by Amy Briggs
“And then what? You’re the prince who rescued the fair maiden?” she asked, poking me gently on the arm.
“Something like that.” I felt myself get a bit flushed from embarrassment.
“No need to be bashful now. You’re the reason she won’t be there much longer. I’d be excited, too. Are they supposed to page you?”
“They are, but let’s be honest, you know as well as I do that they probably won’t. I’ll go up and check on her when things slow down here in a little bit. You know how long these tests take. Hopefully, they’ve figured it out by now and given her an antibody to counteract whatever it is,” I lamented. In most allergic reactions, anaphylaxis happened, where a person’s face or appendages would swell, as well as potentially their throat. While she didn’t have any of those symptoms, the apple was the key, and if it wasn’t a pectin allergy, it had to be something similar. A pectin allergy is much like an allergy to pollen, and the body treats the pectin as if it were pollen, so it is like a seasonal allergy reaction with non-life threatening symptoms, but every body is different.
As the night continued, we became quite dead in the emergency room, and I still hadn’t heard from her doctors or nurse. I was rattling my pen on the desk at the nurses’ station when Ruth finally looked up at me from the computer.
“Jacob. Go. You’re driving me crazy with your pacing and tapping on everything . We’re totally dead. I’ll page you if we need you. Just go,” she huffed at me.
Looking at my watch, I realized that several hours had passed and I should have heard something by now. “Are you sure?”
“Oh, I’m sure. I’m going to throw all your pens away if you don’t go now,” she said shooing me away.
“All right, thanks. I won’t be far. If there’s no news, I’ll just come right back, ok?” I said anxiously.
“Oh, my lord, Jacob. Go.” This time, she was stern.
“All right, see ya,” I said and took off.
I was practically out of breath when I reached her room. There were no nurses at the station there, so they must have been with other patients. Maybe they were having a busier night up here than we had in the emergency room. I walked over to look at her chart and saw that they had done the allergy test on her for pectin; it had come up negative, but they had run another test, which found something called abamectin. I pulled out my phone and looked it up; it was a pesticide and herbicide used to keep insects and pests away.
About an hour prior, they’d given her an IV of Pralidoxime, which is also used to treat nerve gas poisoning in addition to insecticide poisoning. From what I could find online, she’d likely wake up soon if the diagnosis was right. I couldn’t believe that it wasn’t an allergic reaction, but that she’d been poisoned by that apple.
I leaned over the bed rail and held her hand, just watching her and thinking about her story. While it was ironic that we’d named her Snow White, it was a serious poison she’d ingested, and she was lucky to be alive. Had she eaten more of that apple, she could have died or suffered far more than she had already. In such a short time, she’d come to mean so much to me, and at any moment, she could wake up and we could either part ways or hopefully begin a special relationship.
It was in that moment I decided to take a leap of faith. I was going to be the prince who woke Snow White. My heart pounded against my chest as I moved closer, but she was my fairy tale, and I had to do it. I looked around first and confirmed that no one was watching before I leaned in to press my lips to hers in a soft kiss.
Knowing that what I was thinking was absolutely crazy, I did it anyway, and then leaned back up to look at her. Nothing happened. Of course, nothing happened. This is real life, not a fairy tale. As I turned to take a seat in the chair beside her, she stirred.
Rushing back to her side, I took her hand again. “Jackie?” I whispered.
“Jacob, you did it,” she whispered back to me softly as her pink lips formed a smile. “I’ve been waiting for you.”
“I’ve been waiting for you, too, princess.” I leaned in to kiss her softly again.
The End
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STAY TUNED: Sneak peeks for Fired Up, a Brotherhood of District 23 novel.
Fired Up
a Brotherhood of District 23 novel
By Amy Briggs
Sneak Peek
Jo
I couldn’t find anything suitable to wear to my own dad’s funeral. Everyone was going to be there, wearing their Class A Dress Uniforms, which was completely acceptable, since he was a Fire District Chief, but I won't be wearing mine. I haven’t worked at that department in almost a year, and it just doesn’t seem appropriate at all. My aunt also informed me that my father’s only daughter shouldn’t be dressed like a boy the day he’s laid to rest; her words of reprimand have been ringing in my head all morning.
At least my best friend, Matt will be there, along with his brother Brian and the rest of the department of course. Brian was actually appointed into my father’s position when he died last week. We have a bit of a history. We had a moment really; a hot, steamy moment that I’d never be able to get out of my head apparently. I felt a moistness pool between my legs thinking about his beautiful green eyes, his well-defined muscles and the tattoos that couldn’t be more perfectly placed on his chest and arms. Jesus Christ, it’s your dad’s funeral, get your shit together, Josephine Meadows. That was a one-time thing, just kiss, a really great kiss. No matter how great it was, or how much deep down I actually wanted him, having those thoughts at this time and place was inappropriate. I shook my head to clear it; reminding myself that Brian was a cocky asshole anyway.
