Teach Me Something (Something Series Book 4)

by Aubrey Bondurant

  “I’ll be twenty-eight in April. Not so old that my mum should be worried I’ll never settle down, but hardly a babe.”

  While smiling at the adorable way he said mum, I felt surprised he wasn’t closer to Haylee’s age at twenty-four. Not that it made a difference. I was over six years his senior. “Right. Um, how does it feel now?”

  He sighed. “Still in pain, but I keep hoping by the time we arrive, I’ll miraculously feel better. By the way, if you want to just drop me off, you can. I appreciate the ride.”

  “Oh, do you have someone else who’ll meet you there?” It occurred to me that, for all I knew, Will had a girlfriend.

  “No. My Dad lives in California, my mum in Australia. But with any luck, I’ll be in and out after an exam.”

  My father was a renowned heart surgeon who’d practiced medicine for nearly forty years. If he was betting ninety-five percent that Will had appendicitis, then I could guarantee he was right. However, I kept my thoughts to myself. Will would find out for sure soon enough. “Yes, here’s hoping.”

  Twenty minutes later, we pulled up to the emergency room doors, and I thanked Sherman, asking him to wait curbside until I texted him. Luckily, the ER wasn’t too busy. After Will filled out some paperwork, he was taken back quickly to be seen.

  “I understand if you don’t want to wait,” he murmured.

  I shook my head. “No, no. I’ll be here. Matter of fact, my dad already texted me asking how you’re doing, so at the very least I need to give him an update.”

  Will gave me a small smile of thanks and walked with the nurse through the double doors when his name was called. Thirty minutes later, a woman in scrubs came out and called my name. When I stood, she motioned me to follow her into the elevator.

  “I’m Nurse Tina. They’re prepping your friend for surgery right now. He asked me to come see if you were still here.”

  I sighed, aware that surgery was the very last thing Will had wanted but grateful my father had convinced him to come to the hospital. The nurse showed me to a small curtain which cornered off his pre-surgical space. When I walked in, I was unprepared for the sight of Will looking so vulnerable in his blue hospital gown and lying on a gurney.

  “Looks like your dad was correct, unfortunately. In ten minutes, I’m being wheeled back for surgery.”

  “I’d really hoped he wasn’t. Um, do you have a phone to call anyone? Your family maybe?”

  “If I rang them, they’d only worry, and there’s not much they can do, being so far away. But I do have a favor to ask?” He appeared nervous as he held out a note for me.

  “Sure, anything.” I meant it. This unforeseen medical emergency had ended up propelling us past any residual awkwardness from last night’s discovery.

  “I don’t expect you to stick around for the operation, but I was hoping you could put your number down so the hospital can let you know once I’m out. And if for some reason there are complications, these are my mum and dad’s phone numbers.”

  My eyes met his, and I saw him valiantly trying to hide the worry. No doubt he’d already had the anesthesia spiel where they explained the risks of going under. I took the folded piece of paper and sought to ease his mind. “Are you having laparoscopic surgery?”

  “Yeah, how’d you know?”

  “My dad. He said it would mean less recovery time.”

  He nodded. “I’m hoping to be discharged tonight.”

  “Really?” My brow arched. “I’m surprised they’re letting you go so quickly.” Especially since it was already late in the afternoon.

  “I’m not staying overnight. The bill will be high enough as it is.” His lips flattened to a firm line. He clearly didn’t want to discuss it any further, but then he sighed. “Sorry, this whole thing is so unexpected. Um, do you mind writing your real cell phone number down?” He indicated the form on the clipboard on the side of the bed.

  “Of course I don’t, but I feel terrible leaving you here.”

  He waved me off. “No need to feel bad. I’ll be fine.”

  But the note in my hand told me there was a small part of him that was nervous. I might not know him very well, but I’d spent enough time with him to know he was a good guy who didn’t deserve having to go through this all by himself. “Do you want me to call Haylee?” I knew they were good friends, and he was even close to Josh.

