Driving behind Georgia, I thought of a million ways to say I was sorry. I didn’t think I’d ever fucked up this badly before, but I’d do everything in my power to make it right. The need was so strong to have her be happy that I had to set shit straight.

I tested out the apologies, trying to figure out which one didn’t sound like I was caving, even though that’s exactly what I was about to do.

“Georgia, I’m sorry. I’d love to meet your parents,” I said, putting a pretend smile on my face.

I shook my head and sighed. “Pussy,” I mumbled to myself.

“Georgia, I didn’t mean what I said before. I’d love to meet your parents.”

Rolling my eyes, I could hear the guys laughing at me.

There was more traffic on the road than most nights. Cars whizzed by as I followed her and practiced my speech. Nothing I said felt right.

“Georgia, I can’t stand the thought of you mad at me,” I said just as something caught my eye.

The car coming in the opposite direction was swerving, crossing the center line and overcorrecting. The driver clearly had a problem, and I could see it coming from a mile away. The road was flat and straight in this section, making it easy to see it before it happened.

I gripped the steering wheel, held my breath, and laid on the horn. I could see the outline of her body, even the strands of her hair as she peeked in the mirror. She wasn’t slowing down or braking. I sucked in a breath, my chest heaving as everything started to move in slow motion.

Flashing my lights, I started to scream as the car came closer, swerving back and forth.

“Pull over, Georgia!” I punched the steering wheel and started to pull off to the side, hoping she’d follow me.

My body began to shake and my heart threatened to crawl up my throat. “Goddamn it!” I shouted.

My eyes grew wide and the air in my lungs disappeared.

I watched helplessly as the oncoming car plowed into the side of Georgia’s, sending it careening off the road right in front of me and leaving me unable to drag my eyes away from the horror show before me.

Even though I screamed, nothing came out. The little bit of air I had inside me came out as a strangled yell.

Before her car came to a stop, the car that had hit her righted itself and started to drive away. I had to make a split-second decision—run for Georgia or try to get his plate.

I flew out of the car so fast he hadn’t even had a chance to get up enough speed to pass me. I tried to make out his plate, getting only a partial as he passed by. Repeating it to myself over and over again in my head, I screamed for Georgia and took off toward her car.

My heart was in my throat and my stomach twisted the closer I got. Smoke was coming from the engine, the airbag had deployed, and the entire driver’s side had been smashed in. The only light in the field was from my headlights shining on the section where her car had stopped.

“Georgia!” I screamed, pulling on the door handle. “Georgia!”

“Frisco.” Her voice was faint and strained as she tried to lift her head.

“Don’t move, babe. Goddamn it!” I tried the door handle again, but during the impact, her window had shattered. It was the quickest way to get her out. “I’m going to get you out.” I batted away the airbag and gently pushed her body back into the seat.

“Oh God,” she wailed. “Don’t move me!” Tears streamed down her face when she closed her eyes.

“I have to move you, Georgia. It’s not safe for you to stay in there.”

“Call the ambulance. They’ll get me out,” she said, choking back tears.

Just as I pulled out my phone, flames joined the smoke licking the hood of the car. “We don’t have time. I’m getting you out.” I stuck the top half of my body inside the car and unhooked the seat belt.

“What’s burning?” she said, her head rolling back and forth.

“Don’t worry about it.” I positioned my arms under her legs and behind her back. “This may hurt.”

“Don’t, Frisco. Everything hurts.”

I didn’t listen and pulled her from the car. Her sobs turned into wails when I tipped her, trying to avoid the window frame.

When her body was free from the mangled steel, she rested her head on my shoulder, barely conscious. I pulled her against my chest and walked with gentle footsteps as far away from the burning car as I could get.

I wanted to scream or break down, but I didn’t let myself. I had to keep my shit together. Although my heart was about to come out of my chest, I had to focus on Georgia.

Dropping to my knees, I set her down in front of me, holding her back as she lay against me. As I pulled out my phone and dialed 911, my eyes roamed her body, checking for injuries.

I rattled off our location and stroked her arms, trying to comfort her as I kept my voice steady. I don’t even remember what I said or the questions the operator asked; it was all just a blur.

After I hung up, I tossed my phone in the grass beside us. “They’re on the way, G. Tell me what hurts.”

“My legs are killing me,” she replied, trying to lean forward and touch them.

I grabbed her hand, pulling it back into her lap. “Don’t move.” It was evident that her leg had been broken in the impact. The bend to it wasn’t natural. “Anything else?”

She touched her cheek, hissing as her fingers danced across her face. “I’m just sore, but my face hurts too.”

“The airbag hit you. What else?” I was babbling at that point. I wanted to keep her awake in case she had any internal injuries or a concussion. The last thing I wanted was for her to fall asleep.

“I think I’m okay otherwise.”

All I could do was to sit there and try to comfort her. Stroking her arm, whispering calming words in her ear, and peppering the top of her head with kisses.

The overwhelming sense of guilt I felt weighed on me like a hundred-ton boulder sitting on my back. If I hadn’t been such a prick about meeting her parents, maybe she wouldn’t have driven and this all would’ve been avoided.

She began to shiver in my arms. “I’m so cold,” she whispered and hugged herself.

Leaning back, I pulled off the button-down shirt I had on and wrapped it around her shoulders. “I’ll keep you warm,” I whispered in her ear and ran my hands down her arms.

She peered up at me as her tears ran down her face. “I’m sorry.”

My hands stilled as I glanced down at her. “For what, babe?”

“For not seeing the damn car.”

I shook my head, letting out a loud sigh. “It’s my fault, love. Not yours.”

“But—” she started but stopped when the ambulance sirens broke the silence around us.

Following behind the ambulance were a fire truck and police cruiser. In the country, especially in this area of Florida, there wasn’t much action besides a car crash every so often.

When the ambulance came to a halt, one man ran to our location carrying a bag, while two more grabbed the gurney inside before making a beeline for us.

The next ten minutes were a whirlwind of activity. All I could do was to stand back and watch. I dragged my hands through my hair as I paced a path in the tall grass.

“Sir.” The police officer interrupted my thoughts.

I stopped and turned to face him. “Yeah?”

He glanced down toward his feet. “We’ll need to interview you about the accident.”

I closed my eyes, fisting my hands at my side. I glanced over at Georgia, who was now on the gurney. “Can we do it at the hospital?”

His eyes followed mine before he nodded. “Sure.” He tucked his small notepad in his pocket and headed toward Georgia’s mangled car. The firefighters had put out the flames, but the white smoke still filled the air.

“Frisco!” Georgia yelled, holding out her hand toward me.

Moving quickly, I headed toward her and clasped her hand in mine. “I’m here.” My heart squeezed at the clear agony etched on her face.

She squeezed my hand. “Don’t leave me.”

“I’ll be right behind the ambulance. I’m not going anywhere.”

“We’re taking her to Florida Hospital in Wesley Chapel if you’re following us,” the paramedic told me before they started to carry the gurney over the uneven terrain.

I clutched her hand, following them as they moved, and didn’t let go. “I’ll be right on your tail.”

“Promise me,” Georgia said when my fingers began to slip from hers.

I lurched forward, grasping her hand in mine. “I promise, Georgia. I’ll be with you for the entire thing.”