“Good news on that front. They removed his spleen and got his insides working right, and they’re pretty sure they saved the leg. It’s pretty messed up and it will take a lot of rehab to get it working normally, but unless something nasty happens, he’s going to be okay in a few months.”
Air whooshes out of me. “He saved me, you know. I’ve gotta think of something to make it up to him.”
“Here’s one thing you can do: don’t treat him like a cripple. No man wants that. Treat him like the hero he is. Buy him a steak dinner when he’s up to it. But don’t treat him different. Give him the same hell you two always gave each other. Got it?”
“Aye aye, Captain. Did they ever find the driver of the SUV that hit us?”
Frank’s nostrils flare. “Nope. APB out on it. The plates had been stolen from a Volkswagen and the windows were so blacked out none of the street cameras could flash a look at the driver. Bastard got away. Hopefully, they’ll find him.”
“Do you think—?”
Frank interrupts me with a nod. “No proof, of course. But, by all accounts, that truck was heading straight for you.”
Stephanie shudders so hard, I see her body shake with it. Frank looks at her; he must have seen it too. “You doing okay?”
She turns a bright shade of red. “Yes. Hanging in there.”
“Good. Keep hanging and you keep that head held high. There’s nothing wrong with what you’ve done. Hear me? Just human nature that’s been exploited.”
Steph’s eyes turn as red as her face and she sniffs and pulls her shoulders back. I can see she’s desperately trying not to cry.
“Her ex surprised her in the hallway just a little while ago,” I say. “Trying to convince her he had nothing to do with all this. He’s blaming the Chinese or Russians or some shit.”
Captain Franks nods. “That’s what he told the feds and local cops when they searched him. I’ve not even had a chance to tell you about that, but apparently they didn’t even need a search warrant. That Jerome fellow opened up his home and computers of his own accord. Detective Flores said it felt like he was taunting them, daring them even. They found nada. If it is him, he certainly knows how to cover his tracks.”
“Or can afford to pay someone to do his dirty work,” I finish for him.
“Yep. That too.” Cap looks at Steph again. “Be sure to call Flores and let him know about your run-in. Okay?” Steph nods, her hands rubbing her arms as if she is cold.
“Alright then,” Frank says, and steps closer to give me a slap on the shoulder. He places a hand on Steph’s shoulder too, gives her a little squeeze. “I’m heading back to the station. If you two need anything—anything at all—I better be the first to know about it. Clear?”
“Thanks Cap. We’ll be sure to do that.”
Then he is gone, leaving us alone again and Steph sinks back next to me on the bed. “He tried to kill you.”
“Maybe. Maybe not.”
She looks at me and I concede. “Probably. But it was a hell of a risk. Broad daylight. Cops everywhere.”
“That’s why he did it that way, to prove he could.” Steph shudders again and then brightens, her eyes growing wide with sarcastic humor. “Oh, guess what else he did. This one’s a real knee-slapper.”
I groan. Do I really want to know? My leg is beginning to ache, the lidocaine’s starting to wear off. Apparently, it was a rhetorical question, because before I can say ‘no, hold that bomb’, Steph goes on.
“I got fired for being arrested as a prostitute.” She bounces up and down and golf-claps as she says it, her sarcasm and humor dancing around her. “Well, officially, I was suspended for being arrested as a prostitute. But you’ll be happy to know I got a car full of snacks in return.” Her eyebrows wiggle up and down. I’m still trying to understand what’s funny.
Prostitution? Arrested? Snacks?
Before I can shake the cobwebs from my head enough to process what she’s told me, the nurse comes back in with my discharge papers and a big voice. “Ready to leave our fine establishment, Mr. Fireman?”
I look at Steph and then the nurse and back to Steph. I give her a ‘we’ll talk about this later’ look and reach greedily for the ink pen the nurse is holding in her hand. I’m absolutely, one thousand percent ready to be gone from here.
Chapter 11 – Steph
After Ken signs his discharge papers and is given his list of instructions, Janice hands him the bag with his clothes. His shirt is fine, the fire jacket must have protected it, but the pants are a wreck. They’ve been slit all the way past the knee and are stiff with dried blood.
