My eyes immediately find Tonya's. Her icy blue eyes are a little wet as she gives me a weak, crooked smile. "Yeah, they would've needed a fucking Ouija board if—god forbid—I was ever in an accident."
She harshly wipes at her eyes, and I lay a gentle hand on her shoulder. She playfully bats it away, a small smile on her face. "I think this was just one of those things that she just overlooked because she was inundated with an ass ton of paperwork. That's all. I think if she knew, your name and number would be on that form."
Hearing her say it, hearing someone else confirm what my thoughts dared to hope, settles me. I nod, and Tonya affectionately bumps her shoulder into mine.
Eighty minutes without Sophie.
Eighty-one...
Eighty-two...
Eighty-three...
"How... how was she?" Paul asks me, his voice low and ignoring the venomous whisper of'like you actually give a fuck'from Tonya.
I take a deep, calming breath and glance up at him. "Feverish. Coughing. Sleepy."
"I saw you guys were at a gala this weekend," he says, and my muscles tense. "She looked... she looked beautiful."
"She always does," I whisper immediately, closing my eyes and picturing her sweet face, smiling at me, giggling when I kiss her neck and tickle the skin there, her bright eyes shimmering as she tells me she loves me.
"Yeah," Paul murmurs, staring down at his shaking hands. "She does."
Eighty-eight...
Eighty-nine...
Ninety...
I'm about to text Tess an update when I hear, "For Sophie Bracken?"
I'm on my feet before I register the movement, and Paul rises too, both of us moving fast toward the nurse standing by the doors. She looks startled at the sight of two full-grown men rushing her.
"Oh, okay..." the nurse glances back down to the tablet, "Uh, who is Paul?"
My heart plummets straight to the floor.
Paul steps forward, and I feel a cold dread wash over me. He has priority. He has a clear opening to reach Sophie and to shut me out. And, damnit, it seems like he's going to take it.
Paul glances back at me, and I bite the inside of my cheek hard. My hands curl into fists, but I nod my head and take a step back.
Paul's face is a mess of emotions. It looks like the oddestcombination of pain, love, sadness, determination, and resolve. He closes his eyes, takes a deep breath, and steps toward the nurse.
Tonya's hand clamps onto my shoulder, grounding me as my entire world tilts and I slowly turn to walk back to my seat.
Maybe I can find out more from Paul later.
Maybe Sophie will wake up and not want anything to do with him.
Maybe Tess will get here and put Paul in his own hospital bed.
Guess I'll just have to wait and see.
I can't argue this. I can't argue against the paperwork or protocol, and I won't risk being kicked out of this hospital.
"Me," Paul says, nodding to the nurse. "I'm Paul."
"Okay, you're the conta—"
