He placed a quick kiss on my forehead and answered the call.
"Yeah, hi, Ben... yeah. I’m a little busy,” he grinned at me. “What’s up? Uh-huh... Yeah. What? Really?... Oh man, that is not good. That is not good at all... Now? Uh, it has to be now? Yeah, yeah, I understand... Alright. See you soon."
He cut the call off, and a look of grave seriousness washed over his face.
"We've got trouble at JFK High," he said. "I'm so sorry, Vivienne, but I have to go. Now, I’m afraid."
Chapter Fourteen
Everett
The look of disappointment on her face nearly killed me. The last thing I wanted to do was leave her. And it had nothing to do with where the moment seemed to be heading. Even if we’d have still just been watching a ridiculous movie, I would have wanted to stay. Being with her was the most at ease I’d ever felt with anyone. Something about being near her just felt right.
"I'll call you as soon as all of this is done," I promised as I got up and got my keys and phone.
"Can you tell me what happened?" she asked.
I sighed before answering.
"Someone's been shot."
Her eyes widened with shock. "What?! First you, and thankfully it wasn't serious, but now someone else has been shot?"
I nodded. "Yeah. Except this time, it was a kid. One of our students."
"Oh my god, that's horrible... Is the kid okay?"
"He's in serious condition, but he's stable, and he’s apparently going to need surgery."
>
"How did it happen? Who's the kid who got shot? Who shot him?"
I shook my head. "I don't know the answers to any of that yet. And that's why I need to go there right away."
"I understand. Look, if you need me to go back to the hospital and check in on Jane, I'd be happy to."
"Would you? That would make me feel better."
"Absolutely," she stated.
I bent down and gave her a kiss, and then we stared into each other's eyes for a good few moments, intense attraction gushing through me. This woman was really putting a spell on me... and it wasn't an entirely bad thing. It had been so long since I'd last felt this way about anyone, so long...
Still, I couldn't linger. There was a serious situation that needed attending to, and I had to get there right away – and it was great to see that Vivienne not only understood but that she was supportive as well.
"Thank you so much, Vivienne... for everything. I'll see you soon."
"Make sure you don't forget your phone this time," she said with a wink.
I chuckled, relieved to have some levity in what was sure to be a grave situation.
"Believe me; I won't! See you later."
"Be careful, handsome," she said with a flirty smile, and as soon as I was out the door, I was missing her already. I thought briefly of messaging her to say that but then figured that it might come off as coming on too strong, too soon, so I left it.
My mind shifted into a different state; my focus became razor sharp, and my sense of purpose was powerfully driven. While I had been pissed off that the scumbag Mr. Mask had shot me, now that he, or one of his accomplices, had shot a kid at my school, I was beyond pissed. Now it was personal.
I drove fast and hard and got to the school in record time. The ambulance with the kid was just leaving, but some police cars with their lights flashing were parked out front, as was Ben's car. He was there chatting with a police officer. I parked my truck, jumped out, and ran over to Ben and the cop.