Page 69 of Crashing Into You

My heart feels like it’s going to break in two.

Luckily, we’re not far from the surf club, so while there’s a reasonably steep slope below the road, it evens out onto the beach. I can’t bear to think what could have happened if he’d lost control further along.

I pull to a stop, not even bothering to turn off the engine. I just need to get to her. A couple of other cars have stopped as well. Someone is on their phone. “Call an ambulance,” I yell, as I race to where they went off the road. I spot Simon’s car wedged between two boulders, tilted towards the driver’s side.

I make my way towards the passenger side as fast as I can. I’m praying the entire time. I don’t even care about Simon anymore. I just want her to be fine.

Though if he could be slightly maimed, that would be okay too.

“Claire!” I call out, as I get closer. “I’m coming. It’s okay. I’m here.” I climb onto the boulder and peer inside the car.

My whole body goes cold with fear.

Claire is slumped against Simon, her dark hair tumbled across her face. Simon is bleeding heavily from a head wound, blinking. It’s clear he doesn’t know where the hell he is, or what’s happening.

Good. Fuck him.

I pray to every deity I’ve ever heard of as I open the passenger side door. There are flashing lights up on the road now, people coming. But my entire focus is on Claire, my world. I touch her arm. Her skin is warm. I reach in, taking her wrist in my hand. I’m careful not to move her, in case she’s damaged her spine. I try not to think about that possibility. Her pulse is beating, steady. I blow out a sigh of relief.

“Bryce?”

At the sound of her voice my head snaps up. She tries to brush the hair off her face but it’s caught in the blood on her cheek, spilling from a nasty cut on her forehead.

“Claire, honey. Yes, it’s me. I’m here. I’m here.” I bring her hand to my mouth, covering her skin with kisses, tears in my eyes.

“Don’t leave me.” The words are quiet, but they pull at my heart.

“I’m not leaving you,” I say. “No, stay where you are,” I continue. She’s trying to move, but she’s tangled in her seatbelt. “You need to wait for the paramedics.”

“You’re really here.” The words come out on a sigh, her ocean-blue eyes on mine.

“I’m really here.”

“I missed you.”

“I missed you too.” It hits me again how close I was to losing her. “I love you, Claire, so much.”

“That’s nice.” Her voice trails away, her eyes closing again. But there’s a smile on her face.

Then the paramedics are there, telling me to get out of the car, that they’ve got her, that they’ll make sure she’s okay. But I don’t let go of her hand, not until I have to, holding on while they carry her on the stretcher up to the waiting ambulance.

“I’m her boyfriend,” I say to the medic, a tanned guy who looks about sixteen but who I’m sure is older. “I need to go with her.”

“Sure.” Then his eyes widen. “You’re Bryce Maylands!”

“Yeah,” I say, holding out my free hand.

He shakes it. “Get in. You can ride in the back with us.”

ChapterThirty-One

Claire

Ilie back on the gurney, trying to relax as a doctor injects something into my forehead. Pain sears through me and I groan, clenching my fists.

“I’ve got you,” Bryce says. “I’m here.”

He’s here.The pain in my head decreases as quickly as it came. I relax, squeezing his hand, my heart full with the knowledge that he came back for me.