  He shook his head adamantly. “No way. I’ll be okay.”

  “All right.” I watched the doctor come in.

  “Ready, William?” The older man was dressed for surgery in scrubs.

  Will grasped my hand and let out a breath. “Thanks for taking me here and calling your dad.”

  I had to swallow past the lump forming. My emotions would have been mystifying except that I hated he was here on his own. No one should be alone before, during, or after surgery. “I’ll be here when you wake up.”

  His eyes widened. “You don’t need—”

  I cut him off, squeezing his hand. “I want to. So I’ll see you in a couple of hours. And who knows? Maybe you’ll be one of those crazy people saying weird stuff as you come out of anesthesia, and I’ll film you and send it to all our friends.”

  He laughed before clutching his side and then clasped my hand in return. “Sounds like a plan.”

  I watched as they wheeled him away, feeling nervous for him. What a crazy twenty-four hours this had been.

  ***

  I had Sherman take me to my condo to drop off my suitcase and change my clothes before driving me back to the hospital. After an hour of waiting in a small sitting room outside of the surgical wing, I was finally told that Will was out of surgery. Soon I’d be able to see him in recovery. It was such a strange thing to walk back to recovery in order to see a man whom I barely knew. Yet I felt a connection to him, albeit an unconventional one.

  For the moment, however, he was a guy who was alone. If there was anything I could relate to, it was that. My solitary state had felt especially driven home when I’d removed my husband’s name from my emergency contact form. I had put my parents down even though I knew they were too far away to come quickly and be by my side if anything ever happened. Nothing says lonely like having to think about who to write down for your emergency contact and realize there’s no one within a car ride who could be there for you.

  When the nurse opened the curtain to his post-surgery recovery spot, I could see him asleep in the gurney. He looked a bit paler than normal, but otherwise still remarkably hot, despite the ugly, blue hospital gown.

  “He’s been in and out. We could wheel him up to a room, but he’s insistent that he’s leaving tonight,” the nurse told me.

  “And what does the doctor say?”

  “He said he’d consider a release if your friend could prove he has someone to take care of him over the next twenty-four to forty-eight hours.”

  “I have my roommates,” Will mumbled, flicking open his eyes. He’d obviously caught the tail end of the conversation.

  “Well, unless one is coming here to sign the form and ensure they’ll be there for you, I doubt the doctor will buy it,” the nurse returned.

  Without thinking, I blurted, “I’ll sign him out. He can stay at my place overnight.”

  Will shook his head while I lifted a brow as if to say ‘what’s your alternative?’

  “Okay, I’ll get the paperwork ready.” The nurse had disapproval in her tone as she left the room.

  “Although I appreciate you—”

  I held up a hand. “I’ll drop you off at your apartment if you do, in fact, have people who’ll take care of you. But this gets you out of here quicker than having to wait on anyone else to arrive.”

  He breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank you. That would be great, and my roommates will definitely do that for me.”

  Two hours later, after Will had promised the doctor to follow the discharge instructions to the letter and we’d filled his prescriptions, we were in the back of my sedan heading towards Queens.
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br />   When we pulled up in front of his multi-story brick building, I noticed it was older, but the place still appeared to be in decent shape. Will was climbing out the door before Sherman could open it or I could help him out.

  “Thanks yet again for everything.” He appeared haggard and struggling with pain.

  “You’re welcome, but at least let me walk you up.”

  He shook his head. “I’m fine. Really.”

  I blew out a breath, not believing him in the slightest. “Yes, so you’ve said multiple times, and I’m sure you are. But no offense, it’s my name on that sheet saying I’d ensure you were taken care of. And, as previously discussed, I’m an annoying rule follower who would end up stressing out if I don’t make certain, at the very least, that you don’t collapse in the elevator. Plus, there’s no way you’re lifting your bag yourself, Mr. I’m Fine. Fair enough?”

  Thankfully, he didn’t argue, instead giving me a smile. “Fair enough.”

