Page 103 of For One Night

The door opens with a knock. “Miss Turner, are you feeling any better?”

“Some, it’s par for the course.”

She nods. “It looks as though you did have a rupture. I don’t believe surgery is needed at this time, but I do see you moved here recently; do you have a local physician?”

“I don’t as of right now.” I wince. “It looks like that’s priority number one now.”

“It should be.” She jots something down. “I’ll get your prescriptions called in and get you ready for discharge.”

“Thank you.”

“Do you have someone with you?” He pauses at the door.

Shit! I bite my lip. “I’ll call someone.”

“Good, I can’t release you with them.” She smiles as she walks out, and I begin to panic.

“It’s too late to call my parents to come this far. I know they would, but I can’t do that to them.” I chew on my nail, scrolling through my contacts. “I can’t, no way.”

I fist my hair, rolling past his name for the hundredth time until I finally stop on it. I press his name, holding my breath when it begins to ring.

“Hello?” His husky voice is the best thing in the world; what I wouldn’t give to hear that every morning.

“Hey, Lennox,”—I gulp—“it’s Lola.”

I hear a noise in the background with a thud. “Lola, are you alright?”

“I feel terrible for having to call you.” My body begins to tremble. “I’m okay, but I’m at the hospital and I need a ride. Millie’s out of town, and I don’t want to call my parents this late.” I take a deep breath, giving him time to speak.

“Where are you, baby?” His voice quivers.

I close my eyes, dying from embarrassment. “Seacoast ER.”

“I’ll be there in ten minutes. Tell them I’m coming.” His keys rattle in the background.

“I’m so sorry, Lennox.” I dry my face. “Thank you.”

“Stop, I’m coming to you.”

“Thank you.” I hang up and call for the nurse.

She pops her head in. “Can I help you, sweetie?”

“My-my friend is coming for me. Can he come back once he gets here?”

She holds up a pen and note pad. “Yes, of course. What’s his name?”

“Lennox Daly.”

She nods. “I’ll let them know.”

I watch the time on my phone. It’s been twelve minutes, and he still isn’t here. I don’t know what I was thinking calling him. Carter never came with me and called an Uber when it was time for me to come home.

He called it, ‘my failed attempt at being a woman’. He always knew how to hurt me in the best ways and cut the deepest. Tears build in the corners of my eyes; I hate this part. I pick up my phone, searching for an Uber or a cab.

There’s a noise outside my door, it opens slightly, and then I hear, “Thank you.” Lennox steps inside.

I fall to pieces in front of him, feeling such relief that he came for me. I can’t form words as he rushes to me, pulling me into his chest and holding me there.