Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 85342 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 427(@200wpm)___ 341(@250wpm)___ 284(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85342 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 427(@200wpm)___ 341(@250wpm)___ 284(@300wpm)
“I’m not leaving her,” I say, shaking my head, my eyes going from his back to the bed.
“We are ten minutes away, and you need to rest.” He looks around. “Trust me, if anything happens, they will call me.” He looks me up and down, and I look at my clothes, which are stained with blood. “You need to take a shower.”
CHAPTER 8
Chase
“We are ten minutes away,” I say. “And you need to rest.” I look around, seeing the nurse sitting behind the desk. “Trust me, if anything happens, they will call me.” I can tell she’s not going to leave. I look her up and down and see the dried blood all over her clothes. Her hand comes up and touches the blood on her shirt. “You need to take a shower.” I swallow again, not sure this is the right move, but knowing I can’t stand the thought of her spending any more time in those clothes. “So come home with me, take a shower, rest for a bit, and then you can come right back here.”
Her eyes keep staring at Penelope, who is lying in the middle of the bed. I avoid telling her that her pressure went really low, and I thought she was going to code a couple of times. “But,” she says.
“I swear, if anything happens, I will get you here in under ten minutes,” I assure her, and she looks like she’s having an intense inner struggle. “I’m going to tell the nurses”—I point at the desk—“and I have to change.”
“Can I sit with her?” she asks softly, and even though I know she shouldn’t be back here, I nod my head. She walks into the room and goes straight for the bed. I wait a second before I turn and walk over to the desk.
“Aren’t you looking gorgeous tonight?” I say. Emmanuelle looks up from her chart, her glasses at the tip of her nose.
“Don’t you start that shit with me, Dr. Grant,” she huffs. “Your charm does nothing for me.” She looks back down at the file in front of her.
I can’t help but laugh. “Good to know.” I lean on the desk with my side, putting my arm on it. “I’m going to head out, but can you make sure I’m notified if there are any changes to Penelope?”
“That’ll cost you.” She leans back in her chair. “My grandson is a big hockey fan.” Her eyebrows go up. Of course he is, I want to say, isn’t that a coincidence, but instead, I do what I have to do.
“Well, it just so happens I have a couple of tickets to whatever game you want,” I say, knowing I will have to call one of my family members and ask for them. I look back at the room and see Julia, her eyes still glued to the bed.
“I’ll call you if anything changes.” She smiles at me. “And don’t think I didn’t see you sneak someone in here.” She looks over at Julia.
“Caseworker,” I say to her, and she shakes her head. “I’ll be out in ten minutes. I’ll take her with me.”
“Take your time,” she says softly, pushing away from the desk. “I’ll be around.”
I walk down the hallway, going into the on-call room. I think about changing, but instead, I just take off the scrub hat I have on before grabbing my keys and bag with my clothes in it. I walk out, going back to her, and spot Emmanuelle talking to Julia, who just nods her head. “Are you ready?”
“I don’t know,” she replies softly, looking at me and then at the bed. “Maybe you can just give me a shirt.”
“She’s not going to be up for a while,” Emmanuelle reassures her. “And I promise to call Dr. Grant as soon as she wakes up or there is a change.” She looks at me, and I just nod. “Besides, no one is allowed back here, so you’ll be much more comfortable than sitting on one of those plastic chairs.”
Julia sighs. “Okay, but you promise to call if there is any change.” Emmanuelle just nods at her as she turns and walks to me, not saying anything. I put my hand at the base of her back as I lead her from the room.
We don’t say anything to each other as I walk to the elevator and press the floor for parking. “Are you hungry?” I ask, and she just shakes her head. I’ve never seen her like this, ever. In all the time I’ve known her, she has always been bubbly and charming. She’s the first one with a smile on her face, and just seeing her smile, all you want to do is smile back. I unlock the car doors, and she pulls open her door, getting in. I wonder if I should maybe call Jillian, but as soon as I sit down in the driver’s seat and look over at her, the answer is there for me. “I’ll be fine,” she says as if she knows my thoughts. “There isn’t anything anyone can do for me.”