Page 48 of Sudden Summer

“Sir, I need you to step out of the cubicle while I speak to Ms. Calloway.”

Beau’s free hand tensed on my thigh as the nurse stepped back inside the small space. His face fell, but I was grateful for the interruption. Because I knew exactly what he was going to say. That my attack was his fault. That he should have been there to protect me. And I couldn’t bear the weight of that misplaced guilt.

“No, please.” My throat burned with each word. Beau had been speaking for me, telling them all my injuries. Talking them through how he found me. I could still feel that man’s fingers around my neck. The way he’d squeezed⁠—

Beau stood up, pressing a kiss to my head. “Just breathe, Chickadee. I’m not going anywhere unless you tell me to.”

I nodded, the panic slipping away. Beau was safety. He was the only thing keeping me from being back there, because my mind kept trying to pull me back into the panic. But as long as I could feel Beau’s touch, I knew I was safe. I was protected.

“Please. I’m safe with him…”

“Alright, honey. There are some sensitive questions I need to ask you, but as long as you are okay with your friend being in here—and he stays calm while we walk through this—he can stay.”

“My boyfriend,” I corrected, and the nurse nodded, a small smile tipping the corner of her mouth.

“The doctor will be in soon to show you how to use the braces for your wrist and your ankle sprains. They’ll go over care instructions and what to look for after you’re discharged, but before they come in here, I need to ask about some of the other injuries.”

I nodded, knowing what was coming. Honestly, I’d expected it to come earlier. Before the X-rays and the examination by the ENT. My skin went cold, clammy sweat clinging to my body.

“Are there any injuries that aren’t visible right now?”

My eyes were burning, enough that I tried to blink a few times to find some relief. But none came. And none would until I was somewhere that I could fall apart without people watching me do it. “He didn’t…I wasn’t…”

I couldn’t get the words out. I looked at Beau, who sat with his brows furrowed and his eyes wide.

“Do you suspect she has internal injuries? Like what? Bleeding? Shouldn’t you be taking her for a CT scan or something to see inside!?”

“That’s not…” I calmly replied, my eyes going back to the nurse. “I wasn’t sexually assaulted.”

Beau released what sounded like all the air in his lungs, his hand coming up to wipe at his face.

“I’m sorry, I needed to ask. The orthopedic doctor on call today is male. If that makes you uncomfortable⁠—”

I shook my head just a tiny bit as I closed my eyes. “It’s fine. Please. I want to go home.”

“Let’s go ahead and administer some of the good pain medication for you. You’ll need it while they get those sprains supported correctly. Then we can talk about getting you out of here.”

I sat silently as the nurse brought me in two pills to swallow. There was some part of my brain that said I couldn’t take them. Not with being on the schedule for tonight. But that didn’t really matter. I wouldn’t be able to go back to work for a few days, maybe more, depending on what the doctor said for my wrist sprain. So I took the pills and tried not to feel guilty as the worry and pain melted away.

“Birdie, please look at me.” Beau’s voice was deep, cracking over my name as he spoke it. “Please.”

If I thought I was broken before, that felt like nothing compared to seeing him sitting beside me, tears streaming down his cheeks.

“Why are you crying?” I whispered.

“I didn’t even think…You were telling her the truth, weren’t you? He didn’t do that…He didn’t…”

I shook my head, reaching out to brush away the tear that had almost made it to his lips. “I told the truth.”

“Because either way,” Beau captured my hand and pressed his lips to my palm. “I’m killing him. I’m going to hunt this fucker down and kill him for hurting my girl.”

I stared at him, my mouth going dry at his words. “Beau…”

“You are. Mine to cherish, and love, and protect. I swear to you, I know I failed this time, but I will keep you safe. And I will make him pay.”

“Cowboy…”

“Stop trying to talk, and rest your voice. Are the meds making you feel better? How’s the pain?”