It’s strong as fuck, but luckily, my room isn’t far.
Adam knows how Natalie gets when she’s in party mode, so he knows she’ll need some assistance getting back to their room tonight, which is why he takes it easy and only drinks a couple. I haven’t seen her this way in a really long time, but I know she works hard and doesn’t let loose that much anymore. At least not since our early college days.
“River,” I hear a rough and deep voice say behind me. It’s one I recognize.
“Alex!” Natalie squeals before I even have a chance to turn around. “How’s your friend?”
“He’s doing fine. They kept him overnight for observation.”
Inhaling a deep breath, hoping I don’t look too tipsy right now, I straighten my posture and turn around to face him.
“That’s good,” I sincerely say in response to Dylan’s condition.
I don’t know why, but things feel awkward between us. We barely spoke on the beach today mainly because there was no time. I didn’t even know his name until just now, yet he knows mine.
“Can I sit?” he asks, nodding his head toward the empty seat next to me.
“Of course, you can!” Natalie answers.
“I think we should take a walk,” Adam says, sensing the awkward tension between Alex and me and grabs Natalie’s hand.
“Ooh, I’ve always wanted to take a walk on the beach. It sounds so romantic,” she slurs against his chest after he steadies her.
I chuckle, while silently thanking Adam because no telling what embarrassing things Natalie would say in her current condition.
After Alex takes the seat next to me, he gets the bartender’s attention and orders himself a beer then places money on the counter.
“So you didn’t stay with him?” I ask, facing the bar again.
“I offered, but us Southern men are stubborn when it comes to our pride,” he explains with a smirk on his face. “I told him to call me when he’s discharged so I can bring him back. I’m sure he’ll be itching to party.”
“As long as he stays far away from the water,” I add, smiling.
The bartender takes his money off the bar while shooting me a wink.
“So I don’t think we’ve formally met,” he states, holding out his hand. “I’m Alex Bishop.”
Swallowing, I place my hand in his. “River Lancaster.”
“That’s a beautiful name,” he tells me, moving my knuckles up to his lips and placing a soft kiss on them.
“Thank you,” I whisper.
We stare into each other’s eyes, and he keeps my hand in his. Somehow, I’m stuck in his trance, and I don’t know how to get out. He’s a beefy guy, solid and muscular, and I’ve never seen a man like him before. Most of the guys I’ve dated were gym rats, but I can tell he’s not. His body was built from hard labor.
“Here you go, bud,” the bartender interrupts with a sneaky grin on his face as he sets the beer down. The intense moment fades, and he gently releases my hand.
“Thanks.” He tips his head to the guy and brings the glass to his lips. I find myself watching his every move before blinking and tearing away my gaze.
He sucks down half his drink before setting it down. Turning toward me, his eyes lock on mine and pin me to him. “So I actually never thanked you for today. I was scared shitless and you doing CPR ultimately saved his life. I don’t know what I would’ve done without you.”
A blush surfaces at his compliment, which is insane since I do this type of stuff every day at work. I tell myself it’s what I do, it’s in my nature, but to hear those words from him has my heart racing.
“So thank you, River. Sincerely. Those words hardly do justice to how thankful we both are that you were there today.”
His words are so soft and tender, his accent making the words even sweeter.
I release a small smile and lower my eyes before blinking and meeting his again. “You’re welcome. I didn’t think twice about it and would do it over again if I had to.”
“That’s what makes you so amazing.” He winks.
“I’m actually a nurse,” I admit. “I’ve had lots of training.” I shrug as if it’s not significant.
“That makes a lot of sense actually,” he says, nodding. “You were so calm, and when you spoke to the paramedics, you used all the technical terms.”
“Yeah, they kind of beat those into you during nursing school.”
He laughs, reaching for his beer again. I grab my own drink and take another sip.
“Where you from?” he asks as we easily fall into conversation.
“Wisconsin,” I answer. “Milwaukee, actually.”
“Oh, wow.” His eyes widen. “Aren’t you known for being the beer state?”
“Dairy, actually, but beer is basically its own food group up there.” I shrug and smile.
Laughing, he nods as if he agrees.
“Or I guess you could say the frozen state considering we have some of the coldest winters.”
“Is that why you’re here? To escape the cold weather?”
“Oh, it’s not even that cold yet. Still had highs in the forties when we left.”
“Fuck.” He shakes his head. “That’s too damn cold for this born-and-raised Texan.”
“I guessed Texas.”
“That obvious, huh?” He smirks, and I playfully shrug.
“Actually, the coldest times are between January and March. It’s usually in the negatives with the wind chill, but that’s when the ice freezes on the water and becomes thick enough for people to go ice fishing. They build these ice shanties and carve a hole in the ice, so they can sit around and fish for hours.”
“And y’all do that for fun?” He raises a brow, skeptical.
“Yup.” I laugh, nodding. “Snowmobiling, snowboarding, skiing. All that stuff. But that’s not until January usually, sometimes even February. Right now, it’s just cold and gloomy, not yet ready to give up fall even though winter is right around the corner.”
“I bet that brings lots of dumbasses into the hospitals up there.”
“Well, yes it does, but I actually work at the children’s hospital in the PICU.”
His eyes narrow as if he’s not sure what that entails.
“I work with sick kids who need around-the-clock care and treatment.”
“Wow…” His voice is soft. “That has to be a tough job.”
I nod, agreeing. “It is. But I love it. As bad as it can be, it’s also very rewarding. Many of the kids have been there a while as they await transplants or getting treatments for life-threatening illnesses. I get to know them and their families quite well. It’s always disheartening when a child isn’t getting better, but it’s part of the job.” I shrug, taking a gulp of my drink to get ahold of my emotions.
