He wrapped an arm around her as he led her down to the grass below and pulled her closer to him, his voice laced with concern as he spoke. “Are you okay?”
She nodded, her breaths still shallow and labored, her eyes meeting his with a mix of fear and gratitude. “Why would you run into a burning building?”
“To save you,” he answered. “Julia, you’re everything to me. I had to find you.”
She clung to him, wrapping her arms tightly around him.
“Juju, thank God you’re okay,” Alicia said as she approached them. “I have never seen someone escape from a fire only to run back into it.”
Grant crinkled his brow. “What?”
“I was out. I climbed out of a window. Then I found you went inside.”
“And you ran in after me?” he asked.
She nodded, her arms still holding him tight.
“Why would you run into a burning building?” he asked.
“Same reason as you,” she answered.
“You two are crazy,” Alicia said. “And you both need to be checked out by the paramedics. Especially you, Juju. We have no idea how much smoke you inhaled.”
“Fine. Oh, and we should update Alex.”
“Sierra and Kyle probably think I ditched them,” Grant said as he wrapped an arm around her shoulders and guided her toward the waiting ambulance.
“No, I sent Alex over…I hope he’s still alive.” Her features pinched as she glanced up at him.
He pulled her closer and kissed the top of her head. “Well, Kyle is still laid up, so there’s only one he’d have to fight off.”
“Don’t kid yourself. He’s got a fresh set of pain meds in him.”
The paramedics descended on them both, assessing vitals and providing oxygen. She tugged her oxygen mask away. “Ally, go back to the house and check on Alex, Sierra, and Kyle.”
“No, Juju, I’m going to the hospital with you.”
“I’m not going to the hospital,” Julia argued.
“Yes, you are,” Grant answered. “You were just in a fire. You need to get checked out.”
She frowned at him. “Are you going to the hospital?”
“I…will go with you.”
“I’m not going. I’m fine,” Julia said as she rose.
“You’re going if I have to handcuff you to the gurney,” Alicia answered. “Both of you.”
She jabbed a finger at the bed. “Now, sit down.”
Julia heaved a sigh as she plopped onto the bed, pulling the blanket tighter around her. “I just want to go home.”
“We’ll call the kids on the way. I’ll ride with you. Ethan, you go with Grant.”
“I’ll check on them when I go back to the house before I head to the hospital to pick you up,” James offered.
“Wait, he can’t drive both cars,” Julia protested. “We’ll just drive ourselves to the hospital.”
