Page 98 of Good For Me

“You’re really freaked out, aren’t you?” she asks, studying my face. “I’m not hurt, River.”

“Something might have happened to you,” I mumble, voice tight.

“But nothing did,” she assures me. “I’m seriously fine.”

“Where’s Dave?” I ask.

“I called him before you. He’s on his way back. Had a meeting with a new beer distributor over in Castle Heights.”

Another hot flash of completely unwarranted anger. He left her alone here.

I try to tell myself that I’m being stupid. She was in her own apartment. She’s a grown ass adult and doesn’t need supervision. But I can’t shake the terror that raced through me when she said there’d been a fire. This isJasmine. The idea of losing her, or the baby…fuck. I’m not going to be able to let her out of my sight.

She coughs and something primal and protective rises up in me. “I’m getting you out of here,” I tell her, taking her hand and giving a tug. “The smoke isn’t good for you.”

She resists my pull. “I can’t leave yet, River. I have to wait for my uncle to get back. And someone needs to be here to talk to the fire crew.”

“Someone else can do it,” I snap. “Who was opening this morning? Is there a manager here?”

“I’m not leaving it for the staff.” But she coughs again and I’m pretty sure I’m going to lose my mind if she spends another second standing in this parking lot.

“There’s smoke in the air,” I tell her through gritted teeth. It’s taking everything I have not to throw her over my shoulder and bodily remove her. “It’s not good for you or the baby.”

“I’m fine.”

“You’re coughing.”

Her gaze searches my face, darting back and forth between my eyes. Concern settles in her expression. “I’m fine, River,” she says softly. “I got out.”

“Why the fuck didn’t the sprinklers go off?” I demand, unable to contain this raging anger for another second. “Doesn’t your uncle have them tested?”

“We don’t know what happened yet,” she says. How in the hell is she so calm?

“This building is too old. You shouldn’t be living here.”

Her eyebrows dart up but before she can say anything, a truck pulls into the lot and her shoulders relax. “There’s Dave.”

I follow her over to his truck, refusing to let go of her hand. I need to feel her soft warm skin against mine, need the physical proof that she’s here and she’s okay.

His expression registers surprise at seeing me, but his attention quickly focuses on the building, his shoulders slumping as his face goes ashen. “Jesus,” he mutters, running his hands through his hair. “How the hell did this happen?”

Jas answers, but I’m having trouble concentrating on anything. There’s a weird roaring sound in my ears. All I can think about is getting her the fuck out of here, bringing her someplace where I know she’ll be safe, where I canmake sureshe’s safe.

“So we’re basically just waiting to hear from the fire chief,” she concludes and he nods, looking about as freaked out as I feel. His gaze sweeps over her, eyes searching. “You okay?” he asks, voice gruff.

“I’m fine,” she says, sounding a little stronger than when I arrived. “A bit shaken.” She sighs. “The sprinklers went on upstairs, too. We’re going to have a mess on our hands.”

“I don’t give a shit about that,” he says. “I’m just glad you got out okay.” He continues to study her and I see his eyes dart down to her midsection. She must have told him about the baby. “You sure you’re okay?”

“I’m—”

I cut in before she can repeat that she’s fine. “She’s been coughing. I want to get her out of here.”

She shoots me an annoyed look. “I coughed once.”

“Twice.” Even I can hear how petulant I sound, but I don’t give a shit. She can’t stay here. “There’s smoke in the air. If I can see it, you’re definitely breathing it. You shouldn’t be anywhere near this place.”

Her uncle, my former employer, turns that appraising gaze to me. He doesn’t look all that pleased to see me, and I wonder what he’s thinking—about me quitting with no notice? Or about the fact I knocked up his niece?