Total pages in book: 112
Estimated words: 113272 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 566(@200wpm)___ 453(@250wpm)___ 378(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 113272 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 566(@200wpm)___ 453(@250wpm)___ 378(@300wpm)
He gently patted her thigh. “It’s all right, dear. This time. I’m sure I don’t have to tell you how serious this was. You must be very careful.”
“I will be.”
“I’ve written a script for a replacement EpiPen. Get it filled immediately. Are you having any trouble breathing? Does your throat feel swollen?”
“No, I’m just really tired.”
He nodded. “I’m sure you are.”
“Can I go home? I really don’t like being in the hospital.”
“Nobody does. Including me. Horrid place.” He shuddered. “I really chose the wrong job, didn’t I?”
She smiled.
“Now, let’s see, your vitals are all steady. Good oxygen levels and your pulse is strong. Blood pressure is good. I’d like to keep you a bit longer to keep an eye on you. But if everything is fine by this evening, I’m happy to discharge you then. Although I don’t want you to leave here on your own. In fact, I’d prefer you weren’t alone for the next seventy-two hours.”
“Oh.” She bit her lip, thinking that through. That seemed a lot. The last time this had happened she’d taken an Uber home because she’d had no one to come get her.
She could lie and tell him that she had someone to look after her. But right now, she was feeling a bit fragile and scared. What if something went wrong?
Wait.
What about insurance? Did she still have that? Her dad had paid her medical insurance.
Shit.
Something else to look into. If she had to pay for her own insurance that was going to start eating into her savings.
You’ve got this.
Don’t panic. Everything will be all right.
Maybe she should discharge herself. It wasn’t like she was truly alone with Horse.
Oh my God! Horse.
“My dog! Do you know what happened to my dog?” she asked.
“I’m afraid I don’t, my dear.” He gave her a bewildered look and she mentally slapped herself.
Of course he didn’t know.
Idiot.
She attempted to swing her legs out of the bed, but the doctor grabbed them.
“Whoa, young lady, I haven’t discharged you yet and I want you to rest a bit longer.”
“I have to go! I have to find my dog!” Panic raced through her.
What happened to Horse? He had to be so scared and she wasn’t there for him.
“Horse is fine,” Kellan said as he slipped through the curtains like he belonged there.
“W-where is he?” she asked as he moved over to her, tucking her legs back under the covers and tucking her in.
He was surprisingly efficient at that.
“Keira, Julian, and Cole took him.”
“Cole has him?” She bit her lip nervously. “I still think we should go get him.”
“Eli will collect him when it’s time for you to go home. He’s just on the phone to Jake letting him know what happened. Is she staying in overnight for observation?” he asked the doctor who was staring at Kellan with surprise.
“Aren’t you a Jones boy?” the doctor asked.
“I am.” A cold mask crossed Kellan’s face. Funny, she thought he was always a bit cold, but now she realized that around her, he was quite relaxed and warm.
Because this was cold Kellan and it was rather . . . scary.
She swallowed heavily.
“Ahh, I knew your mother a long time ago. Lovely woman.” The doctor cleared his throat, looking a bit sad. “Well, I was just telling Ms. Bridges that I want to keep her here for a few more hours. If everything is fine, I will look at discharging her if she’s got people to look after her for the next seventy-two hours. And I’m afraid that a dog doesn’t count, my dear.”
Darn it.
“That’s not a problem,” Kellan told him. “My brother and I will be taking care of her. Is there anything we need to do or know?”
The doctor blinked again. “Uh, not really. Just that she should rest, she’ll likely feel exhausted for a while. Have as little stress as possible. Drink lots of water and just watch that her breathing stays relaxed and easy. Keep an eye out for any swelling especially around her throat, mouth or eyes and any rash. This script for an EpiPen needs to be filled before you leave the hospital.”
“Thanks, doctor,” she whispered and watched as he left the room.
Then she stared down at her hands which were tangled together. “How did you know to look for an EpiPen?” she asked.
“Cole knew that you had a peanut allergy,” Kellan told her in a strange-sounding voice.
She snuck a glance up at him, then away.
“No.”
“No?” she asked in surprise.
“Don’t look away from me. I want your eyes.”
She closed her eyes for a moment, not sure that she could do that.
“Eyes on me so I know that you are well. Because when you started to have breathing problems . . . when I saw you collapse . . .”
Oh.
Why hadn’t she thought about how this affected him? She was so inconsiderate! She should have asked how he was doing.