Without You (Love Wanted in Texas #1)(63)

Colt jumped off his horse and ripped his shirt off before handing it to her. She began cleaning off the puke. Luke turned and looked, and then he turned back around and started throwing up again.

“Colt, get your sister back right away. She’s been stung a few times by scorpions.”

Colt looked at me and then over to my pants. That was when he must have seen the log.

“Holy crap. Did you sit on that, Alex?” He turned back to me. “Um, Mom? Alex doesn’t look so good.”

“Get her home, Colt.”

Colt picked me up, and I started having trouble breathing.

“Luke, text Gunner and let him know that Alex has been stung by scorpions. Hurry!”

“Yes, ma’am.”

I was starting to feel really bad as Colt handed me to Luke, so he could jump up on his horse. Luke lifted me up to Colt, and Colt took me and placed me in front of him. He took off toward the house in a full-on run.

“Hang on, Alex. Please, just hang on. I’ll get you home. Dad will fix it.”

I started to close my eyes, so I could focus on pulling in air.

In that moment, I remembered that I was allergic to scorpions.



“Daddy…hurts. It hurts…can’t breathe.” I was gasping for air, and I knew it was more my nerves than anything. I could feel tingling in my ass and leg, but the pain was unreal.

I watched as my father pulled out an EpiPen, and he gave me a shot. Grams was on the phone with the doctor, and I could hear her talking.

“Yes, I remember. She was sixteen. Yes, he just gave her the shot. Okay. Will do, Doctor. Of course. Thank you.”

“What did he say, Emma?” my mother asked as she stood there, watching me closely.

Grams looked at me and smiled. “Watch her closely and the shot should work here pretty quick. Keep her calm, and that will help her breathing return to normal.”

Everyone stood there and stared at me for a few minutes. I wanted to laugh, but then I caught a glimpse of my mother’s shirt.

“Mom…” I whispered.

“Yes, baby. I’m here.”

“Please go shower. That is so gross, knowing my puke is on you.”

Luke made a gagging noise. “Oh God!” He quickly ran by and went into the bathroom.

Colt busted out laughing, and so did my dad.

Daddy turned to my mother. “Ells, baby, go take a shower. She’s already breathing better. Grams, will you get some ice? It looks like she’s been stung three times, and that’s it.”

I looked at my father. “That’s it? Like three times wasn’t enough?”

“I know, baby. Let’s get you some ibuprofen, and I think once you lie down for a bit, you’ll feel better.”

I nodded my head and glanced over to Colt. He had been so worried, but now, the little bastard was laughing his ass off.

“Colt, get out of here, you ass!” I barely shouted.

He held up his hands and made his way into the kitchen.



An hour later, after my parents had made sure I wasn’t going to stop breathing, I made my way upstairs to my room with my mom following behind me.

Some Christmas this is turning out to be.

“Don’t let me sleep for long. I want to be up when everyone starts getting here,” I said.

My mother helped me get comfortable enough to rest, and then she put the ice under my ass and leg.

I shook my head. “I can’t believe it. My ass. Why my ass?”

My mother giggled, but then she quickly stopped when I shot her a dirty look.

“I’ll wake you up in a bit, Alex. Just rest.”

As I lay there in bed, I tried to relax, but all I could think of was the pain. I was almost positive the pain in my heart outweighed the pain in my ass. I giggled at my thoughts. I closed my eyes and pictured Will. I made myself believe that when I woke up, he would be here just in time for Christmas. I opened my eyes and felt my tears running down my face.

Worst. Christmas. Ever.



I opened my eyes and stretched at the same time. I reached behind me and felt the cold bag of water. I pulled it away and sat up. At least my ass wasn’t in so much pain. I stood up and walked to the mirror. My face looked normal, except for the dried streaks on my cheeks from where I’d cried myself to sleep. I walked into my bathroom and splashed my face with water.

That was when I heard Libby yell out something.

I walked back into my room and looked at the clock on my nightstand next to my bed.

“Damn it, Mom! I didn’t want to miss everyone getting here,” I said to myself.

I started making my way down the steps, and I could hear everyone going on and on about something. I rounded the landing, and Grace was about to start running up the stairs.

“Hey, Merry Christmas,” I said with a smile.

Her smile grew bigger on her face as she looked at me. Then, she looked into the living room, and I followed her eyes. That was when I saw him. Heather was hugging him while Libby stood next to him. He was smiling. When he looked up, our eyes met, and his smile faded.

“Will?” I whispered.

He smiled slightly and looked back down at his mother when she pulled away.

“You’re so lucky you came home, young man. Do you have any idea how much I’ve missed you?”

Will chuckled as his dad gave him a quick hug. Everyone else stood up and hugged him or shook his hand.