Snow steps forward, her movement drawing my attention back up to her beautiful face and the light pink shimmer on her lips. “This is a good hospital,” she says. “The people here are the best. I’m sure she’s getting the best care.”
“I know.”
“If there’s anything I can?—”
“Snow!” Jen’s screech down the hallway makes us both jump. “Are you planning on arriving at work any time soon or do I have to do that part of your job too?”
“I have to go,” Snow hisses. “But I’m here if you need me.”
As kind as her words are, Snow ends up far too busy throughout the day and other than a couple of quick texts, we don’t hear from each other.
Definitely for the best, considering our situation, but I find myself craving her touch stronger than I ever have before.
I want to sink into her arms and soak up her warmth, to feel her hands in my hair and allow myself a few minutes to exist in the worry drowning everything in my chest.
It’s selfish, I know.
But Auriela’s state is painfully similar to Claire’s and I can’t help.
Thankfully, Fred eagerly took my surgeries for the day and claimed it was because he wanted to get me back in his debt, but I suspect it was because two of those have June as the lead nurse.
Exhaustion catches up to me in the late afternoon and I fall asleep in the chair by Auriela’s bed.
I dream of nothing but darkness for a couple of hours until a cool touch to my temple drags me out of my slumber.
Waking with a start, I gaze around quickly to get my bearings, then lock eyes with Auriela.
She gazes at me with tired eyes and a weak smile, but she’s awake.
She’s awake!
“Auriela!” I surge up in my seat and clutch her hand. “You’re awake!”
“I have been for about an hour.” Auriela chuckles throatily. “I asked the doctor not to wake you because she said you’d been here all night. Why didn’t you go home, you silly boy?”
“How could I when my best girl decided to pass out like that?” The relief is so intense my head throbs repeatedly, but it’s worth it.
“Oh, you.” She chuckles and coughs weakly. “I d–didn’t want to wake you, but I need some water, so could you…?”
“Of course.” Leaning forward, I lightly kiss her forehead at her hairline then move to the table at the foot of her bed.
Pouring some water into a small cup, I add the straw and offer it to her. “Drink slowly.”
She obliges and after a few sips, I remove the cup.
“Thank you,” she says, her voice already sounding smoother. “The doctor told me I have pneumonia but the stronger antibiotics are working.”
“I’m so relieved. What would I do without you?”
“You’d live your life,” she scolds. “That’s what you would do.”
“With three cats that love you more than me?”
She wheezes with laughter and lightly smacks my arm. “You have no idea how much those cats adore you. How much everyone adores you.” Shaking her head, Auriela clasps my hand. “Now that I’m awake, you need to go home and rest.”
“I’m not leaving until you are.”
“Then rest somewhere in the hospital. I don’t know. But I don’t want to look at your tired face, so get out of here and get some sleep.”
