Chris.
My heart nearly stopped.
This cannot be happening.
“Where are you going?”
“Uhm, the hospital.” I tried to be quick on my feet, force my voice to sound normal. “Kacey has a fever.”
I couldn’t see his face, but Chris’ stance softened a little. “Oh, why didn’t you tell me?”
“I—I think it’s pretty contagious. Didn’t want you to be laid up in bed tomorrow.” My brain frantically searched for a way out as my lungs tightened.
It would be a sheer miracle if this didn’t end in tragedy.
He stepped closer. His voice was soft, inviting. “Miranda, you know I’m not worried about that kind of thing. Let’s move him to my car, and I’ll go with you.”
“That’s okay, he’s sleeping. The hospital’s not far.”
Kacey whined, betraying me.
There wasn’t much light. I hadn’t turned the floods on. But there must’ve been enough from the street lamp down the road, because when Chris approached me, he looked at my hands.
I realized my mistake too late.
His one true love was clutched in my fingers. On full display.
“Whatcha got there?” He nodded toward the credit card.
“Oh, uhm”—I shrugged and stuck it back into my pocket—“Kacey’s Medicaid card.”
And that was all it took to awaken his suspicion.
The light came from behind him, contorting his figure into a dark silhouette. I couldn’t see his face, but I could imagine the slip in his expression as he squinted his eyes and pressed his lips together.
“What’s really going on here?” The icy chill in his tone made my stomach flip and panic sweep through my body. I couldn’t draw a full breath.
“Nothing. He’s just sick?—”
“And you weren’t even going to tell me?” He cursed and his words grew in intensity, rumbling in his throat. “Miranda, you’ve got my boy sitting in a freezing car.”
My boy.
My heart balked at his claim.
The quiver in my words was impossible to hide. “I didn’t want to disturb your sleep.”
“Give me the card.”
“What? No.”
“I’m taking him.”
“I want to do it. They will probably give him some Tylenol, and he’ll be fine.”
“Giveme the card.”
“It’s okay. I will let you know what the doctor says when we get home.”
