The Last Time I Cried Your Name novel Chapter 166

The maintenance team finally got the elevator doors open.

Petty wriggled and poked her head out of Franco’s arms. It was only when she looked up that she realized just how tight things were. The elevator was wedged between two floors, and the gap was barely big enough for one adult to squeeze through at a time.

On the other side of the opening, she spotted the maintenance guys, Jay, and Aaron, who looked frustrated and not at all thrilled that Jay had blocked him from coming closer on the thirty-second floor. Aaron would never win in a fight with Jay. Laura was there too, sitting in her wheelchair with the caregiver who pushed her. Harris had arrived, along with a handful of nervy hospital managers who clearly rushed over the second they heard what happened.

Everyone was crowded around. Harris’s face relaxed the minute he saw her, like he’d finally unclenched after holding his breath for too long. He obviously trusted Franco to take care of her, but relief was written all over him.

Laura, though, was a mess. Her eyes were red, barely keeping back tears. She called out, her voice cracking, “Franco, get out of there, hurry!”

After the accident at the nursing home a couple days earlier, everyone involved had been given special rooms, but only two of Petty’s coworkers were on this floor. That morning, the caregiver had seen Petty walk into one of her colleagues’ rooms, so when Franco set off down the hall, Laura sent the caregiver after him. She really didn’t want Franco and Petty to run into each other.

It’s always the things you want least that end up happening. The caregiver came back with news that Franco and Petty had stepped into the elevator together, just the two of them. That was all it took for Laura to tell the caregiver to help her into her wheelchair. She barely made it out the door before hearing about the elevator breaking down.

Now, even with the doors wide open, Franco was still holding onto Petty. She couldn’t believe it.

From inside the elevator, Petty let out a low, sarcastic laugh. “See? Your first love looks like she’s about to lose it. You’ve got some comforting to do.”

No one outside the elevator could see it, but Franco tightened his grip around her waist and leaned in close so only she could hear. “Say one more thing and I’ll leave you here.”

Petty grinned, her voice full of mischief. “What’s the big deal? I’ve got Aaron and Harris—mmph!” Franco clamped his hand over her mouth before she could finish.

The rescue team didn’t waste time. Franco only kept his hand there for a second then let go, wrapping his arms around her waist and lifting her toward the opening.

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