by Faith Starr
“I want you to know I called Joey.”
I arched a brow. She held up my phone.
“He’s coming by.”
No! “I don’t want him to see me this way.”
“He sounded concerned. I don’t think he expects you to look like a supermodel after being attacked by a patient. He obviously cares a lot about you.”
That made me smile. Surprisingly, the gesture didn’t make my head hurt worse, but it did cause a fluttering sensation in my heart.
“When all is said and done, I’m asking you to please think long and hard about your job. It’s starting to become a battlefield.”
“I know. I don’t want to talk about it right now, though. My head hurts enough as it is because of it.”
Thoughts about my job situation kept circling around and around. Gosh, all this brain activity made my headache worse.
“Where the hell is that nurse?” I all but whined. “Can you please go get me something for the pain? You know how the floor nurses work. I’ll be discharged before the medication comes. And if nobody’s at the nurses’ station, please go downstairs to the ER and swipe some from there. This is bullshit already.”
Of all times for me to not have over-the-counter pain remedies in my purse.
“I’m on it.”
She left.
It’s a shame the field of medicine had come to this. Nurses were overworked, me included, with too many patients to competently monitor. Perhaps that was why I kept getting tackled in the ER.
I must’ve dozed off. I blinked my eyes open to find Joey sitting in the chair next to my bed. He had scooted it closer. He had my hand in his, his thumb caressing my knuckles.
“Hey.” He spoke softly.
“Hey.” I sounded weak.
“I got your meds, two acetaminophen tablets.” Lily rushed over, holding a little white cup with the pills. “Why don’t you take them now, so the relief will start to kick in?” She dumped the tablets into my palm and held a glass of water with a straw in it in front of me.
It hurt too much to lift my head, and my ribs ached when I tried to sit up. Bless Joey. He rose from his chair, slipped his arm beneath my back, and gently raised me so I could take the OTC medicine.
“Fuck.” I winced in pain but swallowed them. He lowered me until I rested against the pillow.
Damn, everything hurt.
Joey had a huge smile on his face. I didn’t find any humor in the situation.
“What?”
“I’ve never heard you curse before. It’s cute, that’s all.”
“Certain situations call for it.”
“Yeah. You must be in pain, because in all the years I’ve known you, I think I’ve only heard you cuss about two or three times,” Lily chimed in. “I’m going to go downstairs to the cafeteria to grab something to eat. Joey, do you want me to bring you anything?”
Really, I didn’t curse out loud? Hmm. I’d never noticed. I certainly said fuck enough times in my thoughts to make up for it, though.
“No, thanks. I’m good.” He waited for her to exit the room, then gave me his full attention. “How’re you doing?”
The pain on his face and in his eyes on my behalf made me feel awful.
“I’ve had better days.” I let out a deep breath.
“I would have been here sooner, but we were in the studio. I didn’t get Lily’s message until we took a break.”
He had no reason to feel bad. The fact he came at all said enough.
“No worries. They had me downstairs doing tests. I really appreciate you coming by.”
The glare he gave me caught me off guard. I shoved my nail into my mouth as a comforting gesture.
“Why wouldn’t I come by?”
I didn’t have an answer for him. Perhaps I still harbored some doubts about his intentions, even though we had engaged in an in-depth discussion about our feelings.
“My heart raced during the entire drive over here. I was a nervous wreck. I still am. Seeing you in this hospital bed right now…” He gestured toward my body. Talk about feeling vulnerable. “It’s fucked up. That’s what it is.”
Tell me about it.
“This is the second time I’ve seen you injured, and it’s only been a few weeks.”
His frustration had me closing my eyes.
The same frustration Lily felt about my job.
The same frustration I was starting to feel, had been feeling, about my job.
“I know.” I hated to admit it. Tears fell down my cheeks. One could only be so strong.
He pulled a tissue from the box on the tray table and cleaned my face. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have upset you. You should be resting.”
He shifted uncomfortably in his seat, his demeanor as pained as mine.
“It’s okay.” I squeezed his hand. “Lily keeps reiterating the same point. I have a lot of thinking to do. My nursing supervisor came by earlier, but I told her I didn’t want to talk.” The tears continued to flow. Joey kept my hand in his. Him simply holding it gave me so much comfort. “I just need some time.”
“I understand.”
“I’m going to inform her before I leave the hospital that I’m not sure what I plan to do regarding my job. I know she won’t fight me. She knows how many times I’ve been injured while on shift.”
His wide eyes told me he was completely on board with my decision, which only encouraged me to continue speaking.
“I’ve told the hospital numerous times I don’t feel safe being alone with schizophrenic patients who come into the ER off their meds. But no matter how many times I’ve asked to have a tech with me, my requests have been denied. There’s simply not enough staff to fill the demand. It’s not okay anymore.”
My head throbbed. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath to ride out the wave of discomfort until it subsided enough for me to continue. When most of the pounding had dissipated, I opened them.
Poor Joey seemed lost. I tightened my hand in his to reassure him I’d be fine, both physically and mentally.
