This made no sense. I had been round him for scarcely two weeks, and earlier than that it had been eight years. However my coronary heart was shouting, screaming for him, and that was a reality that I might by no means deny once more.

“Jack…” I whispered as tears ran down my cheeks. “Please be okay. I’ll by no means take you as a right once more. I’ll apologize. I’ll do something, simply please be all proper.”

I didn’t know the way lengthy I waited. It was in all probability just a few minutes, however it felt like hours. My digicam was on the bottom throughout the road. I didn’t care. It didn’t matter. I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the constructing that presently held three males, who every held part of my coronary heart.

“Goddamnit,” the man with the radio mentioned, slumping in opposition to one of many fireplace engines. My coronary heart sank, and I held my breath.

No.

He raised the radio to his mouth. “You just about gave me a coronary heart assault, Franco. The subsequent time you determine to fall by the ground, I’m sending you a stress-related hospital invoice.”

He was laughing. Different firefighters have been slumping with aid, too. That’s once I noticed them. Three firefighters stumbling out of the entrance of the condo constructing, one helped alongside by the opposite two. Once they reached the grassy garden a protected distance away, they lowered the center man to the bottom and rolled him onto his again.

Jack!

I used to be working then, legs pumping sooner than they ever had in my life. The firefighter who had escorted me away put up an arm to cease me, however I ducked beneath it and stored going till I reached the person on the bottom.

“Injured left ankle,” Liam mentioned, ripping off his personal helmet and respirator. “And burns on his legs.”

Mateo eliminated Jack’s helmet. His face was a splotchy mess of pink pores and skin and black soot. “It’s… not… unhealthy,” Jack managed to grit out. His enamel have been white, too clear in comparison with the remainder of his face. “Oh. Alyssa.”

Liam and Mateo each flinched after they observed me. “What are you doing right here?” Liam requested.

I used to be blubbering like an fool then, my tears falling onto Jack’s firefighter jacket and carving little rivulets into the layer of soot. Jack blinked slowly, however his eyes have been locked onto me now.

“I’m an fool,” Jack muttered to me. “It’s all my fault.”

“You had no method to know the ground would collapse,” Mateo mentioned.

Jack shook his head whereas persevering with to stare at me. “I used to be fallacious. I used to be an fool teenager. I used to be simply attempting to get your consideration all these years. I ought to… I ought to have…”

“It’s my fault,” I interrupted. “I had a crush on you, and I by no means did something about it. But it surely doesn’t matter, now. Simply loosen up. I perceive now, Jack. For the primary time in my life, my head is evident and I perceive.”

He gave a weak little grin. “I promise. To not allow you to go. And not using a struggle. This time.” He reached up and cupped my cheek. I felt black soot smear in opposition to my pores and skin, however I held my hand over his, not wanting to finish his contact.

“I promise,” he mentioned yet another time, earlier than they took him away.

35

Alyssa

I waited within the hospital foyer for 3 hours. Three lengthy hours. I knew Jack was okay, that he had survived and wasn’t in any actual hazard now. However that data didn’t precisely assist me loosen up.

Lastly, Liam popped his head within the ready room. “Alyssa? Come on. You may see him now.”

“Is he all proper?” I requested whereas following him deeper into the hospital.

“Oh, yeah. Proper as rain. It was a detailed one there for a minute, when he was trapped inside…” He trailed off as we walked, staring expressionless. Then he shook his head and smiled. “Whelp, no use dwelling on it now. He’s all proper.”

He put an arm round me, guiding me down the corridor. I used to be grateful for the help.

Jack was held in a personal hospital room. Mateo, who was standing simply inside, gave me a welcoming smile. He seemed exhausted, with deep luggage beneath his eyes. When he hugged me, I might nonetheless odor smoke in his hair.

A groan got here from the mattress. “How’d they sneak you in?” Jack requested.

I threw my fingers throughout his physique and buried my face into his chest, ignoring the paper robe that crackled. “Oh, Jack!”

“Nurse gained’t be again for some time,” Liam defined. “He’s technically not allowed to have guests, however…”

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