An ER doctor with striking gray eyes assessed the side of my head. “Wearing your seatbelt saved your life. I hope you know that.”
I pressed my lips together and barely nodded, since he still had his hand at my neck. “Do you know if the others will be all right?”
He shook his head. “I’m not supposed to share that information, and it’s too soon to tell right now. They should have been wearing their seatbelts.”
I swallowed and wiggled my nose to fight off tears.
His hand left my neck and he stepped back a pace. “There’s some bruising forming where the side airbag hit you. Take ibuprofen if it’s sore, but otherwise, we’ll get you discharged.”
My eyes slid to the side and back to him. “Any idea when I’ll stop shaking? Every time I think it’s done, another wave comes over me.”
Those gray eyes held compassion. “That’s shock, and everyone’s different. It should wear off in time. If it doesn’t, come back to the emergency room.”
I lifted my chin in a slow nod. “What about the police? I thought they had questions.”
He tucked a pen into his shirt pocket and nodded. “Yes, they do. I’m not sure where the officer is, but don’t leave without speaking to someone.”
The EMTs at the scene had given me a blanket. I gathered it tighter around me and nodded. “It’ll be a while before my ride gets here, so that won’t be a problem.”
A nurse whipped the curtain open soon after the doctor left. “I don’t have your discharge paperwork yet, but we need the bed. Let me take you to the waiting room; we’ll get your discharge papers to you shortly.”
I followed her, wearing the blanket like a cape. I stopped mid-way to a row of chairs when the sliding glass doors opened and Rafferty stormed inside.
Under the best circumstances, I had to brace myself for being around him. It made no sense because we’d grown up together. I used to see him every day… then we went out of our way to avoid each other. Now, we continued to keep our distance. I stayed away because he’d become a man and every time I saw him, I swore he becamemoreeverything. More muscles, more height, more broody. He also had more facial hair, that I wasn’t sure I preferred, but today, seeing his fuller, darker beard sent a warm tingle through me.
A chain attached to his wallet bobbed against his leg as he strode toward me. His jeans were so faded, I knew they would be soft to the touch. I closed my eyes and gave a tiny head-shake because this was no time to think about touching Rafferty’s legs - no matter how much I wanted that.
Over the past few years, it seemed he’d put effort into avoiding me. My best guess was that he held a grudge, though, right now, that didn’t seem to be the case. He scanned me from top to toe. The concern shining from his dark brown eyes made me yearn for things to be different between us. But that was a pipe dream.
“Lex, are you all right?” he asked.
I nodded.
“Is he your ride?” the nurse asked.
“Yes,” I said.
“Wait for your paperwork before you leave, and Officer Peterson needs to have a word with you, too.”
“Yes, ma’am,” I said, as Rafferty drew even with us.
She gestured toward the chairs. “Have a seat.”
I sat and pulled the scratchy blanket tighter around my neck.
Rafferty stared down at me. “You sure you’re all right? You don’t look too good.”
The last few hours were catching up with me. I was hanging on by a frayed thread.
“I’m okay. I’m sorry I messed up your Sunday, and I’m sure you had—”
He squatted in front of me, planting his strong hands on my knees. “Stop. You didn’t mess up anything, Lex. I just want to get you out of here.”
I grimaced. “I think it’s going to be a while. A police officer needs to speak with me, and I don’t have my discharge papers. It’d be good to find out about Ines and the others.”
He nodded. “It’s fine, Lex. You want me to get you a coffee? Something to eat?”
Yeah, I should have called Mom, because him being this nice to me was killing me.
