Amelia

I can barely see through the tears as I rush to the ambulance. They are loading Blake inside and he’s not awake. “Can I ride with him?” My dad nods to the EMT, my classmate’s older brother, Felix, and he helps me in. We’ve become good friends over the years. My hands are shaking, but I need to believe he’s going to be okay. It takes a few more minutes to stabilize him, then they start to drive. I can’t stop touching him. My hands run along his chest. They’ve bandaged his arm, but they say he lost a lot of blood. I’m trying not to panic, but I don’t want to lose him.

“Amelia, he’s going to be all right. You have to be positive,” Felix says, placing his hand on my shoulder.

“It’s my fault. He’s shot because I invited him over. None of this would have happened if I’d not…I felt safe and forgot the risk Tyler could bring.” I sob into my hands. Just remembering how I saw Tyler on the corner, staring at me with deadly intent should have warranted more common sense. I put Blake into this position and my heart’s breaking because of it.

“Princess, no tears for me,” Blake mutters from the gurney.

“You’re awake.” I lurch forward, hugging him. He grunts, and I pop back up because I’m an idiot. The man is on the edge of death and I practically tackled him. I’m just so happy he’s alive that I’m overwhelmed

“Amelia, can you call Carly, so she can get a hold of our parents?”

“Of course.” He grabs my hand with his right arm, holding it tight as we ride the rest of the way to the hospital.

“Call them as soon as we get there, Mel,” Felix says.

“Mel?” Blake eyes Felix. Even weakened, he’s jealous. “What the hell?”

“He’s one of my friends.”

“Felix, this is my…” I’m about to say boyfriend, but Blake squeezes my hand and answers himself.

“I’m Blake Reynolds, Amelia’s fiancé.” I eyeball him, but it’s not the right time to argue with him. Felix eyes us then chuckles inwardly. “That’s great. Now, rest so we can get you all patched up and ready to go home.”

We pull into the ER entrance. Felix helps me out before he and his partner get Blake. They rush him in and the doctors take over.

“You can’t go in. Please wait here and make the calls. He’s going to be fine.”

“See you soon, princess.” He gives me a wink as they wheel him away.

“Is that fuck dead?” Blake asks Felix as they wheel him away.  “We can only hope so,” I hear Felix say.

Now it’s time to call his sister. This won’t go over well.

“Carly, hi. This is Amelia.”

“Of course it is. What’s up, girl? I should be back in the shop before the holiday.”

“It’s not about that. The EMTs said he’s going to be fine, but Blake was shot today.”

“What! Shot! Blake! No, that can’t be.” Oh goodness. That didn’t come out right.

“Shot!” Another woman screams in the background. I have a feeling it’s his mother, but I can’t be sure.

“It’s in the arm. Tyler came after me and…” I broke down again. Shit. This is all my fault.

“And Blake, of course, saved his woman. We’ll be on our way.”

“Okay,” I say, sitting on the nearest chair while hoping they’ll let me see him.

My dad rushes through the door seconds later and I run into his arms. “Baby, don’t cry. I’m sure he’s going to be fine.”

“I hope so.”

After about five minutes, he sits me down. “I know this is a hard time for you, but I need to ask some questions.” I forgot he’s the sheriff for a minute. Of course, he needs to know about the shooting. “What happened?”

“I invited Blake over for dinner. And well, Blake was in the bathroom and I was checking on the food when Tyler came in with a gun aimed at me. He wanted me to die. He said that if he couldn’t have me that no one could. And that he was going to kill Blake too. Then Blake came up on his side and they fought. Blake was shot and then told me to hide and call the police.”

“Tyler was as well. Did you or Blake shoot him?”

“Blake did while I was calling the police.”

“Thank God. I could have lost you tonight.” He wraps me in his arms, tears pouring down his face. “Damn it, Amelia. I thought losing you to him was going to be bad, but I’d take that any day to the reality that I almost lost you forever.”

“I’m sorry, dad. I should have told you sooner.”

“No, I think the timing was right. He would have come after you anyway sooner or later.”

“Thank you. I’m going to wash my face.” I enter the bathroom, trying to contain my sadness. Thinking about Blake’s mini-tirade in the ambulance made me feel a little comfort.

“Amelia,” Carly calls out. I turn to her and give the best fake smile I can muster.

“How did you get here so fast?”

“Doing a hundred in a seventy zone. But it’s been a long time. Your dad is worried about you. He says you’ve been in here for about fifteen minutes. He was about to come looking for you.”

“Really, I thought it was just a few. I’m sorry.”

“Girl, you are losing it. When Blake called about you, I knew that it was a done deal. My brother’s strong. He’s going to make it.”

“Thanks. Where are your parents?”

“I think they went to talk to the doctors. My mom has been tripping, but that’s what it’s like to be a mom,” she says. Her eyes have a faraway look in them. I wonder…