Janice notices Ken looking at his pants and smiles. “May I?”
He hands them to her and she cuts both legs off just above the knee. “There you go. Good thing it’s summer.” Janice gives me a hug and is out the door, ready to attend another patient.
A volunteer comes in with a wheelchair almost as soon as she leaves. Ken looks from it to the little white haired lady standing behind it. He shakes his head. “Uh, no. I really don’t need that, do I?”
I roll my eyes at him. “Hospital policy, sorry. Besides, that leg is gonna hurt like a motha when you try to stand up.” I hold the crutches he’ll have to use for the next day or so outside his reach, so he doesn’t get any ideas.
“She’s right, dear,” the sweet volunteer says with a little old lady voice. “Now sit down right this minute and let me push you outside. I don’t have all day.” The sweet little smile on her face never fades.
Covering my mouth with my hand, my shoulders shake as Ken heaves himself up and does what he’s been told. I bend down to fix the foot rests, but the volunteer smacks at my hand. “That’s my job.”
Geesh. She takes volunteering very seriously. I can’t imagine what her previous job was… a dominatrix? I don’t dare to ask her; she’s got the sweet but scary vibe working for her.
Ken mouths ‘help me’ as he’s pushed out the door. Sitting, his head is about level with the tiny volunteer and she has to look around him to see where they’re going.
As we head into the waiting area, applause breaks out from Beth and Gage, who I notice were sitting close together and talking with great animation, before they notice our approach. Ken holds his fists in the air as if he’s just won the round, then takes control of the wheelchair by placing his hands on the wheel, causing the chair to come to an abrupt stop.
“Think I can do a wheelie?” he asks the volunteer, whose smile disappears. He tries popping a wheelie, backwards, trying to get the front wheels off the ground. The pink jacketed grump smacks him in the back of the head for his efforts.
“This is a hospital, young man. Not the Daytona 500.”
Gage is practically rolling on the floor and Beth is holding onto his arms, bent over with laughter. I’m just shaking my head, wondering if I’ve fallen in love with a Jim Carrey wannabe.
The little lady is standing there, her hands on her hips. She looks at me. Her little smile is back, “Who is driving this young man home? Or does he plan to wheel himself all across Vegas?”
I hop to attention. “Me.” I pull my keys from my bag and dangle them in front of her as if providing evidence. She stares at me and taps her toe on the floor. Shit. She’s waiting for me to go get it.
Looking at Beth, I ask, “Will you wait with Ken while I get the car?” She nods and steps closer to the wheelchair, saying, ‘Hi’ to the volunteer, who ignores her. I hand her the crutches and smile at how little she looks holding them. The part for the armpit is almost as tall as she is.
“Might take a few minutes. I had to park around back,” I say to the volunteer, whose mouth purses in irritation. I smother a laugh when I glance at Ken. He’s just sitting there, stiff as a board, as if he’s afraid to do something else to awaken Volzilla.
“Here, let me walk with you,” Gage says, and I nearly sag in relief. I hate to admit it, but the idea of walking outside by myself makes me nervous. Beth gives me a little salute and Gage fo
llows behind her.
“Gage, don’t be messin’ with my woman.”
In retaliation, Gage drapes an arm over my shoulder, swinging his hips and ‘bwahahahas’ it all the way out of the building.
The sun is wicked as I step out into the bright afternoon. “Thanks for walking me out. And thanks for taking care of me after the picnic the other day. I don’t remember much, but Beth told me that you were awesome about everything.”
“It was the least I could do,” he says. “That entire thing shocked the hell out of all of us. It’s like a movie playing out in real life. As much as we have to give Ken shit, we are here… for both of you.”
“I know. It was crazy. Still is. I feel like I’m being watched.” I look around, and in spite of the hot sun, another shiver runs through me. I pick up speed, wanting the protection of my car.
Pulling up to the roundabout for patient pickup, I notice Beth grin as Gage jumps out of the front seat and holds the door open. “For you, madam.” She gives him a little bow, but turns to Ken, who’s being pushed forward by the grumpy volunteer. I jump out of the car to help, but the older woman insists on being the sole person to maneuver him from the chair to the front seat.