  We were quiet on the way to the fifth floor. After getting off first, I watched him sway with his first step. By holding his arm, I helped him balance by taking some of his weight. “Almost there. Then you can slip into oblivion with your painkillers. Also, my dad said it’s critical you take all of your antibiotics.” Great. Now I sounded like a worried mother.

  He nodded, taking out his keys from the bag I held and opening his apartment door. “I owe you big time.”

  I shook my head. “No, you don’t. So good night, then.”

  His crystal blue eyes met mine. “Good night, Catherine.”

  The door shut, and I couldn’t shake the sensation that something was off. But he was home, and I should be relieved as I could now return to my own place and get a good night’s sleep. I had work tomorrow with a busy week ahead.

  When I climbed into the back seat of my sedan, I spotted the white prescription bag containing Will’s pain medication and antibiotics. Maybe that’s why I’d been feeling unsettled. I’d subconsciously known he’d forgotten the bag. After telling Sherman I’d be another few minutes, I returned to Will’s apartment and knocked.

  Opening the door was a very attractive man with olive skin and black hair. He appeared to be Will’s age but had a heavy Italian accent. “Hello. How may I help you?”

  I held up the bag. “I have Will’s medication.”

  “Ah, okay. Yeah, he don’t look so good. He’s in the first room to the left.” He pointed down the one hallway leading off the main room.

  “Uh, thanks.” I sure hoped this wasn’t one of the roommates who was supposed to be taking care of Will because he seemed clueless as to why his friend wasn’t ‘looking so good.’

  When I stepped further inside the apartment, I noticed a couple on the couch engrossed in the television and two more guys in the kitchen. No one paid me any mind, most likely because there were five people, not including Will, within the first two hundred square feet of the space.

  The door to the bedroom was slightly ajar, so I tapped on it lightly while opening it further. The sight inside shocked me. There were four mattresses on the floor of the small room with Will lying on one of them. His arm was over his face, and he hadn’t bothered to take off his clothes. Roommates that would take care of him, my ass. He was basically staying in a boarding house where he rented a mattress on the floor.

  Crouching down, I said his name. “Will.”

  He moved his arm, and his eyes focused on me. “Catherine, what are you doing here?” He tried to sit up but winced in discomfort with the effort.

  I held out the bag. “You left these in the car.”

  He reached out and took it, murmuring his thanks. “That would’ve been bad in a couple of hours. Thank you.”

  I surveyed the room and sighed.

  “Don’t say it,” he said tightly.

  “Will, you need a proper place to recover. You can’t honestly tell me any of those people out in the living room are aware that you had surgery a few hours ago, let alone that they are going to take care of you.”

  “Just because my room doesn’t meet your standards doesn’t give you the right to judge it.”

  He was defensive and I knew the last thing he needed from me was an ounce of pity. “Don’t treat me like a snob simply because you’re annoyed that I’m right. The way I see it, you have two choices. You can either come with me and recover in a real bed where someone can keep an eye on you, or I can make a phone call. You have five minutes to make up your mind.”

  He smirked. “A phone call to who? The hospital paper-work-enforcement police? Are they going to take me in because I’m not following my discharge instructions?”

  I had to fight the smile that threatened and shook my head. “Nope, worse. I’ll call Haylee and tell on you.”

  His eyes got big. “The last thing she needs is to get bothered with this. She’s a new mother and doesn’t have time to fret over a friend merely because he had his appendix removed.”

  “And yet you know she would. So that leaves option A, then. Glad we settled it.” I stood with my hands on my hips, turning when the couple who’d been on the sofa came into the room giggling and already trying to undress one another. They looked at us like we were the ones who were intruding. I crouched down and whispered, “That only proves my point. Your roommates are oblivious.”

  “You shouldn’t be here. Someone could recognize you,” he said on a whisper. “And for the same reason, I can’t come back to your place.”

  It could be tough to explain if someone saw him. At the moment, though, I wasn’t sure I cared. “I have another idea. Come on. Let me help you up.”

