CHAPTERTHIRTEEN
Melody
It only takes a few minutes for the ambulance to arrive at the emergency room. Roman is still unconscious, but he’s breathing. Thank God. He’s been on the oxygen since Lucas pulled him out, but I have no idea why he isn’t waking up. I’ve asked the EMTs, but they’re not really answering my questions. Maybe they don’t know, or maybe they just don’t want to tell me.
“Roman is going to need to be taken into trauma. You need to get checked over too,” the EMT says.
“Can’t I go with him?”
“I’m afraid not. Someone will come and get you when you can see him.”
She must see the look on my face and places her hand on my arm. “They’ll take good care of him, Melody. I promise.”
I nod and lean over the gurney, pressing a kiss on his forehead.
“I love you, baby,” I whisper in his ear, praying he can hear me.
The EMT gives me a small smile. “Take a seat and I’ll get you checked over when we’ve got Roman settled.”
I nod, feeling overwhelmed and out of control as they wheel my whole world through a set of double doors and out of sight. When the doors swing closed, I stagger backward, falling into one of the hard plastic chairs. My head drops into my hands, and I sob. Having barely held it together on the way here. Now that I’m alone, I finally break.
I have no idea how long passes when I hear someone calling my name. When I look up, Lucas is rushing toward me, worry etched on his face. It isn’t until I see him that I realize how much I need him. I fly out of the chair and launch myself at him, throwing my arms around his neck. He holds me while more tears flow, and it’s only when they stop a few minutes later that he leans out of the embrace.
“Are you okay?” he asks, his eyes tracking over me. “Where’s Roman?”
“He’s in trauma,” I stutter. “If anything happens to him…” I choke on a sob, and he pulls me back against him.
“He’s going to be okay, baby.”
“God, I hope so.”
He holds me for a few more minutes until I begin to tremble.
“I think you’re going into shock. Have you seen a doctor yet?”
I shake my head. “I need to know Roman is okay first.”
“You need to be checked over. I’ll go and find someone.”
Just as he releases me from my embrace, the EMTs who brought Roman in appear through the double doors.
“Is there any news?” I ask desperately, walking toward them.
“The doctor’s going to come out and talk to you once they’ve decided if they need to intubate him.”
“Intubate him.” I swing my head around to look at Lucas, who’s by my side in a second, his fingers tangling with mine.
The EMT places her hand on my arm. “If they need to, it’s because he’s so small and his airways are swollen. It will just be to give his body a chance to recover. They might not have to.” She gives me a small smile. “Have you been seen yet?”
“No. I have to know Roman’s okay.”
“You’re no good to Roman if you don’t look after yourself. You need to be checked over for smoke inhalation,” she says.
“I’m fine.”
“Please, Melody,” Lucas says, squeezing my waist.
I look between him and the EMT, knowing I’m not going to win. “Fine,” I concede. “Will you stay here in case there is any news on Roman?” I ask Lucas.