“Jerks,” I supplied.
“Yes, exactly so.”He smiled.“I appreciate your self-awareness and your apology, but please note that I don’t take it personally.”
“It’s Ms.Black,” I told him.“I’m not married.You can call me Nora, though, if it’s easier.”
His smile widened.“Thank you, Nora.”He picked up an electronic tablet from the counter.“I’m sending your order for sublingual nitroglycerin to take as needed for angina pain to the pharmacy, and you’ll have to get the aspirin off the shelf.It’s an over-the-counter medication.”
After the doctor discharged me and we left the clinic, Pippa sighed.“Well, that’s something new to worry about.”
“I won’t worry if you don’t,” I said, trying to sound lighthearted.
“As if,” she huffed.“When we get you back home, we’re?—”
“I’ll talk to a doctor and follow whatever they recommend,” I cut in before she could start listing all the ways she planned to smother me with love and concern.
When we reached our corridor, I wrapped my arms around both of them, pulling us into a tight hug.There may or may not have been a few tears, but what happens in the pity circle stays in the pity circle.
“I don’t know what I’d do without you guys,” I said when the elevator dinged open and we finally broke apart.
“You’ll never have to find out,” Gilly promised.
“Because I’m going to die before you?”I teased, trying to break the tension.
“Too soon!”Pippa scolded, shaking her head.“Way too soon for jokes.”
I chuckled softly.“Noted.”
It was getting late, and Ezra and the guys were probably finishing up their golf game.They’d be heading back to the suites soon.What was I supposed to say to him?How did I explain that I’d basically had a warning shot for a heart attack?If Pippa and Gilly hadn’t bullied me into going to the clinic, it could’ve turned into something way worse.I hated to think about it, but I was so grateful for them.I might’ve been an only child, but they made me a sister.Family wasn’t just blood — and since all my blood relatives, aside from a few distant cousins, were gone, they were my family now.Gilly, Pippa, their kids, their husbands, Ezra, and even Mason.My chosen family.I couldn’t believe how lucky I was that they chose me back.
We stepped off the elevator onto our floor.Housekeeping was still moving between rooms, pushing their carts and swapping out towels.Hopefully, they’d already been to ours.I didn’t need much, just fresh towels and more coffee.
Halfway down the corridor, a man stepped out of a maintenance closet.He carried a medium-sized plastic tub with a picture of a rat on the front, covered by a red circle and a line slashed through it.
Holy smokes.The ship had a rat problem.
“Huh,” I grunted.My conspiracy theory about Hansen hiding the security footage to cover up what really happened might’ve been wrong after all.If the ship did have rats, and ugh, I didn’t even want to picture that.Maybe they had chewed through the camera wires.Gross, but plausible.“Well, crap.”
“What?”Pippa asked, her voice sharp with concern.“Are you okay?You’re not having pain again, are you?”
“No,” I assured her.“I’m fine.But I think I owe Chief Hansen an apology.”
“Wow.”Gilly’s mouth quirked into a half-smile.“An apology tour.First the doctor, now the security chief.Who’s next?”
“It won’t be you,” I shot back playfully.
As we reached our suite, I heard muffled laughter and voices from inside.These walls were definitely not soundproof.I wasn’t ready to tell Ezra about the angina yet.He’d fuss over me, and the last thing I wanted was for him to start seeing me as fragile or sick.
Still, it was time to face the music.
I gestured toward Gilly and Pippa as they opened their doors.“See you on the other side.”
When Gilly’s face fell, I added quickly, “Of the room.You know, the balcony.”
“I know,” she said, sounding defensive, but her smile returned.
With that, we all headed inside to join our men.
ChapterTwelve
