Page 67 of Fame & Chaos

And the worst part?

I’ll still risk it.

If there’s even the slightest chance we could somehow find our way back to each other, I would risk every damn piece of myself for her. Hell, at this point, I’d even settle for friendship if it meant having her in my life again.

I just need something.

Which is exactly why I’m now driving toward the hospital, hoping like hell she’s working tonight. She was on a night shift the last time I saw her, so I waited until after ten before coming here. Maybe she’ll be on again.

I pull into a parking bay and head inside the emergency room. The place is chaos tonight. Nurses rushing around, phones ringing nonstop, patients filling nearly every chair in the waiting room. If Indi’s here, I probably won’t get long with her.

Hopefully long enough to convince her to meet me somewhere.

I walk over to the triage desk, where the woman working is busy on the phone. She gives me a polite smile and nods to let me know she’s seen me, so I turn away slightly while she finishes the call—no point standing there looking like some creepy stalker listening in on private conversations.

My eyes scan the area, desperately looking for blonde hair or blue eyes.

Nothing.

My heart pounds harder the longer I look.

I just want to see her.

“Can I help you?” the receptionist asks once she hangs up.

I turn back toward her. “Yeah, hi. I was wondering if Indica Malone is working tonight?”

“No, she has the night off. Is there an emergency?”

“No,” I answer quickly. “Not a medical one, anyway. Could you tell me where she lives?”

The woman stands straighter and glances toward the nearby security guard. My muscles tense instantly.

“No,” she says firmly. “I’m sorry, but we do not give out personal information.”

I rub the back of my neck awkwardly. “Right. Okay. Can you at least tell me when she will be working next? I really need to see her.”

“Again, sir, I can’t give out any information regarding staff members. If you need to see her, I suggest you contact her privately. This is a hospital, not a social club.”

“Okay, fair enough,” I say with a forced smile. “Maybe just tell me what suburb she lives in then? Help a guy out?”

She waves the security guard over immediately.

Fuck.

“No, sir, I will not ‘help you out.’ I can pass along a message that you came looking for her, but that’s all I’m willing to do.”

Panic spikes through me instantly. “No, please don’t tell her I came here. It’ll just piss her off even more.”

The woman gives me a flat look. “Well, if she doesn’t want to see you, perhaps you should leave her alone. Now if you’ll excuse me, we have actual emergencies to deal with.”

The security guard steps up beside me. “Sir, I’m going to have to ask you to leave.” He reaches toward my arm, but I jerk away before he can touch me.

“That’s not necessary,” I snap, backing up. “I’m leaving. Just… please don’t tell her I came here.”

The guard follows me toward the doors anyway.

“I’m going,” I mutter irritably. “You don’t need to escort me out.”