No Rebound

Chapter 10

Chapter 10Relieved, I jumped out of the car and walked across the car park with her. I could hear a commotion going on behind me and turned to see an argument going on a little way away. I was just about to turn back when I saw a car screech out of a parking space and come hurtling toward me. In the same instant I knew that Jess was in the car’s path and that she wouldn’t hear it coming!

I turned quickly and ran at Jess shouting in a futile manner. In 5 paces I had caught up with her, performed a clumsy rugby tackle around her middle and thrown her onto the pavement.

She went down like a sack of potatoes having had no forewarning and I heard the air leave her lungs in a whoosh as she hit the floor, but it was quickly drowned out by the sound of contorting metal.

I climbed off her and she looked up at me as if I was mad until she noticed the car that had wrapped itself around the lamppost a few feet away.

People were running to the car to see if the driver was ok but personally I didn’t care. I did care about the beautiful woman on the ground with the terrified expression on her face who was struggling to get some air back into her lungs.

I crouched down next to her and hugged her head against my chest and rubbed her back until her gasps became even breaths again, then I lifted her head to look into her face before asking if she was ok.

‘What the hell happened?’ she asked quietly.

‘I’m not sure. There was an argument then the car just came speeding towards us. I’m sorry I hurt you.’

‘Hurt me? By the look of that car you’ve just saved my life!’ and the shock of what could have happened suddenly hit her and she burst into tears, hugging me for all she was worth.

I don’t know who called the police but they were there within a few minutes. The policeman who took our statements was a nice, kindly man but he had a very strong regional accent which made it harder for Jess to lip read. We did ok though with me repeating everything he said to Jess.

A paramedic took a quick look at her and pronounced her ok but warned her she was going to be pretty stiff and sore soon and to take it easy.

After the formalities were over I left her sat in her car while I went and bought her cat food but by the time I came back she was crying again, getting out of the car as I approached and hugging me fiercely.

‘Hey it’s ok’ as I stroked her hair and tried to reassure her. She pulled away from me and grabbed my face as she had the night before, her eyes boring into me as her thumbs caressed my cheeks.

‘I know you were talking, I could feel the vibration.’

‘Come on let’s get you home, do you want me to drive?’ and she handed me her keys, got into the passenger seat and gave me directions.