As far as physically, I was a nurse. I knew exactly what was wrong with me and what to expect. He, on the other hand, probably had no clue.
Mentally, with time I’d come to a healthy decision about how to proceed in my chosen career path.
“I’ll be okay. I promise. My headache will pass. It’ll take some time, but I assure you it will.”
He bobbed his knee up and down, not at all convinced. Oh well, I’d tried.
I figured I’d continue with my rant, so he’d see my brain still functioned properly. “I can’t work at a place where my well-being isn’t respected or watched over. The supervisors expect me to care for patients when I myself am not cared for. Can you explain that?”
He shook his head.
What a relief to get all this off my chest. Poor Joey got the privilege of being the ears in the room to get the brunt of it.
“I’m back.” Lily strolled in with a brown paper bag. She handed it to Joey. “I presumed you wouldn’t go downstairs to get yourself something to eat, so I brought you some food.”
As crazy as she could be, she also had a heart of gold.
Joey took the bag and gave her a smile. He opened it and put the contents on the rolling tray at the end of my bed. He lit up. She’d brought him a burger and fries. “Thanks. That was very thoughtful of you.”
Him saying that to her meant the world to me. I knew she wasn’t his favorite person in the world. I hoped her kind gesture would help change that.
34
Joey
Maybe I hadn’t given her roommate enough credit. She’d brought me food on her own account knowing damn well I wouldn’t have left Teva to go downstairs to get something for myself. She deserved props.
Lily hung out for about an hour and then took off. I sat in the hard aqua-colored leatherette chair, playing with my phone while Teva napped. I sent a group text to Dani, Logan, and Trevor, updating them on the situation and informing them I’d be sitting
tight for a while longer.
I lost myself in the world of YouTube, checking out new footage of the band that had been added by our social-media team.
Teva began to stir, her coloring a bit pale, and her face breaking out into a sweat. “I think I’m going to be sick.” She tried to sit up, ineffectively, and dropped back onto the bed, shrieking.
Shit!
I surveyed the area and spotted a small plastic kidney-shaped thing on her tray table. Yeah. As if that minuscule container would hold anything.
She grabbed the bowl from my hand, sheer disgust written all over her face. She tried to push herself up again but cried out in pain and held her ribs.
I stuck both hands under her arms and elevated her to an upright position.
And then it came.
A shitload of it too.
I ran to the corner of the room after spotting a beige garbage pail. I held it in front of her with one hand and bunched her hair up behind her head with the other to prevent her locks from falling in her face.
She took slow deep breaths, now dry heaving after having emptied the contents of her stomach into the pail.
Teva closed her eyes and rocked back and forth.
After a few minutes, she signaled with her hand that I could remove the garbage pail.
I dumped the kidney thingamajig inside the trash can and tied the ends of the plastic bag that lined it, the smell too potent to use as air freshener. I went to the bathroom and washed my hands. I also wet some paper towels, so I could clean Teva’s face. She wasn’t a happy camper.
“I want to go the bathroom and wash up too. Will you please go to the nurse’s station and ask for assistance? If I push the Call button, I don’t know if or when someone will show up.”
“We don’t need a nurse. I’ll help you.”
Her focus spiraled downward toward her lap. “I’m mortified you’re seeing me this way.”
I tipped her chin up so she could meet my gaze. “You’re beautiful to me, no matter what. Sometimes more than others.” I winked. “Come on. Let’s do this, shall we?” I already had my arms behind her.
With extreme caution, I maneuvered and assisted her up. She stood for a minute to get her bearings and balance, my arms supporting her the entire time.
“You okay?” I didn’t want her passing out on me.
She took a slow, deep breath. “A little dizzy, but I’m good now.” She blinked a few times and steadied herself.
“There’s no rush. We’ll take this nice and slow.” I let her set the pace to the bathroom. When she stood in front of the toilet, she gave me a knowing look. “Are you sure you’ll be okay in here by yourself?” She needed to put vanity aside for the moment.
“Yes. I’ll be fine. Please give me a minute.”
“Okay. Take all the time you need. I’m not going anywhere. I’ll be right outside this door.”
I only partially closed it. Enough to give her privacy in that I couldn’t see her. It didn’t bother me to see her sitting on a toilet, taking care of business. It’s not like I hadn’t seen every inch of her luscious body before. But I did respect her wishes and followed her instructions, somewhat.
The nurse strolled into the room and caught sight of the empty bed. She furrowed her brow. “Where’s my patient?”
Where did she think her patient was?
“In the bathroom.”
“Very well.” The nurse knocked on the door. “How are you doing in there, Ms. Feingold? Do you need any help?”
“I’m fine. Almost done.”
Patiently, I continued to wait outside the door.
“All done,” Teva called. “I want to clean up. I’ll just be a minute.”
“No rush.” I had no place else to be right now, except with her.
The bathroom door opened. The nurse approached Teva and took one of her arms while I took the other. I wasn’t about to let the woman in scrubs do all the work without any assistance.