As I wait, it finally occurs to me to wonder what Gage will be up to next. “Do you need me to drive you to your car, Gage?”
Gage grins at me and looks at his watch. “Won’t help. It’ll be on the rack until tomorrow.”
“Rack?”
“I had the day off,” he continues. “I’d been having some engine trouble so I brought the truck in to get it looked at. One of the guys was going to drive me home. The accident call came in and I jumped in to help.” He shrugs and looks around him. “So, here I am.”
I hear a moan and glance at Ken, who is clearly being a baby again; the volunteer is lifting his leg to get him in the car. I look back at Beth and she’s staring at me, eyes huge and doing a little pointing thing with her finger.
What? I don’t say the word, but that’s what my eyebrows are asking her.
She purses her lips and wrinkles her nose, then points discreetly from Gage to the back of my car.
Got it!
“We’re happy to drive you…” I’m sidetracked by Beth who is rolling her eyes and giving me the ‘are you kidding right now’ stare. We can usually read each other so well that no words are required, but right now I have no idea what she’s trying to tell me.
She mouths ‘lasagna’.
Got it!
“Gage, I’ve got some left over lasagna. I always have leftovers for days. Would you like to come with us and have some dinner?” I look back at Beth, who gives me a thumbs up and then pantomimes driving a car. “And then we’ll drive you home,” I finish and get another thumbs up. Whew. That was harder than it needed to be.
“Lasagna sounds good. I get tired of eating TV dinners and fast food.”
By now, Ken is in the car and the volunteer has wheeled away without another word. I shrug and take the crutches from Beth, trying to figure out where I’ll put them in my little car.
I’m exhausted, mentally and physically, and I’ve done absolutely nothing at all. Is this what it’s like to get old?
Finally, the crutches are stowed, and Beth and Gage are in the backseat. I eye the two of them in the rearview mirror and watch the two lean close together to whisper and laugh.
“Hey, no funny business in Steph’s Taxi Service,” I scold, and the two lovebirds just draw closer together. Gage pulls Beth to him and they pretend to make out, their heads moving too fast to actually be kissing.
Laughing, I look at Ken, who is looking at me. Really looking at me. His chocolate eyes are melting my soul. I reach over and touch his face; he leans his cheek into my palm.
“Thanks for coming and taking care of me. You sure you don’t mind me staying at your place?”
“I’m absolutely certain. Nurse Steph at your service. I’m so glad you’re okay.”
“We’re going to get through this, you know.”
I nod, believing him in that moment. My fingers tingle when he takes one of them into his mouth.
The evening became a lasagna and Walking Dead-a-thon. I made garlic bread and tossed together a salad while Beth scavenged dessert from her place. And beer, of course.
I told Beth and Gage about my run-in with Jerome at the hospital, and we made a firm commitment to not talk about any of that crap for the rest of the night.
The hours have flown by and before I know it, it’s eight o’clock. Ken is nodding off and I’m pretty beat myself. I still need to get Gage home and stop by Ken’s apartment for some of his clothes.
“Hate to break this up you two, but we need to head on out. I’d let you stay here, but…” Ken trumpets out a snore and rolls over, moaning as his leg drags across… “I only have one couch and this one appears to be taken.”
Beth and Gage get up off the floor where they’ve been crashing on every pillow I own. I write a note for Ken, letting him know where I’m going and the time we left. I kiss his forehead, instinctively testing to see if he’s warm. His arms snake around my waist and pull me down onto his chest.
“Where ya going?” He kisses the tip of my nose.
“Taking Gage home and then getting you some clothes. Anything else you need?”
“Just remember the travel kit under the sink, will ya?”
I laugh and lean down to smell him, the combination of smoke and sweat mixed with a scent that’s all him. I wrinkle my nose. “Don’t worry, I’m not forgetting your deodorant for sure.” I lean closer and whisper. “As soon as I get back, I’ll help you take a shower. You may need a sponge bath though.”
