He handed it over. “You okay?”
I nodded but had to admit the first part of this trail had gotten to me more than it usually did. I wanted to lay down and take a nap. “I didn’t sleep great last night.” I’d been too worried about him.
Caden took the water bottle back. “We can go back if you’re not up for this.”
I shook my head. “No. The fresh air will help.”
We started up the path again, and my muscles protested the movement. I ignored them and kept pushing on. It got a little better, but my vision blurred when we reached the first outlook, the scene in front of me wavering.
I reached out for Caden’s arm on instinct.
“Whoa.” He immediately steadied me. “Why don’t you sit down for a minute?”
Caden helped me over to a boulder, but my legs shook the entire way. He crouched in front of me. “You dizzy?”
“Yeah, and my vision’s blurry.”
Even through my not-quite-right eyesight, I saw Caden’s worry.
“Can I have some more water?” My tongue felt like it was sticking to the roof of my mouth.
He handed me the bottle, and I guzzled the rest of it down.
“How do you feel now?” he asked.
The world tilted again. “Not right. I feel like I’m high or something.” Not that I knew what that felt like, exactly, but this was what I imagined it would be.
Caden stood, pulling out his phone. “I’m going to call your dad.” He cursed. “I don’t have enough bars.”
“You don’t need to call him.” I stood, but it was a mistake. I tipped sideways. It felt like the ground was a moving conveyor belt beneath my feet.
Caden caught me before I hit the dirt. “Shit, Gigi! What’s going on?”
“I-I don’t know.” Pain lanced through my stomach.
Caden’s face was a blur above me as he lifted me into his arms. “I’ve got you. We’re gonna get you some help.”
“You can’t carry me.” It was too far back to the trailhead.
“You? You’re nothing compared to those massive guys we’ve had to haul off the mountain.”
I might be tiny, but he was carrying me all by himself, and we’d already gone at least a mile or two.
Dark spots danced in front of my vision, and my head slumped against Caden’s chest.
“Gigi?” Panic lit his voice.
“Hmm?”
“Stay with me. Stay awake,” Caden commanded.
I wanted to. I always wanted to be with Caden. But I was so tired.
The darkness pulled me under, but not before I heard his voice calling after me.
“Don’t you leave me, too.”
1
