“I will overcome!” I cranked on the Christmas music and marched into the living room to fetch the wrapping supplies. Maybe I’d cry a bit in a pile of tissue and paper.
Next I’d search out new batteries for Rudolph, because I would also come. Several times.
CHAPTER TEN - Jason
Anxiety tore at my gut. “Shelley said Lyla hasn’t been in all day. No one except the staff has been in to see Eloise.”
I’d searched for Lyla in the morning before our Friday shift, and popped by Eloise’s room twice during the day. Now it was eight, our seemingly never-ending shift was over, but still no Lyla. Why wasn’t she here? Had something happened to her? Nothing would keep her from being by Eloise’s side.
Ozzi glanced up from his report. “A major snow storm is slamming into us. Everyone is staying at home. Well, except the ones we had to pull out of their flipped trucks today. Lyla’s a smart girl and stayed indoors.”
“But what if her power is out and she freezes? Or if she doesn’t have enough food? What if someone breaks into the house, and I’ll fucking kill them!” My heart pounded in my chest. The urge to go to her and protect her from the world was strangling me.
“Calm down, man.” Ozzi was always the most zen of Alphas. It worked out good for me because I easily lost my shit and he could calm me. “If you’re that worried, we’ll stop by and see her, bring her some food. Yaya would never forgive either of us if we let a young woman starve.”
“We can’t disappoint Yaya.” I bobbed my head and thrust my half-finished report at him. “Here. You’re faster at the paperwork. I’m going to be a proper gentle Alpha and stop by Eloise’s room to get permission to go to Primrose House. Plus maybe she can tell me Lyla’s favorite food.”
Ozzi sighed as he took the paper. “All right. Just be quick about it. If we’re stopping by Primrose House, we want to get there soon before our road is impassable.”
Which it probably already was. We both knew it too. While we lived five minutes from the hospital on a good day, ourhouse was off a back road, and it wouldn’t be a priority for the town to plow.
I didn’t wait for Ozzi to say anything else. Taking off out of the room, I made a beeline for the long term care wing and room one eighteen. I knocked softly as I could see Eloise’s roomie was already sleeping.
“Come in.” Eloise’s quiet voice came from behind the curtain which separated the two beds.
I slipped in and smiled to see Eloise sitting up in bed with a book propped up against her water jug on her overbed table. “Hi Eloise. How are you doing?”
“Jason.” She placed a slip of paper into the book to mark her place. “So sweet of you to stop by. I’m doing well. It’s been a quiet day.”
“Yeah, big storm.” As if she couldn’t tell that already! For some reason, a flutter in my belly made me feel like a young teen getting ready to ask a girl out for the first time. Lyla had made me feel all sorts of things the past few days. “Do you have everything you need? Water, snacks, anything else? Ozzi and I are done with our shift, and we’ll be off for the weekend.”
“Don’t tell me you boys are working through Christmas then?” Eloise tsked.
I shrugged and grinned. “We don’t mind. It gives the other EMTs with kids and visiting families a chance to be with them. Besides, we’ll go over to my parents’ house Christmas evening for a turkey dinner and gifts.”
“You’re such good boys.” Eloise reached and patted my hand. It was a whole-hearted gesture but physically weak. Must be why she had her book propped up against the jug. “I have everything I need, thank you. One of my girls will be by tomorrow with anything else.”
Likely not with the storm, but I didn’t want to make her sad before I asked her about Primrose House. More so, aboutLyla. Would she let us see her without a chaperon? Or let me hug Lyla, kiss her all over, hold her and never let go?
Shit. I was in so deep.
“I was thinking about stopping by and checking on Lyla, maybe bringing her some food. Would it be all right if Ozzi and I went to Primrose House?”
“That would be lovely if you could check on her. She texted me and said she’s fine, but Lyla’s a person who thrives with other people around.” Eloise nodded and pursed her lips for half a minute. “Lyla has a sweet tooth. She’d love anything sweet, but there’s a burger she loves…” She crinkled her face, forming deep wrinkles. “I can’t remember…”
“It’s okay. I’m not sure any place will be open, but we’ll pick her up something.” We’d take care of Lyla. Forever, if she’d let us. The thought, no, the emotion hit me hard. My lips moved as fast as my heart. “I want you to know I really like Lyla, and I want to date her, ask her out, uh, court her. I’ve never met any woman like her. She’s not just gorgeous, but amazing. I can’t stop thinking about her, and dammit, I’m sorry. It’s inappropriate of me to say these things.”
Eloise chuckled softly and gazed at me with a look like she knew it all already. “No, honey, don’t you apologize for being fond of my girl. She is amazing. She needs someone who can see her light.” She leaned her head back, eyes starting to droop. “Take care of her. Lyla might say she doesn’t need anyone, especially not an Alpha, but you could be the right one. Take care of her in any way she’ll let you, because she may not think I noticed, but she needs you. Your partner too. He’s such a nice young man.”
I blinked. Did she just give me permission to date Lyla? And there wouldn’t be a chaperon. The amount of trust she placed in me… “Thank you.” I lifted her hand and kissed the back of it. Fucking right! “Thank you!”
Swallowing the urge to shout out with joy, I gave her hand a gentle squeeze. “I will be respectful and patient and kind. I will give her the world. And Ozzi is the best man I know. He’ll make sure I keep my promises.”
“Good. Now go on and let an old woman sleep.” Eloise was barely keeping her eyes open, but there was a small smile on her lips.
I closed her book, moved her table, and switched off her light. Tucking her in, I made certain the nurse’s call button was by her hand. “Have a good sleep, Eloise. If you need anything, just tell one of the nurses, and I’ll get whatever you need.”
She murmured something, but sleep was taking her fast. I left the room striding back toward the paramedics’ office with pep in my step.