Once we had Teva settled back in bed, the nurse took her vitals and asked her a few questions about her mental and physical status.
I stepped back, leaning my ass against the concrete wall next to the window. I played on my phone while the two of them talked shop.
“I can’t wait to get out of here.”
Oh, the nurse left. I had been too engaged with my phone to notice. I walked over to Teva’s bed and got uncomfortable on the hard chair again. I didn’t care.
“Did the doctor say when you can leave?”
“Tomorrow.”
“Will Lily be home to watch over you?”
She thought about it for a minute. “I think she’s on shift. I’ll be fine, though. Not to worry.”
“You’re such a martyr.” I tensed at her stubbornness.
“What?”
“Don’t you think somebody should watch over you to make sure you’re okay?”
“I’m a nurse. I know when to call for help if I need it.”
“I recall you saying a short time ago you also need to be cared for. Just because you’re a nurse doesn’t mean you don’t require someone looking after you. Why don’t you come to my place for a few days? Dani and I are usually around. Or at least one of us is, if we aren’t at the studio together.”
“I would never put that kind of burden on you. But I appreciate the offer.”
To be honest, I was a bit surprised I had made it as well, especially since I never brought women back to my sacred space, my home. It was the one place where fans and paparazzi couldn’t touch me. A place where fucking women for the sake of fucking was a no-go, especially with Dani around. I had too much respect for my sister to subject her to my unconventional ways. Yet, for whatever fucked-up reason, I didn’t regret making the offer to Teva. Part of me wanted her to agree to stay at my place. It would assure me she wasn’t overdoing it or hurting herself. And I kind of dug the idea of taking care of her.
What the fuck?
“Please think about it. It’s no burden whatsoever. And truth be told, the thought of waking up next to you is a no-brainer.”
“Because I look so desirable right now?” She gestured to the upper half of her body.
“Hey, I’d do you.” I smiled. She did too. “Think about it, okay?”
“Okay.”
I’d have to push harder, her response unbelievable.
35
Teva
Joey stayed as late as he could until the hospital staff literally kicked him out. Such a stubborn man. I loved it.
Lily stopped by early in the morning to check on me before starting her shift. After hearing about Joey’s invite during our late-night phone conversation, she again encouraged me to take him up on his offer. I actually got perturbed at her for taking his side and acting so enthusiastic about the opportunity.
“I’m not going to be home, and it wouldn’t be a bad idea for someone to be around to help out in case you need something.”
I hated to agree with her logic, but she did have a good point.
“You look a lot better this morning.” She sat on the chair next to my bed.
My head felt a lot better and my nausea had subsided. My ribs were another story altogether. Moving hurt no matter how much or how little I shifted.
“Thanks. I feel it too. I’m ready to get out of this hellhole.”
“I’m sure you are. I still think you should go stay with Joey while you recuperate.”
I hadn’t made a firm decision yet.
“Anyway, chickadee, I have to go to the NICU and start my shift. Text me later and let me know what you decide.”
Joey strolled in shortly afterward, handsome as ever in jeans and a tight-fitting blue T-shirt which matched his beautiful eyes.
“The nurse said you signed your discharge orders.” He stood at the foot of my bed. “I told her to go ahead and bring a wheelchair, so we can get you out of this place.”
Yay! My body screamed for a hot shower.
Getting into Joey’s car posed a predicament. All
the bending caused significant pain in my ribs, but once I was seated, it subsided.
“I need to know whether we’re making a left or a right, babe. Either way, you’ll have company.”
“Please don’t feel obligated. I don’t need a babysitter.” I hated what had become my natural instinct to put up walls as a means to shut people out; especially those who wanted to get close to me. Or help me. Why couldn’t I just accept that Joey wanted to be with me?
“With that attitude, I think you might.” He made a left out of the hospital grounds. My apartment was to the right.
“I don’t have any clothes with me.”
His mouth twisted, and he took my hand in his. “Now you’re just being cruel.”
I couldn’t help but smile. The man was adorable.
And sweet.
And caring.
And sexy as hell.
And intelligent.
And talented.
Ah, the list could go on, but it would take all day.
“Seriously, I have no fresh clothes or toiletries with me.”
“You’ll never guess who left an overnight bag at the nurse’s station for you.”
I opened my mouth in surprise. “I’m going to kill her.”
“She knew if she didn’t leave you a bag, you wouldn’t agree to come home with me. I have to say, I’m kind of changing my tune on Lily.”
“She’s a great friend. Oh, I forgot to ask, are you sure it will be okay with Dani if I come over?”
“Yes, ma’am. When I left she already had the vacuum in motion.”
“Then why did you bother to ask me if you should make a left or a right? It seems you already had your answer.”
He smiled.
“Joey, I feel really bad. I hate putting people out.”
“Do you ever?”
“Do I ever what, ask for help?” I wasn’t sure what he referred to.
“Yeah. Do you always do everything yourself without asking for assistance when needed?”
I shrugged and played with my nails. “I don’t know. I guess now that I think about it, I pretty much do everything myself.”
“Sounds kind of lonely.”