Total pages in book: 61
Estimated words: 59950 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 300(@200wpm)___ 240(@250wpm)___ 200(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 59950 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 300(@200wpm)___ 240(@250wpm)___ 200(@300wpm)
“You girls are going to leave right now.”
Addison smothers a giggle and Ciara crosses her arms. “We’re not doing anything wrong.”
“The entire ward just heard your squeals. We have patients, you’re being disrespectful. Now get out before I have security throw you out.”
I bite my lip. “You guys should go.”
They all push to their feet. “Fine,” Ciara huffs. “But if you’re not nice to my girl Serenity here, I’m going to find out, and I’m going to come back.”
“Ciara!” Janine scoffs, her eyes wide.
The nurse scowls at her. “Be careful, girly. I can have you thrown out.”
“So you’ve told me.”
Oh boy.
“It’s okay, I’m fine. You guys should leave before I get thrown out,” I try to smother my laughter.
They all hug me and then walk past the nurse, giving her a look on their way out. Oh my. Those girls are trouble, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. The nurse watches them go and then storms in to check my lines and give me my nighttime medication.
She tugs and pulls furiously.
“Your bedside manner sucks,” I say, then my eyes widen when I realize it actually came out of my mouth.
“Excuse me?”
I swallow, and then continue. “I’m not trying to be rude, and I know my friends were loud, but if you don’t like being a nurse, you should get another job. Because right now, the way you’re handling me is pretty damn rude.”
She tugs the IV in my arm so hard I yelp.
Another nurse steps into the room, her eyes narrowing on the older woman. “I’ll take it from here, Sheryl.”
Sheryl lets go of my arm and turns, storming out, muttering under her breath as she does. The younger nurse comes over and offers me a warm smile. “I’m sorry about her, she really is rude.”
“I mean, we did annoy her with how loud we were.”
The nurse waves her hand. “We’re still within visiting hours, and you girls were only having fun. We’ve seen worse here, trust me. She just has zero personality.”
“That’s putting it lightly.”
The nurse laughs and finishes up, closing the door behind her. I pull out the phone Jackson brought me, now I can finally have one, and I dial his number. He answers on the second ring, his voice husky and sleepy, a sound that makes the blood rush through my veins a little faster.
God, I need him.
“Did I wake you?” I murmur, my voice low.
“No baby, I was just layin’ in bed with Ava.”
“Is she asleep?”
“Yeah, can’t bring myself to move her.”
Sweet, gentle man.
“I wish I was there,” I say softly.
“Me too, darlin’. How did your visit go?”
I tell him all about the nurse and how the girls got kicked out. He snorts a laugh. “Jesus, can’t take them anywhere. Sounds like the nurse needs a career change.”
“I would say so,” I laugh, and then pause for a minute. “I hate being in here alone.”
“You’ll be home in a couple of days, baby. No more hiding. Everything will be back to normal.”
The only thing that keeps me going is knowing that.
“Yeah. I can’t wait to put Ava to bed, to just spend an entire day with her. I’ve missed so much.”
“You’ll get it all back, I promise you.”
“I better let you get to sleep,” I say softly. “I love you, Jackson.”
“Love you too, darlin’.”
I hang up the phone with a smile on my face.
I really do have it all.
"JACKSON," I WHISPER, my fingers curling around his biceps, shaking him gently. "Jacks, wake up."
His eyes flutter open, taking a moment to focus. Rubbing a hand down his face, he sits up, reaching out to touch mine, as if ensuring I'm real. "Baby, what's wrong?"
"I know this sounds insane, but... Jacks, I saw someone outside the window while I was checking on Ava."
He's out of bed in an instant, tossing the covers back, his powerful stride quickly carrying him across the room as he throws the door open and charges downstairs. He doesn't hesitate, grabbing his gun and bursting through the front door without pause. My heart races as I follow, stopping at the door and watching as he sweeps his flashlight across the empty road.
It's midnight, maybe later, and I couldn’t sleep so I got up to check on Ava. I was watching her when I got up and walked over, closing her window because it was feeling a little cold. That’s when I'm certain I saw a figure outside. I couldn't tell if it was male or female, but whoever it was, they were definitely staring at the house. When I pulled back the curtains fully, they slipped back into the shadows.
It's been a chaotic week since I left the hospital, and I'm still on heavy painkillers for my foot. Maybe I imagined it. Am I just not thinking clearly? I feel fine now, though. I didn't even take a painkiller tonight. Could it be a lingering effect? My mind fills with unease.