Chapter 13
Walking into the bathroom I saw the nosey nurse who pointed out my hickey in tears. It was too late to turn around without looking like a total asshole.
Just my fuckin’ luck.
She leaned on her hands, bending over the sink, her tears plopping into the bowl.
I sighed, wanting to walk away.
I really didn’t give a shit what made her sad, but my humanity won.
Asshole conscious.
“Are you okay?” I asked, as I approached.
“No,” she said, sliding the back of her hand across her face, wiping the tears.
“Sorry, I’ll leave you be.” I stepped back and reached for the door handle.
“No, don’t go,” she said, turning toward me. “Everyone leaves me,” she wailed, her body almost collapsing against the counter.
“Fuck,” I muttered under my breath as I rushed to her side.
How in the hell do I get involved in these situations?
“I’m here. What can I do?” I asked, sounding thoughtful, surprising myself.
“There’s nothing anyone can do.” She hiccupped as she cried.
“Everything is fixable.” I patted her back and stared at the ceiling. “I only have another moment between patients. I’m sorry.”
“My fiancé left me and I’m pregnant.” She choked on her words, starting to fall forward again.
I held her, pulling her upright. “That’s horrible,” I said, trying to be horrified.
“How could he be so mean? He acted like we never meant anything to each other.”
I had the words on the tip of my tongue but I bit my tongue. “Maybe he’ll change his mind.”
If the man had any sense, he’d run for the hills or go into witness protection.
“I have to win him back.” Standing up, she looked into my eyes. “He needs to understand all he’s giving up by walking out on us.”
“Oh, I’m sure he has no idea.” I know I sounded snarky, but whatever.
“I can do it, you’re right.” She blotted her cheeks with her fingers and smiled. “Thank you so much.” Her tears vanished.
Coo Coo.
Wrapping her arms around me, she squeezed so hard I thought my ribs were going to crack.
“I have to go,” I said, pulling away.
“Oh sorry,” she said with a half-smile. Mascara had smeared down her cheeks and her eyes were red and swollen. “You helped me more than you’ll ever know.” Her smile grew wider.
“Don’t give up the fight,” I said, walking out the door.
“I won’t,” she yelled, as the door swung shut.
I shook my and wondered what the hell happened to my normal stressful day at the hospital. Today had been one for the record books.
The night had been relatively calm compared to the nutty nurse and thinking Michael had been seriously hurt.
His brother was in ICU for the night due to his injuries and the surgery. When I looked at his chart earlier it stated that he would be moved to a regular room tomorrow if he did well through the night.
The ICU was quiet and the lights were dim as the sounds of the ventilators, heart monitors, and other machines filled the hallway. I wanted to check in on him and see if he needed anything.
Michael’s brother crouched in the hall outside his room, leaning against the wall, typing on his phone. Looking up at me, he smiled. “Hey,” he said, trying to stand but fell over, catching himself on the wall. “Fuck,” he mumbled.
Rushing to his side, I reached for him. “Hey, are you alright?” I asked.
Waving me off he said, “Yeah, just exhausted. This has been a day from hell.” His shoulders slumped as he sighed.
“Why don’t you try and catch a couple hours sleep in the visitor’s lounge? He wouldn’t want you to make yourself sick.”
“I will soon. You looking for Mikey?” He grinned, making the bags under his eyes more pronounced.
Laughing at the nickname, I replied, “Yeah, is he still here?” I looked around.
“He’s inside but he was asleep when I came out here,” he said, pointing to the room behind him.
“I’ll just text him. Everyone may be sleeping and I don’t want to disturb anyone.”
He laughed. “My family is the disturbance. They’re loud and obnoxious in the most loving way, but I don’t blaming you for not wanting to go into the lion’s den.” He shook his head. “At least not armed.”
I barely knew any of them but I wanted to. They seemed loving and playful, just my kind of people. The funny smartass personality must be hereditary.
“You make them sound horrible.” I said, shaking my head, laughing.
“Nah, just Italian.”
“Don’t wake him. Just tell him I stopped by and have him text me in the morning. I’m going to try and get some rest while the ER is slow.”
“Okay, Doc. I hope to see you again soon.” The sides of his eyes crinkled as he smiled at me.
I nodded and walked away, leaving Michael to rest. I wanted to catch a few minutes rest in the doctor’s lounge while I still could. I thought about the Gallo boys as I made my way down the corridors. They were all handsome, but Michael was heart stopping.
I flipped off the light in the lounge before I collapsed on the couch. My head began to spin from exhaustion when I closed my eyes. Lying on the lumpy couch, I covered my face with my arm and thought about Michael.
“What?” I asked as someone touched my shoulder. “My eyes were closed for only two seconds. Jesus,” I mumbled.
“It’s been an hour, Doctor, and someone is at the desk asking for you.”
“I’m coming,” I said rubbing my eyes, waiting for them to adjust to the harsh fluorescent lighting. I grabbed the Visine from my pocket, dropping the liquid in hoping to alleviate the stinging.
I prayed I didn’t look like the walking dead. I sure as hell felt like it.
Walking like a zombie, my mind clouded, eyes blurry, I made my way to the reception area. Michael stood there looking exactly how I felt. Fidgeting with his hands, he leaned against the desk and looked around.
I touched his back lightly, trying not to startle him. “Michael, everything alright?”
He rubbed his hands across his face as he turned to me. “Yeah, Anth told me you came by while I was asleep. Thought I’d find you down here.”
“I decided to sleep a bit too,” I said, a yawn breaking free as I quickly covered it.
“Shit, I’m sorry I woke you.” He frowned. The lack of sleep and stress had dulled their luster.
“I’m fine. I needed to wake up anyway,” I said, wiping my eyes. “How’s your brother?”
The huge smile on his face said it all. “He woke up for a bit and mumbled some nonsense,” he said, laughing.
“Anesthesia can do funny things to a person’s brain.”
“I thought about messing with his head, but my ma would’ve beat me. He seems okay, but he’s pretty fucked up. The surgeon said it’s going to be a long recovery. They had to put a metal rod in his leg and there’s pins sticking out and shit. His hand is in a cast and his fingers are swollen. Yeah, he’s fucked for now.” He shrugged. “At least he’s alive.”
Touching his hand, I caressed the rough skin on his palm near his fingers. “It’s going to be tough on him, but your family will help him through it. How are your parents holding up?” Stepping closer, I leaned against him.
He stared at my fingers as I stroked them. “They’re doing okay. Worried, naturally, but better now that he’s out of the woods. They need sleep. I keep telling them to go home and rest, but they’re hard-headed.”
He wrapped his arm around me and feathered a kiss against my forehead.
“Seems to be a family trait,” I said, laughing and gripping his shirt. I closed my eyes, inhaling his musky cologne.
“Code blue, room two,” a voice blared through the hallway.
Damn. I wanted more than a minute against his warm hard body.
“I have to go.” I frowned, resting my head against his chest. “Go home and rest, Mikey, and I’ll see you tomorrow or today… whatever it is,” I said, pushing off him and started to walk away.
Grabbing me around the waist, he brought his lips to my ear and whispered, “It’s Michael, Doc. I don’t remember hearing you moan Mikey as you came on my cock.”
The vibration of his voice and his breath in my ear made me shiver.
“I have to go. You’re a naughty boy, Mikey,” I said, as I pushed away from his body, freeing myself from his grip.
I could hear his deep laughter as I ran toward room two and the patient in cardiac arrest.