  CHAPTER FIVE

  By the time we returned to my waiting car, Will had a fine line of sweat on his brow and was looking in rough shape. “So what’s the plan?”

  “I’m putting you up in a hotel.” I handed the bag which he’d hastily repacked to Sherman and pulled out my phone.

  “Fine, but I’m paying you back, so please don’t make it the Four Seasons or the Ritz.” He closed his eyes and leaned his head on the seat, exhaustion obvious in his features.

  I thought for a moment before calling information and then asked my driver to head into Manhattan. I knew just the place. Once I was connected with the one-eight-hundred number, I made my request for New York City. “Three nights starting tonight, and please use my points which are about to expire,” I said to the woman who’d answered the phone. I next rattled off my loyalty card number.

  Will opened his eyes and quirked a brow.

  I shrugged as if to say, ‘what?’ I did, in fact, have a few hundred thousand points. This way he didn’t have to worry about paying me back.

  For a man in his twenties, his pride was decades older. “I don’t need three nights. One would be plenty.”

  Turning my attention back to the woman on the phone, I confirmed the three nights, making the reservation in the W Hotel one block over from my office. That way I could go by tomorrow and check on him. Hanging up, I didn’t let him fight me on it.

  “Look if you want to leave the hotel room empty for the last two nights, wasting it, then so be it. But either way, it’s booked, using points for which I pay nothing. Matter of fact, it’ll be nice, for a change, not to have them expire.”

  He seemed as if he would argue but instead sighed. “Why don’t you use them to take a vacation or something?”

  “Because vacations for one are no fun. Jesus, now I’m rhyming like I’m advertising for a dating site run by Dr. Seuss. Anyhow, the hotel is close to my office and condo, so I can check in on you, unless you object to that, too.”

  He held my gaze for a while before shutting his eyes. “If I wasn’t in this much pain or drugged and laughing didn’t hurt like hell, I’d find your Dr. Seuss comment funnier. And I’ll be fine.”

  “Oh, yeah? Did the last time you had your appendix removed show you how well you recover from that type of surgery?”

  He chuckled and then grabbed his side. “Ow. Now you’re just being crue
l by being funny.”

  I pursed my lips. “Mm, I’ll keep it in mind in case you disagree with me again.”

  “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to appear ungrateful.”

  “Then take the help where it’s offered and pay it forward to someone else.” I understood pride, but human kindness was something about which I wasn’t willing to compromise. “Do you have any modelling gigs coming up or, um, other work?”

  We both knew I meant his double life as Calvin. He shook his head. “I already called my job from the hospital and told them I wouldn’t be in until later this week. And I don’t have another shoot scheduled for two more weeks, so I should have time to fully recover. I only hope whatever I’m wearing for it will cover the scars.”

  “If not, they’ll use body makeup. I’ve seen it done for appendix, c-section scars, and they even managed to cover the entire back tattoo of one model.” I noticed we’d pulled up in front of the hotel. “Oh, good. We’re here.”

  By the time I managed to get Will settled in his room and then arrived home, the fatigue from the last twenty-four hours started taking hold.

  I took a minute to admire the view out my picture window of the beautiful city I called home and poured myself a glass of wine. Loneliness washed over me in that moment as it often did during the nighttime hours. I missed having a partner. Someone who cared when I came home and missed me if I didn’t. Maybe that’s why I felt a kinship with Will tonight and wanted to ensure he wasn’t on his own.

  Not for the first time, I wondered why Will was working at Club Travesty. I’d had to bite my tongue a couple times to keep from asking; knowing it wasn’t any of my business. For all I knew he loved what he did or made great money. Although if it was the money then why was he living where he was?

  As I climbed into bed, a smile tugged at my lips at the text he’d sent me on my real phone, using his real name this time.

  “Thanks again.”

  I typed back. “You’re welcome. See you tomorrow.”

  I fell asleep telling myself it was only concern that had me anxious to check in on him the next day.