Coughing, choking, Brooke dashed to the window and then gasped. Zach peered over her shoulder and swore.

Down on the grass far below stood Blake. He was propped up on one crutch, face gray, holding a blowtorch as he looked right at them.

Zach threw Brooke her clothes and shoved his feet into his jeans. Then he reached under his bed and pulled out a portable rope ladder. “My house is on fire. My damn house is on fire. I’m going to kill him.”

But Brooke was still staring at Blake, who had tears running down his face as he limped toward the door, vanishing inside.

“He’s in—” Brooke gasped, still coughing. “Zach, Blake’s inside.” The smoke tightened in her lungs so that she couldn’t talk.

Zach covered her mouth with a towel. “Breathe into that.” He tossed the ladder out the window. Straddling the ledge, he reached for her. “Come on. You’re going down and out. Quickly.” He pulled her out the window and onto the rope. “Don’t stop until your feet touch the ground. Got that?”

Right. Don’t stop. Except she wanted to stop. She wanted to stop time and go back to a few minutes ago, when he’d been about to bury himself deep inside her, telling her he’d fallen. “I’m not leaving you.”

“Go!” His voice was already hoarse, his eyes flashing fear and anger. “I’m getting Blake, then I’ll be right behind you—”

“Zach—”

“Brooke, listen to me.” He gave her a little shake. “You have to be out of here for me to do this.”

“But—”

“No, I mean it. I can’t lose you. I can’t.” He set his forehead to hers. “I can’t do this with you still in here, in danger.”

He meant he couldn’t lose another person who meant so much to him. Brooke’s heart swelled until it felt too big for her body.

“Please go,” he said, hugging her hard. “Because if something happens to you—”

“It won’t, it won’t. I’m going.” She squeezed him tight, breathing through the towel and still coughing. “But you should know something. I love you, Zach.”

He looked staggered. “Brooke.”

“I do. I love you.” It’d probably sound better if she could talk more clearly, but she could tell he understood. “And I swear to God if you die in here, I’ll come find you and kill you again.”

He choked out a laugh. Off in the distance they could finally hear sirens. “Go.”

“Going.” And down the ladder she went, leaving him to face Blake alone.