The Summer I Fell (The Six Series) Read Online Free PDF Page A

Ace ran his hand down his face. “Riley, I don’t know how to help you without hurting you. I can’t even put my arm around you and lift you up.”
    Eli stuck his hand out and gestured for mine. When I stretched it out, he dropped two white pills in my palm. “Take those,” he said, as he tried handing me a bottle of water. I went to give the pills back, but he shook his head. “Relax, Riley. They’re just ibuprofen with codeine. You need something for the pain, and this will help without being too much. Trust me, you’ll want something, and soon, when your back tries to seize up. This is what I took when I tore a ligament a few months back.”
    I shook my head no and tried again to hand them back, but Ace’s hand closed over mine. “Just take them, Riley. Eli’s right; you’re gonna need something for the pain.”
    The kitchen went quiet, as if the Six waited for me to give in for once and agree. “Fine.”
    Eli unscrewed the bottle cap and handed the water to me. Dumping the pills in my mouth, I took a swig to wash them down.
    Ace took the water from my hand and handed it off to Eli. “We’ll wait a few minutes for the medicine to kick in before you try to get off the table.”
    I was tolerant up to a certain point. I really was, but sitting on the damn table like a bird on its perch was just as uncomfortable as trying to get off it. I pulled a deep breath in, pushed my hands against the top, and shoved myself off the edge. The slamming stop jarred my body, and Ace grabbed my arm to steady me. His tight hold kept me from falling backwards into the edge and doing further damage to my back.
    I huffed deep breaths with each wave of pain that rolled over me, as I chased the black dots in front of my eyes to make them disappear. Ace put a hand under my elbow to help keep me upright.
    “Riley, I swear to God, you’re gonna be the death of me,” Ace muttered under his breath when I swayed against his grip.
    Tilting my head to look up at him, I scowled. His eyebrows lifted, and his gaze hardened as if challenging me. His eyes told me everything without saying a word. “ Go ahead and argue with me, you know I’ll win, ” they said.
    I looked down and groaned at the sight of my pants. “Ace, was there any sweatpants in the clothes I left behind?”
    Confusion marred his brow. “You can’t even stand up on your own. How the hell are you gonna change by yourself?”
    “Y’all shoulda thought about that before you chased Paige off.” They had a bad habit of doing that crap. I’d put up with everything they dished out over the years. Paige had only dealt with them since our sophomore year in high school, and she did that for me. The Six made her uncomfortable. Not because of their looks, but because she was shy and kind of timid. Or was. Ever since she’d started taking loads of college classes in between her high school ones, she’d grown a backbone. It was like her confidence grew when she took on shifts at the hospital and got her foot in the door as an intern. If anything, being around the Six had given her thicker skin. If she could deal with them, she could deal with anyone.
    Ace groaned beside me. “How do you want to do this, Riles?”
    Josh tossed the last pillow on the couch and walked over to take my arm. “I can help her.”
    I swear I felt Ace stiffen up beside me. “It’s okay, Josh. I can do it myself.”
    “You’re gonna fall on your damn face, which, by the way, would make it worse than it already is.” Ace sounded angry. “Josh, hand me those pants,” he said, pointing to the clothes he’d laid over the back of one of the recliners in the living room.
    Josh grabbed them and handed them to Ace.
    My pulse hammered in my neck, and I could feel a cold sweat beading up under my armpits. No way would I let Ace help me undress. “Ace… I got…”
    “No. Now stop arguing with me and let’s go.” His fingers gripped my elbow a little tighter, and we moved down the hallway.
    “Huh.