Fight or Flight by Jamie Canosa Page A

wasn’t trapping her, he was holding her. He wasn’t hurting her, he was comforting her. This was something entirely new and . . . sort of wonderful. When she relaxed into his body, Jay moved again, pulling the blankets around them and tucking them in. Wrapped up and snuggled into Jay’s side like that, Em felt warm for the first time in weeks. And, above her, she could have sworn she heard Jay sigh.
    ***
    When Em woke again, the room was flooded with sunlight. Not the dim glow of the dawn hours they’d been waking to, lately. And no wonder, the sun was already beginning to show in their window. It must have been nearly eight o’clock. She’d slept in. Stranger still, Jay had slept in. And he was still asleep.
    She could see why. Wrapped up in his arms, her arm draped loosely over his stomach and her head pillowed on his hard chest, she’d never felt more comfortable in her life. Warm, cozy . . . safe. Em couldn’t believe she’d managed it. To not only sleep with someone, but to feel safe doing it. She felt almost normal, and Jay had given that to her. Now, she wanted to give something back to him.
    She didn’t have much time. It may have already been too late, but if she hurried, she just might make it to Sam’s in time to get them both something for breakfast. He could be the one to wake up to breakfast in bed for a change.
    Leaving Jay’s embrace was one of the hardest things she’d had to do in a while, but her determination to do this for him eased the way. He was out cold. Didn’t even stir as she squirmed out of his arms. Throwing on an extra layer and her favorite pair of jeans, Em headed down to the street.
    ***
    “Hey . . . you! What’s up?” Em was waiting for the light to change at the corner when Ace strolled up behind her. She’d told him her name endless times, but he just couldn’t seem to remember it. Actually, he couldn’t seem to remember much. Ace was like a walking talking anti-drug campaign.
    “Hey. Just going to get some breakfast. You wanna come?”
    “Nah. I’m just headed back. Late night. There was this awesome new band playing downtown at one of the clubs. They were awesome. You and Jay should totally come next time. They were . . . awesome.” Uh-huh. Too many fried brain cells on that one. “Where’s Jay anyway? You two are like, joined at the hip or some shit.”
    Oh, yeah sure, he can remember Jay’s name no problem. “He slept in, so I’m going to get him something to eat.”
    “Oh. That’s . . .” Ace’s ‘thinking face’ almost looked painful.
    “Awesome?”
    “Yeah.” Ace nodded at her, eyes huge like she’s just said the most insightful thing he’d ever heard and she couldn’t hold back her laughter any longer.
    “Hey. You have a really pretty laugh . . . umm . . .”
    “Em.”
    “Yeah, right. Em. Hey! You and Jay should totally come and check out this new band I saw downtown last night. They were awe-some!”
    Having reached her daily limit of talking in circles, Em agreed and then excused herself as the light changed and the tiny white walking man lit up the sign on the opposite side of the street announcing she was clear to cross. Three steps into the crosswalk she heard the sound of a horn, the squeal of tires, the scent of burning rubber, and then . . . nothing.
    ***
    Beeping, and bright lights, and what was that god-awful smell? It smelled like sickness and disinfectant with a slightly lemony overtone. Oh, no. Oh, crap.
    Em peeled her eyes to open despite the fact that they felt glued shut and blinked against the harsh light. She was lying on a long thin bed, staring up into a ceiling light, and she hurt. Everywhere . Her head throbbed, her throat ached, her left arm and leg burned like they were on fire, and her entire right side made the rest of it feel like nothing more than a paper cut.
    “Oh, there you are, sweetie. Welcome back. You took quite a hit. I’m glad to see you’re awake so soon.”
    A hit? So soon? What the . . .? “What