Matt was picking my aunt and I up, she was my only biological family left now and my dad’s older sister. My mom died when I was three, leaving me and my dad to fend for ourselves for the most part. After she died, he never dated, or married again; he was more or less married to the fire service. He worked the job until his last breath; when he passed away from a heart attack while out on a call. It was no secret that the stress of firefighting made heart attacks the number one killer of firefighters, but their shitty diets certainly didn’t help either, no matter how hard I tried to get him to be healthier.
“Josephine! Matt's here, let’s go!” Aunt Molly yelled from downstairs. I finished putting on my favorite red lipstick that I never wore except to go out or for events, grabbed some black heels that were probably a bit too high for walking around all day, and took a deep breath as I went downstairs. It was going to be a long day, but everyone that I’d be greeting loved us, they were all our family.
Brian
It's the day of Jack’s funeral, a day I've been dreading as I felt like I lost my own father. He was my fire chief for as long as I can remember as I moved up the ranks. Technically, he was the only father figure I had. My dad left my mom with me and my little brother when I was five and he was three. Our mom, and Jo’s mom had been friends, and Matt and Jo have been best friends since they were born. The two were born in the same hospital in the same week; making them almost inseparable for as long as I can remember.
When our dad left, Jack Meadows stepped in to help out; teaching us how to be boys, and then how to be good men. He and our mom stayed friends and I always thought there might have been something going on there, but who knows. Jack was an honorable man, and when his wife died, around the same time our dad left, he made it a point to check on my mom, and that was good
enough for us. From what I know, he never really involved himself with a woman again. They ended up being really close. When we were old enough, we couldn’t wait to join the fire department, and we’ve both made a career out of it. That fire department was our calling and definitely our family.
It was time to lay to rest the only father I've ever known, and to make sure his family had everything they needed from the fire department; that was my responsibility now and we looked out for our own. I adjusted my uniform, making sure it was all in place and thought about Jack’s family. His only family besides the department was his sister, Molly who lives out of town, and Jo.
Josephine Meadows. I started to get a little twitch in my dick; she was always so fucking sexy and had absolutely no clue how hot she was. She was a firefighter too, it was in her blood. We used to all ride together, and my God, her ass in a uniform. It would stop you in your tracks if she walked by. She was off limits though, her dad had been my boss, and my brother was her best friend--that’s like two bro code fails in one. I haven’t seen her all that much since we drank too much, and got a little handsy with each other at one of the fire academy graduation parties last year. We said some stuff to each other that probably should never have been said.
Acknowledgments
This novella was completely inspired; it definitely wasn’t planned. I’m a lover of love, and my tribe inspired me to try something new and different, for which I am grateful. It’s never easy to step outside of your box, and I’m so happy that I did.
I’d like to thank Kristen Hope Mazzola not only for her divine cover and graphics that absolutely capture this story, but also for her push to do something over the top and just plain fun.
Jess Epps, as always, you’re my partner in crime and every book I ever write has a little piece of you in it milady. I love you so much. BT and Rob, even though this was a super girly, sweet little tale, you both encouraged me and gave me some fabulous ideas and feedback, and our writing sessions are something I totally live for. I love you clowns; bro code all the way.
There are always a million people to thank when you write a book, but to Carina Adams, Stephanie Hoffman McManus and Danielle Pearl, you deserve a special shout out for giving this little gem a read in your busy schedules between your own deadlines, hospital stays, kids and a hundred other priorities. Thank you so much.
For all my readers – I know this is very different than what you’ve read from me before, but I hope if nothing else, just for a moment, you read this and daydreamed of your true love, whether you’ve found it, or you’re waiting for it. Always believe.
Also by Amy Briggs
The Brotherhood of District 23
Fired Up – Book 1
Fully Involved – Book 2
Controlled Burn – Book 3
The Brotherhood of District 23 Complete Series
The Brotherhood of District 23 Coloring Book
Hot & Cold: an Ignited Romance
About the Author
Amy Briggs is a Texas based writer, consultant, and entrepreneur. Leaving the corporate life behind, Amy now runs several small businesses from the comfort of her home while spinning realistic, thrilling and romantic stories. Formerly a firefighter and EMT in New Jersey living next to a military base, Amy was drawn to creating stories around emergency services and the military, and draws on her experiences to show the depth and emotional side of the lifestyle.
Her love of fairy tales carries through each of her novels and she hopes to inspire readers to fall in love with love.
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