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As the audience shouts over each other, I cut in, “Everyone shush” Yeah, I just shushed theret Quinn is my responsibility He’s only twenty-two, and I need them to back off

Shit, he’s been like a little brother tosnow bunny?! How did he end up here?!

FUCK!

I s the curses, and while the girls quiet, I shift his oversized ski jacket that blends into his pants Getting a better visual of his leg, and I go cold

“Ohto her knees at his side “It shouldn’t be bent like that…is that his bone?” She turns to me, wide-eyed

“I can’t look,” another girl says

Yeah His bone ripped through his pants

“I can walk…” He blows out a measured breath “Just…help me up, Akara”

“No, don’t move That’s an order”

He pulls off his goggles, squeezes his eyes shut “It’s fine…I promise, I can walk I can walk” He opens the to work tomorrow…I’ll be there, on the dot You don’t have to worry aboutup

Mine burn “It’s okay, just breathe, Quinn”

“I’ll be there…you can still count on me for Pirate Parrot” Pirate Parrot is the code name for Baby Ripley, which rarely ever needs to be used, but Quinn is sirls The more he sees my unease, the more he tries to stand up “I can walk, Akara I can—”

“No” I put a hand on him

“I can walk!” he screa as his first wail at the collision

“Your leg is a pretzel,” I force out “I’d rather carry your ass down this hill than see you hobble and break your face, okay?” My pulse is pounding, and his features twist in anguish He alain, but Nessa holds his other shoulder

“Just wait, okay?” she says “You’re really hurt, Quinn”

I send a quick text to the Yale boys about the accident “Let’s just get you to the ER”

Quinn tries to ease, but he can’t What this means for his job, his career, his future on SFO—only I have those answers Andto land on the dark reality

“I see the ski patrol!” Nessa shouts “Over here!”

“OVER HERE!” The girls wave

“You’re going to be okay, Quinn,” Nessa says “Just hold on” She clutches his hand tight

He nods through a pained grimace, then asks me, “Can you call my brother?”

A phone call with Oscar, a hospital ride, and an X-ray later, we all learn Quinn Oliveira broke his tibia in three pieces Since it’s an open fracture, his surgery is scheduled later today and will probably include metal pins At least six months of recovery