Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 97592 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 488(@200wpm)___ 390(@250wpm)___ 325(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97592 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 488(@200wpm)___ 390(@250wpm)___ 325(@300wpm)
I also want to get the hell out of this damn bed and go to him. I want to curl up at his side and stay there until I hear him say my name.
I just can’t believe any of this is happening.
“Sammy, honey,” Kendall calls. “Look at me, okay? I need to do a quick evaluation on you. I need to make sure, neurologically speaking, that you’re not showing any signs of deficits.”
She holds up her penlight and shines it in my eyes again, checking something between the two of them and then clicking it off. “Follow my finger.”
I do as she asks, tracing its movements, and she goes on to test some reflexes on my arms and legs before covering me back with the sheet and blanket after each. Brooke and Chase look on with worry etching every line and wrinkle of their normally smooth faces.
Kendall does a few more things and asks me a couple of basic questions about myself and the world before thankfully declaring, “Everything is looking good.”
“Thank God,” Brooke breathes, a whole pregnant belly worth of air whooshing out of her at once.
“We’re going to have to evaluate you a few more times before I’m willing to let you go, but I’m really confident that, besides a little concussion-related amnesia from the accident, you don’t have any permanent neurological damage.”
“What about Noah?” I find myself asking through a scratchy throat. I can’t wait any longer.
Kendall glances to Brooke before stepping forward and putting her hand on my knee. “We’re just waiting at this point, honey.”
I suck my lips into my mouth.
“His injuries were a little worse than yours. His doorman says he took the brunt of the impact. Most of your injuries were caused in the resulting fall after the cab hit you.”
She pats me steadily as my nose starts to sting uncontrollably.
“I know it’s hard,” she whispers. “But I promise we’re doing everything we can to take care of him. We just have to give him time.”
I nod and turn my cheek, knowing that if I speak, all the anguish inside me will come pouring out in a horrifying array.
Kendall pats me again before leaving the room, and Brooke rushes forward to take her place.
“Where are the boys?” I ask right away, worry for what they must be feeling racing through me.
“They’re with Zoe,” Brooke answers, grabbing my hand in hers and squeezing it tight. “They’re okay, I promise.”
“What did you tell them? They must be so worried.”
Brooke shakes her head. “We haven’t told them much. Just that you needed a couple of days to recover from a little accident you had.”
Oh God. My poor kids.
“I want to see them,” I demand, to which Chase complies, whipping out his cell from his pocket.
“On it. I’ll call Zoe.”
“Can you also just check in with my parents?” Brooke asks, and Chase nods, rounding the bed to step out of the room.
“Mom and Dad are here?”
“They’re trying,” Brooke updates, reaching out to hold my hand. “They’ve been trying since Sunday, but the airline delayed and then canceled and then canceled again. They finally got on a plane this morning, just when they were about to drive. They should be here soon.”
I look at Noah once more, taking in the bandage on his head and the way his eyes remain firmly shut. The only relief I find is that his chest is still moving up and down in steady waves with each breath he takes. My head falls back on the pillow, and I close my eyes. “I can’t believe this is happening.”
“Oh, Sam.” She shakes her head. “I can’t believe you almost didn’t date a man who’s clearly willing to get hit by a cab for you.”
“Brooke!” It is the absolute worst thing she could say right now, but for some reason, it unleashes a manic amount of laughter from my lungs.
Call it stress. Call it trauma. I have no idea, but somehow, laughs spill from both of our lungs.
Though, it doesn’t take long for my laughs to morph into tears and my tears to morph into sobs.
Noah’s pregnant ex-girlfriend showed up at his apartment, and he chose to run after me. And now, he’s lying in a hospital bed unconscious.
It’s true. Noah Philips is the perfect man. And my life is such a disaster, it’s just about killed him.
Wednesday, June 1st
Sammy
I stare with laser focus at the closed curtain in the middle of the room that shelters the other half as Chase tussles with the boys on the little sofa underneath the TV.
This is the second time they’ve been to see me since I woke up, and thankfully, this visit has been entirely less emotional than yesterday’s. Between the boys’, Zoe’s, and my own tears, I thought we all might drown.
I’m doing much better, feeling a little strength reentering my limbs, and after six glasses of water, a few short walks in the hallway with a nurse’s assistance, and a hospital chicken tender dinner that made me cry for an hour and a half, I can even feel something other than sand in my throat.