Chapter 4
SPENCER
I thought I heard screaming. I was in the hallway when it started and it was the most horrific, gut-wrenching, soul-destroying wail I’d ever heard. One I hoped I’d never hear as long as I lived. I paused, but it ended as quickly as it began. It couldn’t be Zoe. She was still completely out of it?and for that I was grateful.
“Shit!” I muttered to myself as realisation sunk in. I wanted Zoe to still be unconscious. What sort of sick bastard wanted someone to stay knocked out? Oh, that’s right?me. I’m the asshole who wanted her not to know, because the moment she was back, everything would become real. Too real.
As I walked down the corridor, the scent of bleach permeated my every pore. I hated hospitals. Always had. Being a guy, I’d wasted enough hours of my life waiting in emergency for stitches or staples or bones to be reset. Being a boy meant childhood was rough. Having a twin brother, someone who was always around to make sure mischief was had by all, pretty much guaranteed cuts and bruises.
Pushing aside the depressing thoughts, I stepped into the cafeteria. No wonder people in hospital wanted to get out so quickly. The food was shit. Although it was only mid-morning, the sandwiches in the display looked like they’d been there for a week or more. The lettuce on the BLT had drooped and was now more translucent than actually green. I wasn’t going to risk it. The last thing Zoe needed right now was me being struck down with food poisoning and having to look after me. That wasn’t an option.
A matronly old woman wearing a floral apron and glasses so thick it was impressive that she could still see through them stepped up to the counter. “Hi there, deary. What can I get you?”
I felt bad. Someone this old shouldn’t be serving someone like me. Her fingers were knotted and gnarled from age and her skin sagged everywhere. My mother had raised me better than this. I hated the idea that I was young and fit?okay, well, not exactly fit. I mean I wasn’t about to run a marathon, but I could take care of myself. The lady standing before me?well, she should have her feet up knitting, not waiting on me.
Pushing aside my dark thoughts, I ordered quickly. “I’ll just take a bucket of chips and a bottle of Coke, please.”
“Of course.” She smiled sweetly as she tottered off.
She even smelt old…that heavy baby powder smell. I smiled inwardly at the odd thought. Over the scent of the disinfectant and grease I could still smell her. It reminded me of my own grandmother.
Moments later she had my meal on a plastic blue tray and pushed it towards me. After stuffing some money in her hand, I found a spare table and collapsed into the seat. Fuck, it had been a long day already?and it wasn’t even almost over.
Pulling my phone from my pocket, I noticed the backlog of missed messages?most from my brother, Kane.
Kane: Where are you?
Kane: Sleep in princess???
Kane: Seriously?
Kane: What the fuck?
I could tell he was pissed. He had every right to be. I hadn’t shown up for work and hadn’t even bothered to let him know why. I’d kill him if he tried to pull that shit with me. The truth was I’d been up on time, showered, shaved, and scarfed down a quick breakfast. I was on my way to work earlier than normal, yet the moment I’d seen her, all thoughts of work were instantly forgotten. They didn’t matter. Nothing did. Honestly, I hadn’t even given Kane two seconds’ thought.
Quickly I found his number and called. It didn’t take long to connect.
“What the fuck!” he boomed down the phone.
I couldn’t help it…I laughed. He was so pissed and worked up. He was worse than a woman with PMS who’d just been told of a world chocolate shortage.
“Morning, baby brother.” I chuckled. He might be shitty now but as soon as he knew where I was I knew his anger would evaporate immediately.
“Fuck off!” he swore. “Where the hell are you, anyway? You should have been here hours ago.”
“Calm your farm. I’m at the hospital,” I admitted. There was no point lying…and it was Kane. I’d trust him with my life. And I had. Too many times to count.
“What? You okay?” His rage was gone, replaced by concern.
“Yeah, I’m fine.”
“Well, what the fuck you doing at the hospital?” he asked, baffled.
“Zoe.”
“Zoe?”
“Yeah, Zoe.”
