We edged past the deepest point, the water nowhere near as high as I’d expected, and finally, we were out. “Holy crap, you did it. Thank you.”
His eyes were alight with victory as he looked at me. “Let’s get you to the hospital.”
I nodded and immediately sobered, the distraction and the burst of adrenalin fading away. “I’ll text Hazel and let her know the road’s not yet safe to cross without a snorkel.”
“That’s probably a good idea.” He didn’t need to clarify why, considering all that had happened yesterday. I shook my head as I typed out a message, struggling to believe it was only yesterday when Alan had bogged his car.
Just over twenty-four hours since Ross had told me he loved me without a second thought and without either of us discussing it since.
I should have said it back. Spilled those three words into our next conversation. They should have been the first words out of my mouth.
If something happened, I—
“We’re here.”
The interruption cut through my thoughts in an instant.
“I’ll drop you outside the doors, then go and find somewhere to park. I can wait there—”
“No, come in. It’s fine. Thanks. You got me here.” I cast him the briefest of looks, my main focus on the nearing kerb.
“No worries. I’ll be back as soon as possible.”
I nodded, and as he pulled up, I leapt out of the Cruiser, barely waiting for him to fully stop. Then I was running the few metres towards the automatic doors.
Immediately my attention landed on Craig, who was pacing in the small space.
“You’re here.” Air whooshed out of him before his brows dipped low. “Thank God you’re safe. How—”
I waved him aside. “Later. Where is he? What’s happening?” Finally, my questions had arrived. “Can I see him?”
“Yeah, sure. I’ve been coming out every few minutes waiting for you. Come on.” He waved at the receptionist, who buzzed us through. I followed close at his heels while Craig started telling me what happened.
When he mentioned a snake, my knees wobbled, and I was all but sure they’d have buckled if his next words of “wasn’t bitten” hadn’t registered.
“The doc’s concerned, as he’s slipped into unconsciousness twice since being admitted. Not for long, but enough they want an MRI.”
I nodded, my heart stuttering. He was alive, breathing, and mostly awake. That was good, all so fucking good. But it wasn’t all great.
“He’s in here.”
He let me step ahead of him into the small examination room.
As soon as my gaze landed on the stitches lining Dan’s temple, I swallowed hard. I would not let my emotions bubble over. Not yet. Not here. Dan’s eyes were closed, bruising already formed across his cheekbone, and he looked sickly pale.
Unable to stop myself, I zeroed in on his chest and the few wires hooked up there, watching the gentle motion as he breathed in and out, and I sagged a little—or perhaps a lot, since Craig’s arm appeared around my waist.
“Why not go sit next to him?” he whispered. “I think he’ll be taken for the MRI in just a few minutes.”
I nodded and pulled myself together as I robotically put one foot in front of another, not taking my eyes off the man who owned a piece of my heart. It didn’t matter if he didn’t know it yet. He would.
As I sat on the plastic chair, it scraped across the floor. My wince morphed into a smile when Dan opened his eyes.
“Hey, you.” His voice was gruff.
“You missed me, huh? Couldn’t wait till tonight?”
His attempt to laugh stopped abruptly with a groan and furrowing of his brows. “Fuck, my head hurts.”
