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She walks back in with a woman in scrubs who’s carrying a glass of ice water. The woman says, “There he is. Our star patient.” She sets the glass on a nearby tray, then uses the switch to slowly raise the top half of my bed. As soon as I’m propped up, she passes me the water. “Go slow. I’m in no mood to clean up vomit.”
She grabs the blood pressure cuff off the wall, lifts my hand, and wraps the cuff around my upper arm. “I’m Tala. Let’s check your vitals, okay, hon?” Tala glances at my sheet tent. “Oh, I see he’s still up. Hmph.”
I look over at Allie, who whispers, “I’ll just wait outside.” She rushes out before I can tell her to stay. She might as well stay at this point. Besides, there’s something very comforting about her.
Tala glances at the door, then says, “Your girlfriend is very devoted to you. She hasn’t left your side since you came in.”
“Oh no, we’re not together.”
She pushes the button and the cuff starts tightening around my arm. “Why not? She’s a lovely girl.”
“We just met this week.”
“Shhh, don’t talk until this is done.”
I stare at the numbers as they go up on the machine, then when it beeps, she takes the cuff off and says, “Still a little high. You two would look great together and what a story you’ll have to tell your grandchildren.”
“No, it’s not like that. Our relationship is purely professional.”
“That’s what my husband and I used to say, until we finally gave in to what was obvious to everyone around us,” Tala says, placing the oxygen meter on my index finger. “Now, are you hungry? I can go scrounge you up some supper. It’s a Southwest chicken, bean, and rice bowl, which is one of the only edible things on the menu.”
“I’m not hungry, but can you bring a tray for Allie?”
“We’re not supposed to do that.”
Smiling at her, I say, “But you could, right? If we pretend I’m going to eat it? No one needs to know.”
Grinning at me, Tala says, “You’re trouble, aren’t you?” She shakes her head. “Fine, but this stays between us.”
“I promise I won’t breathe a word to anyone.”
She takes the clip off my finger, then starts for the door. “I’ll let your business associate know we’re all done and I’ll be back in a few minutes with your dinner.”
“Thank you.”
I lay my head back against the pillow, my mind floating aimlessly as I wait for Allie to come back. I think about what Tala said about us having a crazy story to tell our grandchildren. Then it hits me—what was going through my mind when I thought I was going to die. I’m thirty-nine years old and my most important relationship is with my brother.
Allie walks back in, looking a bit shy. She comes over and stands next to the bed. “Maybe I should take off. You know, let you have your privacy … and rest up.”
I stare at her, realizing the last thing I want right now is to be alone. “I’m sure you have better places to be, but would you mind staying?”
12
Family Phone Calls and Annoyingly Beautiful Doctors
Allie
I should leave. That would be the smart thing to do. While I have been getting a lot of work done on my laptop, I can do so much more back at the office with two screens. But Hudson did get a life-threatening, potentially permanently damaging injury while trying to save my hysterical ass. Staying would be the right thing to do. And he looks so vulnerable lying there in the hospital bed. Somehow still manly, but also vulnerable. Huh, why can’t those two coexist in my mind more easily? I should probably do some digging into my own toxic masculinity when I get a chance. But first, I should go back to the office. “Sure, I’ll stay.”
Dammit, why’d I say that?
Oh, that’s why. Look at that smile on his face. I wouldn’t half mind helping him get rid of that erection myself. God, I hope he can’t read my mind.
“Thanks. I don’t really want to be alone right now.” He lets out a sigh of relief. “Are you sure you don’t need to be anywhere?”
Shaking my head, I say, “No. I’m fine to stay.”
He takes a sip of water, then lays his head back against the pillow again. “Who’s at home waiting for you?”
