That tracks.She has no tolerance for alcohol, and a dose of cough syrup makes her tipsy.It kinda makes sense that anything stronger than a single aspirin would have a similar effect.
“Okay, Phoebe.I’ll be there soon.Stay put.”
I hear her giggle as the phone disconnects.At least she’s not feeling any pain.I dress quickly and follow Alvarez out of the Nest, across the wooden Boardwalk Atlantic City is famous for, and down the steps to the surface lot full of assorted trucks and SUVs.Alvarez and I put our hockey bags in the back of his Jeep Wrangler and climb in.Not as roomy as my Suburban, but not too tight a fit.Soon we’re driving off the island Atlantic City is on and along the highway that cuts through the marshland to take us to the mainland.
Twenty minutes later, we park outside the ER entrance and head in.Alvarez veers off to talk to the cute woman with light brown hair that was at the game with Phoebe the other night.I assume she’s Andie.I don’t see Phoebe, so I ask about her at the desk.
An older nurse overhears and calls out, “Are you the fiancé?”
It’s like a record scratch, and then all the sound is sucked from the room, and I can feel every eye on me.Not that the waiting room is full this early in the afternoon, but there are enough people around to hear it.
“I’m here for Phoebe Albright.”That’s not a lie.“Can I see her?”
The desk attendant hits a button that unlocks the doors leading back to the patients, and I walk through to join the nurse.
“Your fiancée is a little bit loopy from the Tylenol she was given when her wrist was wrapped.Is that normal?”
I nod.“Yeah, she’s a lightweight.”She pushes open the curtain to bay number eight to reveal Phoebe sitting in a recliner, looking up at the ceiling and humming something that sounds like the theme song fromSesame Street.
“Ollie!You’re here!I have a sling.”She waves her arm around, and thank goodness it’s her left one, the one without the sling.
I sit on the stool next to her and take her hand to keep it still.“Yeah, you do.What happened?”
Her giggle brings a smile to my lips.It’s infectious.
“A turkey tripped me.Sprained my wrist.It hurts.”She giggles again.“Doesn’t hurt now.I forgot to tell them a little bit of pain meds go a long, long way.”
I lean toward her, and she leans in too.Our faces are inches apart, and I can see the gold flecks in her chocolate brown eyes and the freckles on her pert nose.She’s so pretty.A few more inches, and we’d be kissing.If she wasn’t loopy on Tylenol, maybe I’d finally take that step.Who am I kidding?No, I wouldn’t.Phoebe only sees me as a friend—I can’t risk that to selfishly want more.
“Why do they think I’m your fiancé?”I whisper.
Her eyes drop to my lips and then meet mine.“I couldn’t remember sister’s brother-in-law, fiancé popped out.Is that okay?”
“Yeah, it’s okay.”It’s more than okay.
The sound of the curtain being pulled back causes me to straighten quickly.Phoebe straightens much more slowly.A nurse comes in with some paperwork.
“Alrighty.Phoebe is going to be discharged into your care, Mr.King.”
I’m surprised they know my name.Phoebe must have provided it.
“Okay,” I say.
“Here are the instructions.For pain management, she should be fine with over-the-counter pain relievers.”She goes over the rest of the information, including what to look out for, when to follow up, and other details.Soon we’re going through the doors to reenter the ER waiting room.Alvarez and Andie are there waiting for us.
“Hi, Ollie, I’m Andie.So nice to formally meet you!”She holds out her hand for me to shake, and I do.She surprises me by tugging on my hand until I bend down so she can whisper in my ear.“I know there’s some kind of story here because if you were really engaged, Phoebs would have told me, but we can work that out later.”
I meet her intelligent hazel eyes and nod.
“Here are her keys.I drove us here, and Colby drove you, so you’ll need a car.She’s staying at her sister’s house, she’s cat-sitting.I assume you know all this?”
I nod and take her keyring with a cupcake charm hanging from it.“Yeah, no problem.I’ll take her there and spend the night.She obviously can’t be alone.We’ll be fine.Thank you so much for your help, Andie.You too, Alvarez.”
Andie’s smile is warm.“Of course, that’s what friends are for!She’d do the same for me in a heartbeat.Let me give you my number in case you need anything.Colby and I both live in the same neighborhood as Phoebe—near the historic village where the bakery is—so we’re not that far from you.”
I give her my phone, and she texts herself so we have each other’s numbers.Alvarez does the same.
We walk outside and leave the girls on the sidewalk by the entrance as we get the cars.I grab my bag from Alvarez’s Jeep and put it in the back of Phoebe’s small forest-green SUV.I put the seat all the way back so I can fit behind the wheel.My Suburban can’t get here soon enough.I feel like I’m in a kiddie car with my knees up to my ears.I leave the engine idling as I jump out and come around to help Phoebe settle in the passenger seat and buckle her seat belt.I wave my thanks to Alvarez and Andie and put Finn’s address into the navigation system.I have a general idea of where I am—as a Bigfoot shifter I’m blessed with an innate sense of direction—but I want to make sure I get us there as quickly and safely as possible.
