AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Samantha lay in the hospital bed, hooked up to an IV bag dripping fluids into her. A well-meaning nurse had given her a scolding about staying hydrated and taking better care of herself, adding to her feeling ridiculous for being in here in the first place. They’d brought her a turkey sandwich, Jell-O, and a plastic cup of apple juice, which she’d devoured, and the food had done wonders for her energy level, headache, and spots in front of her eyes. She felt better already.
She couldn’t believe she’d fainted in the office. It wasn’t something she was prone to, but she’d been under so much stress lately, and thinking about eating usually made her queasy. The confrontation with Jeremy hadn’t helped the situation, either.
“Do you want me to call anyone?” Brandy asked from the chair at the end of the bed.
Samantha shook her head. “You’ve been such a good friend, meeting me here and staying while they run tests and lecture me.”
Brandy chuckled. “You scared me to death when you went down.”
Feeling her cheeks flame at the reminder, Samantha groaned.
“Listen, I have to ask… is there any chance you’re pregnant? Because when my cousin Patti was pregnant, she was a fainter.” Brandy raised her eyebrows in question.
Though her stomach did a somersault at the question, Samantha shook her head. “I really don’t think so.” She and Dex used condoms and after the nightmare with Jeremy, she’d gone to her doctor to get tested and then opted to take the pill, too. Though it was too soon for that to have kicked in. Just to be safe. “I just couldn’t handle any more upheaval in my life, so it’s highly unlikely.”
“Okay.” Brandy’s shoulders slumped in relief. “They said they’d have the blood work back in an hour, but I had to ask.”
Samantha managed a smile and before she could say anything else, her cell rang.
Brandy glanced down and grabbed the phone from its place on the bed before Samantha could look. “You rest. I’ll make sure nobody bothers you.” With a pointed look, she walked outside.
Samantha listened but all she could hear was her friend’s muted voice, too low to hear. Assuming it was work, she turned on the television. TNZ LIVE was already on and in case there was something about Dex and his job, she settled in to watch news about celebrities.
Her friend rejoined her in the room.
“Who was on the phone?” Samantha asked.
“Brian was checking on you. What’s on television?” she asked, sitting back down in the chair. She looked up at the screen while Samantha raised the volume on the remote.
After a little while, she began to doze off.
“That bastard!” Brandy said, startling Samantha, and she jerked in bed. “Turn up the volume!”
A glance up and she saw Jeremy on the screen outside their office building. Her stomach rolled and she raised the volume along with holding up the remote/speaker so she could hear better.
“I’m disappointed that Dex Sterling would get in between a man and his future wife. I’ve been dismayed and hurt ever since Samantha left me at the altar, and now I know why she did it.” Though Jeremy spoke to an interviewer, the gleam in his eye was all for Samantha.
“I hate him!” she yelled, attempting to throw the remote only to remember a thick wire tethered it to the bed.
“Calm down,” Brandy said, “or you’ll have the staff come running.”
Samantha blew out a long breath. “You’re right. Letting him get to me is how I ended up here in the first place.”
“Can I get you something? Maybe they have tea here. I’ll go ask.”
Wanting a few minutes alone, she didn’t argue with her friend.
Brandy walked out and Samantha closed her eyes, determined to stay calm. She wasn’t sure how much time had passed when she heard Brandy’s singsong voice drifting toward her.
“Samantha, I hope you’re decent because you have a visitor!” Brandy pulled Dex into the room. “Sorry I didn’t get your tea. I ran into company.”
At the sound of Dex’s voice, she looked toward the door. “What are you doing here?” she asked, turning to a grinning Brandy.
“I called and your friend told me where you were.” He tipped his chin at Brandy. “What did the doctors say?”
Brandy picked up her purse. “She’s getting fluids, bloodwork will be back soon, and she needs to eat, hydrate, and reduce stress. I’m going back to the office to keep an eye on your partner.”
“Don’t engage,” Dex warned, and Brandy nodded as she waved and strode out.
