“Well, I’m eighty-eight years old, Noah. I’m goin’ sooner thanlater.”
“What are you talking about? I thought your goal was ahundred.”
“My goal ain’t nothing if I can’t play Bunko!” She fiddled with her IV line before tossing her head back on the pillow. I placed my hand on hers and squeezed. She’s all I had—all I’d ever had. If it weren’t for her, God knows where I’dbe.
The heart monitor beeped, and I glanced at it. The little green line kept making peaks and valleys. “Can you go get me some ice?” sheasked.
I stood up and shot a skeptical glare at her. “I don’t trustyou.”
“For Pete’s sake, boy. My mouth is as parched as the GobiDesert.”
“Alright.” I pointed at her. “Don’t take your IVsout!”
She threw her one hand in the air. “Cross myheart.”
I left the room with one more warning glare before I walked across to the nurses’ station and asked if they could get some ice. One of the women behind the desk grinned, her eyelashes batting. “You’re Noah Greyson, aren’t you?” sheasked.
I rubbed my hand over the back of my neck. “Yeah.” I had no idea who she was, and I was worried it may be one of those situations where Ishouldremember her, but…alcohol. She motioned for me to follow her to a doorway at the side of the desk, propping the door open with her foot while she grabbed a Styrofoamcup.
“I come watch you sing all the time at Tipsy’s.” She glanced over her shoulder while she placed the cup under the ice dispenser. “You’ve got the bestvoice.”
“Thanks. Appreciatethat.”
“You’re gonna be famous oneday.”
“Oh, I don’t know about that now.” Ilaughed.
“You will.” She handed me the cup and stepped out of the room. “Watch.”
“Well, thanks for the vote of confidence, but I’m not really into the whole famething.”
“Sexy and humble, huh?” She bit down on her lip. “Next time I see you out, I’m gonna sayhey.”
“You do that,” I said, winking before I crossed the hall and went back into Grandma’sroom.
There was a different nurse than the one who started her line standing at the whiteboard. Her back was to me, her dark hair was piled in a messy bun, and her baby blue scrubs fit her just right. She erased the old nurse’s name and started to write hers in green marker as I handed Grandma herice.
She set it on the table, and I glared at her. “I thought your mouth was parched,” Isaid.
“You’re just lucky this one came in,” she grumbled. “Foiled my escapeplan.”
“My name’s Hannah,” the nurse said, and my ears perked up. “I’ll be taking care of you for the rest of the shift.” She capped the marker and spun around, and I was alreadysmiling.
“Hey, you,” Isaid.
Her eyes widened, and damn she was adorable. “Hey,” she saidabruptly.
“Just can’t seem to get away fromyou.”
“You two know each other?” Grandmaasked.
“Kinda.” I shrugged a shoulder. “Sorta.”
“Well,” Grandma started, “depending on what his kinda sorta means, I may have to apologize for hisactions.”
Hannah laughed. “He’s working for myfather.”
“Oh,” Grandma said glancing at me and winking. “Isee.”
