Page 130 of My Best Bet
She regarded me with a sad smile as she walked to the side of Mer’s bed and checked all her vitals.
I continued holding her small hand in mine. I’d stay here as long as she needed me. She just needed to wake up.
“When she wakes, she’s gonna be a little out of it. It looks like the doctor might come in around–”
“Lucy?”
My head whipped around to Mer.
The nurse’s eyes widened before she sped out of the room.
“Lucy?” Mer croaked and squinted open one of her sky blue eyes. My chest felt like it was going to cave in relief. “Where?”She looked around the room and then winced at the sharp movements.
“Hey,” I said, standing over her to calm her. “You’re okay. Take it easy, eh?” I gently held her face. The relief was so overwhelming that tears filled my eyes and a laugh popped out of me.
“Did you… pick up… Lucy?” she rasped, squinting at me like the light bugged her.
She was in an accident that almost took her life, but she was still worried about Lucy. My heart swelled to the point of pain.
“Yes, she’s okay. Everything’s okay,” I said as soothingly as I could.
Her eyes fluttered closed and she looked way more relaxed. But that only lasted a split second. Her body went stiff as a board. “Colt?”
“Yeah, baby?” I held her hand and brought it to my lips to kiss.
Her bleary eyes cracked open. “Where are we?”
I kissed her knuckles. “The hospital. Everything’s okay now.”
Her grip on my hand tightened. “Why?” she whisper-cried. Her eyes bolted around the hospital room, looking feral, and her breathing went ragged. “My knee?”
“No, your knee is okay,” I said firmly. “You’re okay. Look atme, Mer. I’m right here with you. You were in a car accident yesterday. You’ve been out all night. You have some scrapes and bruises, a broken collarbone, and probably a nasty concussion, but your knee is totally fine, alright?”
Her eyes went glassy. “Don’t leave me here.” Her fingers went white from gripping my hand so hard. “Please don’t leave me here,” she begged, then she started shaking.
“Hey, you’re okay. Just breathe,” I told her. I wanted to grab her up in a hug, but I was afraid of hurting her. “Don’t hyperventilate on me, sweetheart.”
“We need to get out of here, Colt. I hate…” Her eyes went wide with panic. “Oh, God, I don't feel so good. Everything’s spinning.” Her face paled to a dangerous shade.
“You’re gonna pass out. Breathe,” I demanded.
“Get me,” she wheezed.
My heart rate skyrocketed. “Get you what?”
“Out of here.” She gulped for air. “Please.”
“Breathe baby, then we can go. You’re okay, I promise. You don’t have to be scared, I’m right here with you.”
But a second later, her grip loosened and her body went limp.
Nurses whirled around us.
“She’s afraid of hospitals. She’s just afraid. She passed out,” I said, not wanting to let go of her hand even though they were pushing me out of the room. “She’s okay, right? She’s just afraid.”
I sat outside her room on the fucking floor, elbows on my knees, my head in my hands, waiting for someone to talk to me about what the hell just happened. Half of me felt insanely relieved she woke up and was able to recall where she was going before the accident. But the other half of me was panicked as shit because they kicked me out of the room.
Hearing footsteps to my left, I looked up hoping to see a doctor, but instead… Two cops were walking down the hall.
