The Country Duet(60)

“How?” I ask before I even try to think it out.

She walks me through the process, step by step, until I’ve sent her my location.

“I’m already in my car and on my way. Keep talking to me.”

A chuckle escapes my lips. “Make it fast, Jeff Gordon.”

Teale laughs on the other end, but I hear her tears mingling in it. Then everything hits me. Flashes of her beautiful face, our time spent together, her daughter, me walking out, my broken heart…losing the love of my life.

“Teale,” I whisper into the phone.

“I’m on my way, baby. About ten minutes out.”

“Your daughter is beautiful, just like you.”

“Thank you,” she whispers.

“I still love you. I hate myself every morning when I wake up for falling in love with you. You warned me, and I didn’t listen.”

“Hunter, c’mon, we can talk later. Don’t do this right now.”

“Does he treat you right? Does he love you as much as I do?”

“Who?” she asks in shock.

“Jerico, your husband, the dick in the fancy suit that took you away from me.” The hatred in my voice scares me, intensifying the pain now jetting through my whole body.

“He’s not my husband.”

“Boyfriend?”

“No, it’s a long story and right now isn’t the time.”

“Her dad?” I ask.

“Hunter.” I hear her fist slam into her steering wheel. “No! Please don’t do this right now.”

The emotion lacing in her voice makes me wince. I’m hurting her, stressing her out when she’s racing to my rescue.

“I’m sorry. I just need you.”

The pain thrumming in me forces all of the emotions I’ve kept bottled up for so long. They rush over the dam in a torrid motion.

“I see you.” I hear a car door slam.

“Look down, Hunter.”

I end the call and stuff my phone back into the backpack, then stand on shaky legs. It takes everything inside of me to limp the motorbike down the mountain. Thank God, it’s not far, but it still zaps all of my energy. The world spins when I fall to the ground, clutching my head.

My stomach rollercoasters in a dizzying motion, then I begin vomiting on the ground next to me. It’s relentless, never stopping, making my head throb even harder.

“Baby.” Teale kneels down in front of me, cupping my cheeks. “I’m taking you to the hospital. Can someone come pick up your bike and truck?”

I stare blankly at her, needing the world to go black because everything hurts. It hurts to think, look, and feel. I need the blackness.

“Hunter, do you have anyone who can come get the bike?” She’s precise with each word that falls from her mouth.

“Connor.”

“Where is your phone?”

I reach back and tap my backpack. Teale wastes no time rushing into and finding Connor’s contact. Once the call ends, she helps me to my feet. My legs are rubber while the ground moves like a belt on a treadmill.

“Going to fall,” I blurt out.

“I have you, Hunter.” Teale’s arms are wrapped around my mid-section.

She wasn’t lying, because she never lets go until I’m in the seat of the car. I’m forced to close my eyes when the scenery begins rushing by us. It’s all too much, making me sick.

“No, it’s Teale. Blair, I have Hunter in my car. He wrecked his motorcycle and called me.”

Silence.

“He was by himself. I’m not a doctor, but from my training, I’d definitely say he has a severe concussion. I’m sure they’ll want to do some testing for a brain bleed.”

Silence again.

“He’s in pretty bad shape. No, I don’t think he has any broken bones.”

Silence is my favorite part of the conversation since the pain dulls in these moments. Teale pulls the phone from her ear, keeping her gaze on the road.

“Your mom wants to talk to you.”

“No.” My dry lips crack with that one word. “Hurt.”

“Blair, I’ll keep you updated. He’s pretty out of it right now.”

Ahhh, silence again.

“Okay, I’ll call you back as soon as I get him to the ER.”

Teale places my phone in my lap. I look over at her with one eye open.

“You know my code?”

She nods, accelerating the car. “Yes.”

“What is it?” I ask.

“The day we met.”

“Nine one seventeen,” I mumble with the memory flooding back in without warning, then my one open eye flutters shut. Sleep screams at my exhausted, aching body.

“No, Hunter.” Her hand grabs mine. “Don’t you fall asleep. You have to stay awake. We are almost there.”

“I’m tired.”

“I know, baby. Just open your eyes and look at me please.” The begging tone in her voice makes me smile.

“Okay, there’s that smile, but now open your eyes and look at me. You can’t go to sleep right now.”

Everything fighting to come out of my mouth is inappropriate. The barrier between has been busted through and crumbled to the ground. Now, my soul has been bared before her, and all I want to do is hold her.