Bearly Holding On Read Online Free Page B

steadied her, putting his big hands on her shoulders. Awen braced herself against his chest, taking note of how solid he was beneath his thin cotton t-shirt. Suddenly, she was very aware of his closeness.
    He smelled earthy, like pine trees and smoke. His hair tickled her nose as she inhaled his scent, it too having a unique leathery smell. Instantly, she was reminded of home. For a moment, she let herself be vulnerable.
    “Are you sure you don't need me to take you somewhere?” he asked gently, tucking her hair behind her ear. “We should really get you looked at. I don't mind taking you to a hospital.”
    “Uh...” she trailed off, trying to clear her head. “I need to get to Tim's.”
    “You really are a hard ass!” Mati chuckled. “Tell you what: we'll both go after we get your head checked out.”
    “That might be good,” she admitted, stumbling toward the driver's seat. “Yes, that’s a...a better idea. You drive.”
    She climbed over to the passenger seat as Mati set the seat back and threw the Jeep into drive.
    “You have a license, right?” she asked as an afterthought.
    “What are you going to do?” he asked, sparing her a look. “Give me a ticket? I don't think you're in much of a position to do that.”
    “Good point!” she answered as she began to fade from consciousness.
    “Hey. Hey!” Mati said, tapping her arm. “Don't fall asleep on me.”
    He slammed his foot down on the gas pedal and the Jeep dug its way out of the ditch, throttling down the road.
    “Hey, hey! Keep talking,” he ordered as her eyes fluttered open. “I've never slapped a woman before, but I’ll have to if it keeps you awake.”
    “No hitting,” she answered, her head lolling to the side. “I'll be fine.”
    “We'll see what the doctor says.” The Jeep flew down the road. “You got lights on this thing?”
    “What?” she asked, confused. Nothing made sense to her right now.
    “You know, lights,” he explained, swirling his finger around. “To tell people to get the hell out of my way. You have those?”
    “This is my personal vehicle,” she told him, slurring her words as if she were drunk. “No lights.”
    “Great,” he said as he saw the first traffic light in town.
    He kicked the Jeep into fourth gear and hauled ass down the center of the road, flying through the red light as multiple cars beeped their frustration.
    “You still awake?” he called over to her. When he heard nothing, he began to panic. “Hey! Wake up!”
    He shook her arm until she smacked him.
    “I'm awake,” she answered doggedly. “Just closing my eyes for a minute.”
    “Well, don't do that,” he chastised, putting an arm in front of her as he took a sharp left onto the hospital road.
    “If I don't, everything spins,” she argued. “I might get sick.”
    “I'd rather you get sick!” he bellowed loudly as more car horns blared at him.
    He reached the hospital in record time, screeching to a stop in front of the emergency room. He jumped out quickly and yanked open the passenger door. He cradled Awen in his arms as he ran quickly into the building.
    “I need a doctor!” he called out loudly as nurses rushed to his side. “She ran her car into a ditch and hit her head. She won't stay awake!”
    A thick, frumpy woman pulled a stretcher into the area and he gently laid her on it.
    “What's her name?” the receptionist called out.
    “Awenasa,” he spat at her as he watched the nurses rush her back into the room. He began to follow them but was quickly stopped by a male nurse.
    “You need to wait out here,” he said. “Your wife is in the best of care, but we really need more information from you.”
    Mati looked at him incredulously.
    “She's not my wife!” he objected. “I ran into her on the side of the road!'
    “I'm sorry, sir,” the nurse continued. “We really need you to stay here.”
    Mati kicked a chair in frustration as the receptionist walked over to him meekly. He buried his head in his hands and