His hand curls around my neck and he pulls me down to his lips. “Nurse Stephanie, I like the sound of that.” Then his warm lips press onto mine and I open my eyes to watch him watch me. We both smile, mouths still touching.
I pull away. “The sooner I leave, the sooner I’ll be back. You sure you’ll be okay alone?”
“Yeah. Just drive safe, will ya?”
Another quick kiss and I’m following Gage and Beth out the door.
As I click the remote to unlock the doors, Beth opens the rear one for Gage. “After you, kind sir. It’s my turn to assert my independence.”
Gage bows and says, “God bless strong women,” before climbing in and over the center seat. Just before she slams the door behind him, he turns and says, “I have a fear of back seats. I need someone to hold my hand.”
Beth plays along. “Steph, what do you think of a big ole fireman being afraid of such a thing? Do you think it’s safe for me to get in the back seat with a known player?”
I join the game, feeling young and free for a moment. “I don’t know, Beth. He’s probably safe, he’s a firefighter after all. But I’ve heard they’re tigers beneath that Boy Scout front.”
I’m jostled forward as Gage shakes my seat from behind. “Hey now, play fair.” He looks back at Beth. “Come on, Beth. Just get back here and protect me from those evil backseat monsters. I promise not to bite. Maybe…”
“Maybe what?” Beth asks, looking as young and carefree as I feel. She climbs in the back seat, grabs his hand and looks at him expectantly.
“Maybe this…” He pulls her closer, giving her a kiss that Beth doesn’t reject. She sinks into him, and I turn back around and face forward, giving them a whole one foot of privacy. I start the car and turn up the radio, trying to cover the sounds of their make-out session, but my stomach does a little dance at thinking my own make-out session awaits.
Pulling out of my parking spot, I realize I have no idea which way to go. “Timeout you two. Gage, where am I heading?”
“Go down 215 to 95 towards Boulder City. I’m off Wagon Wheel.” The kissing noises start again.
“I know where that is,” I say, talking to myself. “A fellow student, Gina, lives down there. Beth, remember that party we went to at her house? You weren’t kidding when you said you lived far away from town.”
>
“Umm, yeah, Steph. I remember,” Beth answers, coming up for air. “Good party.”
“Guys, remember, no funny business in my car.” I sing-song the words, smiling into the rearview mirror.
A long pause. “We’re not laughing. All serious business back here.”
“Urgent matters,” Beth pipes in, the words coming between gasps. I wonder if that’s how Ken and I sound when we kiss. Well, I think sarcastically to myself, I could always play one of the videos and find out. Grrr.
Thinking of the videos sends my good mood into a nosedive and I’m suddenly tired and want to get back to Ken. Luckily, traffic is light on the 215, there’s hardly anyone going my way except the blue car that’s been trailing me for miles. As I turn on 95, the blue car turns behind me and suddenly, I’m paranoid.
My heart begins hammering in my chest and I fear I’m becoming tri-polar. Happy one minute, sad the next, and now I’m scared. We’re most likely not being followed; it’s probably my frayed nerves searching for threats where there are none. I slow down anyway and move over one lane.
I blow out a breath as the driver blows by me, blinking his high beams as he passes me on the right. I lose him when he crests the hill and the freeway turns to the left. I tap the steering wheel—I really need to calm down.
Gage grabs my headrest, pulling himself upright. Beth is cuddled up beside him. “When you get off on Wagon Wheel, hang a left.”
We’re getting close. “Okay, we’re passing College now. After the left, where to?”
“Just keep going straight until it ends, then you have to go left.”
As I pull off on Wagon Wheel, I make a left and cross over the freeway. I can’t believe my eyes.
“Gage, Beth.” More whisper than words, I hiss their names again before turning off the radio. “I think we may have a problem.”
As I slow down to well below the speed limit, I feel Gage tense up as he leans forward between the two front seats. “What’s going on? Is your car acting up?”
“No. It may be nothing, but there was a blue car behind us all the way until I started going up the hill on the 95. Then it blew by me and I figured it was all in my mind.”
Stoking the Embers (New Adult Romantic Suspense): The Complete Series Page 20