Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 70444 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 352(@200wpm)___ 282(@250wpm)___ 235(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 70444 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 352(@200wpm)___ 282(@250wpm)___ 235(@300wpm)
Johnny when I got just a little too close.
The men hit the truck’s front end so hard that they bounced off and went flying. I don’t know what I expected to happen when the idea came over me, but it didn’t include them flying eight feet into the air and then landing on the concrete so hard that their entire bodies looked broken.
That’s when the fifth and final man who I hadn’t been able to take out realized that the situation he now found himself in wasn’t nearly as controlled as it had been about fifteen seconds prior.
I sat in my truck, heart pounding, wondering what he was going to do.
And apparently, that was run.
He took off, and he didn’t even pause to check on his companions.
Thank. God.
That’s when I reached for my phone and dialed 9-1-1 like I probably should’ve done a minute or two ago.
***
“He has a severe concussion. I recommend that he stay overnight—” The doctor was interrupted by Johnny’s adamancy that he wasn’t going to stay the night.
“Not happening,” Johnny interjected, his face swollen and bruised. “I’m not staying here. To be honest, I have no desire to stay overnight, and you can’t force me. I’m going home. No discussion.”
The finality in his tone rang out clear as a bell, and I knew he’d walk right out of here AMA—against medical advice—if the doctor didn’t discharge him.
“But, sir,” the doctor tried to reason with him.
There was no reasoning with him on this. Even I could tell it wasn’t going to happen. I could read it plain as day in his pain-filled eyes.
“What if someone stayed with him?” I blurted.
“That’s not happening,” Tyler Cree said as he came in at the same time that the doctor said, “That would work.”
“Sold.” Johnny swung his legs over the bed and catching my gaze. “I’m ready to go when you’re ready to take me home.”
I bit my lip, trying not to look at the scarily pissed off cop at my side, and instead kept my eyes focused ahead.
Tyler Cree had already scared me once tonight. I wasn’t going to say or do anything else that might bring his attention to me again.
“Johnny…” Tyler started to say.
“Listen, Cree.” Johnny stood. “Frankly, you don’t know me well enough to know that I don’t do hospitals or why…so let’s just leave it at that.”
Tyler stared at Johnny, and Johnny must’ve shown him something that made him agree, because Cree was now nodding his head. “Okay, fine. Just make sure you check in with me every couple of hours.”
“I’ll check in with you in the morning,” Johnny countered. “That’s why I’m going home with her.”
Johnny gestured toward me, and I had to bite my lip to keep from squirming under both men’s stares.
“Fine,” Cree said as he continued to stare at me. “But you’ll keep me updated.”
“I…I don’t have your number to update you,” I sputtered.
I didn’t know what the hell was going on. Like…I really had no clue.
I mean, one minute I was driving to the grocery store, and the next thing I knew, I had hit four men with my truck.
Now, I was standing in the hospital, three doors down from the men I’d hit with my truck while arguing with the chief of police.
This was not a good idea.
I should tell Johnny no.
But when I turned my head to do just that, I saw that Johnny wasn’t watching me with scrutiny, but with concern. He was the one who was injured after getting beat up, and he was concerned about me?
What the hell?
“Johnny has it.” He paused. “Are you up for making a statement on the Facebook page, or do you want me to do that?”
Johnny grunted. “I’ll do it. Why not?”
Cree grunted. “Don’t be stupid tonight, and don’t come back to work for at least the next four days. If you’re still experiencing dizziness then, just let me know, and I’ll get next week covered for you as well.”
With that Cree walked out of Johnny’s exam room, then turned into one three down from us—where I knew one of the men were.
“I’m ready when you are,” Johnny said, ignoring the doctor’s sigh.
I looked at the doctor. “Anything special I should do or need to watch out for?”
The doctor shook his head in resignation. “Wake him every two to three hours, and if you can’t wake him up or he’s confused when you wake him, get him back here right away.”
***
Hours later, it was me who woke to Johnny’s phone ringing.
I got up on one arm, hoping that it wouldn’t wake him, and reached over him to grab it off my nightstand. Once I’d unplugged it from the charger, I silenced it and stared at the screen.
Fourteen missed calls. Twenty-two text messages. And eight voicemails. I wasn’t sure why I was only just hearing the phone ring now after all of those missed calls.