Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 100202 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 501(@200wpm)___ 401(@250wpm)___ 334(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100202 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 501(@200wpm)___ 401(@250wpm)___ 334(@300wpm)
The fear had ebbed after the CT scan and X-rays had come back, but the anger had taken root in my stomach and spread until I couldn’t think around it.
“Where did they take her this time?” he asked.
“To splint her arm.” I stared blankly at the pile of discharge paperwork in my lap.
“Better than her neck,” he said softly.
“Better than her neck,” I agreed, a bite to my tone. A concussion and broken arm were the worst of it.
“Are you going to talk to me?” he asked. “You’ve been quiet since I got here.”
I’d flown with Sutton. Weston had driven into downtown Steamboat.
“What would you like me to say?” I managed to drag my gaze up to meet his, but I couldn’t hold it for long.
“Whatever you need to.” God, his tone was so reassuring, so comforting. And I’d been a lovesick fool to trust him, to listen when he told me she’d be fine.
“I’m never going to forget the sight of her on that board.” I gripped the paperwork, and it gave way, crinkling. “Is that what you want me to say?”
“Yes.” He pushed off the wall. “I want you to scream at me.”
I shook my head.
“Yell at me.” He crouched down in front of me, right where Sutton’s bed belonged. “Because it’s more than obvious that you blame me for this.”
“She never would have been on that mountain if it wasn’t for you.”
He flinched.
“You told me she was ready. You told me she’d be fine!”
“I know it was scary, but it’s just a broken arm and a concussion,” he said softly.
“She could have broken her neck!” I snapped. “They thought she’d broken her neck!”
“They were cautious.” So calm. So controlled. So…Weston.
“I never should have listened to you!” I lifted the papers. “Do you know what these say?”
“Why don’t you tell me?” He never looked away.
“They say that while this hospital is in network, the helicopter ambulance wasn’t.” I laughed, the sound bitter and harsh. “How ironic is that? I spend almost every day flying around in your helicopter, taking pictures of foolish, reckless people risking their bodies for an adrenaline rush, and yet when I need a helicopter to bring Sutton to the hospital, it’s not covered because her life wasn’t in danger.”
“What exactly are you saying?” Weston’s jaw ticked.
“I’m saying that the guy from the billing department just told me that it’s up to my insurance to decide if they’ll cover the helicopter ride, and since nothing was life-threatening, I need to be prepared for up to a thirty-thousand-dollar bill.” I drew in a shaky breath. “Thirty. Thousand. Dollars.” I understood the number when the billing department told me, but the full ramifications were just now hitting me. “Don’t get me wrong. I would do it again. Standing there over her, not knowing if that fall had broken her neck or caused internal bleeding, I would make the same decision. Sutton is worth everything to me.”
“I know she is.” He reached for my knee, and I dodged his hand, pivoting in my seat.
“I don’t have my down payment anymore,” I whispered.
He blanched. “Shit. Callie, I’ll pay for it.”
“You’re not paying my kid’s medical bills.” I stood, sidestepping away from him so I could get some space. “Why did I listen to you? Why? I knew better. I knew it was putting her at unnecessary risk, but I was so blinded by my love for you, by my trust in you, that I ignored every instinct in my body!”
“I’m so sorry she got hurt. If I could do anything to change it, I would,” he said softly.
My cell phone dinged, and I marched past Weston and plucked it off the table, expecting to see a new text from Ava or Raven. Instead, it was an email alert.
YOU’VE BEEN CHOSEN AS THIS YEAR’S WINNER—
“What the hell?” I touched the notification, and my inbox filled the screen. I tapped on the first unread email. “Congratulations, Calliope Thorne, your photograph has been selected as this year’s winner for the World Geographic amateur photography division,” I read aloud. I blinked, trying to get my brain to compute. “Our article will go live later tomorrow, and I’ll reach out to you regarding the details of your internship.”
“Holy shit!” Weston grinned and swept me against him, holding me tight and pinning my arms between us. “I’m so proud of you!”
I read the email again. “But I didn’t enter the competition.” Using my hands, I shoved out of Weston’s arms, backing up enough to process the joy on his face. “Weston, I didn’t enter the competition,” I repeated.
I couldn’t have won. It was impossible. There had to be a mistake.
His face fell, and he shoved his hands into the front pockets of his jeans. “I uploaded the photo and the release.”
“You what?” My whole body went numb, as if all the sensation had been drained out of me.