“I don’t give a shit who you think she can see.I am her best friend.Let me in there.”Drea’s protest carried down the hallway.
Cujo stood up, smoothing down the legs of his jeans.He took a deep breath, and creaked his neck from left to right.“I’ll go get the feisty one,” he said, flipping his head in the direction of Drea’s raised voice.Trent watched him walk toward the argument brewing at the nurses’ station.
“Mr.Andrews?”A young doctor in blue scrubs held out her hand.“I’m Dr.Yeung.I’ve been looking after Harper.”They all stood.
“How is she?”
Cujo reappeared with his arm around Drea.Her tearstained face was more than he could bear.They joined him in front of the doctor and Drea reached out her hand to grasp Trent’s.
“Harper’s doing great.Her CT scan came back fine, but she has a nasty concussion.We’ve stitched the wound on the top of her shoulder.It was deep, but thankfully missed anything vital.The rest are more superficial, and we’ve been able to either butterfly stitch them or just bandage them.We’ve given her a tetanus and cleaned out the cut on her wrist.She’s on a morphine drip for the pain and a strong antibiotic to prevent infection.”
Trent’s shoulders sagged in relief, and Cujo’s arm went around him, holding him up.Relief threatened to bring Trent to his knees.
“Can I see her?”He rubbed his hands over his face.
“Absolutely.She can go home tomorrow but needs rest.She needs to keep that shoulder still.I’ll take you to her and then swing by with some care instructions.”
Harper was chewing on the side of her thumbnail, looking absently out of the small window when he walked into her room.Her skin was pale and dark circles ringed her eyes.Trent rushed over to her bed, sitting down gently on the side.
“Oh, sweetheart,” he said softly, taking her hands in his, kissing each knuckle softly before kissing the center of her palm.“You scared the crap out of me.”
***
“Trent,” Harper choked, “Is… Is Anton okay?”Her voice was hoarse, reminding her of the red marks that the doctor had told her covered the outside of her throat.
“He’s fine, Harper.A bit shook up—he’s a hero.Ran straight to Frankie’s.Gave the police all kinds of details.”Trent squeezed her hand hard.“Christ, Harper, when Frankie called and told me Nathan had abducted… abducted…” The word stuck, and Harper’s resolve not to cry wavered as tears filled Trent’s eyes.He dropped his head gently onto Harper’s stomach and wrapped his arms around her, softly, and she was filled with gratitude that she was still here with him.
“I’m fine, Trent,” she soothed, running her fingers through his hair.“I was scared shitless, but I had something to live for.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t get there sooner.I love you, sweetheart.More than you can possibly know.”
“I know, baby,” she cried, finally letting go in front of him.“I love you, too.”
When her tears turned into full-blown sobs, Trent gathered her gently into his arms so they could comfort each other.
Harper settled in Trent’s embrace, secure in the knowledge she was safe and alive.The pain in her shoulder was easing—thank heavens for great medication.Thoughts of another trial caused her stomach to flip.She needed to call Lydia, probably soon if she wanted to get ahead of Nathan’s father’s machinations.And her parents.How was she going to explain to them what had been going on or why she hadn’t told them?
The police were going to want her statement soon, but she needed this moment with Trent.There were too many thoughts rushing through her head and she needed some time to process everything that had just happened.
“If he doesn’t come out soon and tell us what’s going on, I am going in there.”A rush of relief flooded Harper at the sound of Drea in the hallway.
“As much as you think she loves you, shortcake, she loves him a bit more.Give them a minute.”
Trent laughed.Harper opened her eyes and looked at him.“My money is on Drea,” she whispered.
“Can you get your stupid frigging arms off me?”
Drea and Cujo burst through the door.Cujo’s arms were wrapped tightly around Drea’s middle, and the angle she was bending his fingers back to release his grip had to hurt.
“I tried to stop her but it’s like getting a feral cat into a shoe box.”Cujo let out a grunt and let Drea go.Harper looked from Cujo to Drea, desperate to bury the laugh she could feel brewing.
The bed shook as Drea sat down.She grabbed Harper’s hand and leaned over to gently hug her.“Oh my God, Harper.Am I glad to see you.”
Harper winced slightly at the pull on her shoulder and Drea released her immediately.“Oh no, sorry, Harp.I just…” Drea’s eyes started to fill with tears.
Cujo placed a hand on Drea’s shoulder, the other on the top of the hospital gurney.“Hey there, Bruce Lee.Remind me not to mess with you.”He kissed the top of Harper’s head.“You scared me, in a hot kind of way,” he whispered.
“Quit hitting on my girl, dude,” Trent said with a short laugh before pushing Cujo’s arm off the gurney.
