Chance shook his head. “Any other time, prospect and I’d agree, not with a head wound. You fractured your skull. That’s serious.”
“Chance…”
“No,” Chance was firm. Shit, I was stuck in here until tomorrow, unless…
“How sure are you this Rivers doesn’t have friends who’ll try to harm me?” I demanded.
Chance’s eyes narrowed as Bear chuckled.
“Nice try,” Bear said. He clapped slowly.
“I’ll have a prospect stay. And ensure that only a doctor we know attends you. How’s that asshole?” Chance replied, and I sank back into the pillows. That was my final shot at freedom. I closed my eyes as my headache worsened and the light was hurting me. Damn it, I wanted to know how April was.
April
I ignored the looks as I walked through the hospital. No doubt everyone had now heard about what had happened. Gossip would be rampant. Let them look and chat shit; they would anyway. I held my head high and kept my stride steady and determined. Teagan, coming from the staff room, spotted me and hurried over.
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah. Although I guess the rumour mill is working fine.”
“Yup. It’s all over about how Mahoney pushed you. The police arrested her and carted her off.”
“Can’t say I’m sorry. Seriously, Mahoney nearly killed me because Reines asked me out on a date and not her? Grow the fuck up,” I snapped.
“Are you pressing charges?” Teagan asked.
“What do you think? I’m also putting in a complaint against Reines and the hospital. Reines has created a hostile work environment, obviously confirmed by Mahoney’s actions. HR should have dealt with Reines a long time ago,” I replied.
“Nice. About time someone stood up to them. Is that where you’re heading?”
“No. I’m going to see the asshole who saved me from being squished,” I ground out.
Teagan began laughing. “Thanking Stone is gonna hurt, isn’t it?”
“Oh, like the burning pain of thrush,” I retorted, and Tegan laughed.
“Don’t mince your words. Good luck. How about I bring pizza over to your place tonight, and we’ll have a girls’ night in? Neither of us has work tomorrow,” Teagan offered.
“Sure, that would be great. Although I’m uncertain if Clara will want pizza. Come over, and we’ll order takeout,” I replied.
“Clara’s your stepmom?” Teagan asked, trying to clarify our relationship.
“More like my mom, ain’t no one else I think of as a mother. I wish Clara had adopted me; she’s amazing,” I said.
“Okay, see you about what six? Send me your address,” Teagan threw over her shoulder as she hurried away when a doctor called her name.
I marched on, ignoring the curious looks and the gossiping, and headed towards the ward Stone was in. As I approached the nurse’s desk, several of them spotted me coming and stopped talking.
“Stone Ryan,” I said, and one of the nurses pointed to his room.
A guy was sitting outside. “Who are you?” he demanded.
“April, the one Stone saved.”
“Stone? Harlequin, you mean?”
“Whatever he wants to call himself now. But Stone saved me from being pancaked, so I want to say thanks.”
