“What are you doing?”
“Getting a running start,” she says and takes off running, then jumps onto the tube on her belly and sets off down the hill.
Everything happens in slow motion. I can see that she’s going to slide out too far. She’s going to fall into the water.
“Roll off!” I yell. “Jordan, roll off, goddamn it!”
I’m already pulling the phone from my coat and running down the hill when, sure enough, she keeps skidding on the ice and goes out so far that she breaks through, splashing into the water with a loud yelp.
And then she’s gone.
I want to panic. Jesus Christ, she could die.
Why did I agree to this?
I immediately remember my training and slide into work mode.
“911,” dispatch says into my ear.
“Woman fell through the ice on the lake.” I give our location and Jordan’s name. “We need services now.”
“I’m sending them,” she replies. “Do not go near her, sir. Our guys will be right—”
I hang up and throw my phone aside, running on the ice. I slide down onto my belly as I get close and scoot to her.
Her arms flail in the water. Thank God she’s not under the ice.
“I’m here,” I call out. “I’m going to get you out.”
“Nick,” she says before slipping back in.
Jesus, I’ve never been so terrified in my life—even when I was shot.
I slowly reach her. If I hurry and fuck this up, we’ll both end up in the water and die. That won’t do either of us any good.
“Take my hand.”
She’s tired.
“Damn it, Jordan, take my hand. Come on, baby. I’ve got you.”
She reaches up, and I slide her out of the water onto the ice. I want to stand and cradle her to me, but it’s too dangerous here.
I manage to scoot us toward shore. I can hear the sirens in the air. Thank Christ, help is coming.
“Stay awake, sweetheart.” When I’m sure we’re on solid ice, I pick her up and run with her toward the house. I have to warm her up. It’s too fucking cold out here. She’ll die of hypothermia.
“So cold,” she says, her lips already blue and teeth chattering.
“I know. We’re going to warm you up. Do you hear that? Help is coming. I’ve got you, baby.”
As I crest the hill, I see the firetrucks and ambulance pull into the driveway.
“I’m taking her inside,” I announce to the crew as they jump out of the vehicles to join me. “She’s too cold.”
They follow me in, and we immediately start stripping her out of the wet clothes. Her breathing is shallow, her skin turning bluer. I reach for two of the throw blankets on the couch and wrap them around her.
“How long was she in the water?” I glance up to see Sam Waters, a friend of Liam’s, beside me.
“Two minutes, maybe three.”
He’s taking her vitals, his lips set in a grim line. “She’s going into shock. We need to get her to the hospital.”
“I’m coming with you.”
He just nods, and I watch as they quickly strap Jordan to a gurney and wheel her into the ambulance. I jump in with them and hold her hand as we set off for the hospital.
“Come on, baby, you have to wake up. We need you awake.”
“So tired,” she murmurs and slips into sleep.
“Her blood pressure is dropping,” Sam says. “We need to warm her the fuck up.”
I strip out of my coat, open my flannel shirt, and join her on the cot, giving her my body heat as Sam places a reflective blanket over us both.
“That’ll do until we get to the hospital and get her a heated blanket,” Sam murmurs.
“Pulling in now,” someone says over the speaker into the back.
We’re bustled inside. I refuse to leave the gurney until we’re in a room, and nurses come hustling in with heated blankets and physically nudge me aside.
Someone wraps one of the blankets around my shoulders as well, but I ignore it.
She has to be okay.
“Her vitals are looking better,” the doctor says as he listens to her breathing. “If you hadn’t gotten to her so quickly, things could have been very different.”
“Never been so frightened in my life,” I mutter and push my hand through my hair, then wince in pain.
“What’s wrong?” the doctor asks.
“I had a shoulder injury. I must have wrenched it a bit when I climbed the hill with her.” I shake my head. “I’m fine. Just worry about Jordan.”
“We’re going to keep her for a few hours and make sure her vitals continue to level out. We’ll get some fluids in her and monitor her. You can stay with her if you want.”
“Thank you.”
I stand back as the nurses start an IV, trade the blankets for fresh, warm ones, and I turn to see Sam standing in the doorway.
“I just wanted to check on her.”