* * *
Two hours later,the procedures were complete, and Troy was returned to an inpatient room. “Mac, Tim, Russ, thank you,” Troy groaned.
“Thank Ian. You slept through the consent,” Mac said.
“You have a group of very worried friends. Say goodnight and send them on their way,” Russ said.
Gwen and Ian breached the door together. “Hey.” Gwen kissed his warm cheek.
Chapter 34
Monday, June 4th
Troy awakened foggy from the fever. He groaned feeling the stent Mac placed from his kidney to his bladder to drain the infection that built up around a narrowing in his ureter. Movement in the chair beside him caught his eye. “Gwendolen?”
“Good morning. How are you feeling?” She stood and sat beside him on the bed.
He grasped her hand and lifted it to his lips. “Seeing you makes everything better.”
“Everyone took two-hour shifts last night. Your friends told me a lot of tales out of school,” she laughed.
“Hmm, should I worry?” He ran a hand through her ponytail.
“I heard in your heyday, you were quite a player.” She batted her eyes.
“Hmm, that had to be Zach and Wes,” he coughed, clearing his throat.
“Nope, Ian.” She scrunched her nose.
“I plead no contest. We both had our share of frog hogs.”
Gwen laughed. “He told me about Lucille.”
Troy choked and groaned with laughter. “He saved my life again that night. She wanted me to come home with her and her boa constrictor, Myrtle.” He turned serious. “My beauty, no one has ever captivated me like you. I worry if I will be enough for you.”
Gwen shook her head. “You can be an ass sometimes. You are more than enough for me.” She leaned in and kissed his forehead. “I knew you were too hot, not that you’re not hot. I won’t dismiss my gut again. You scared us.”
The door opened, and Tim Holland walked in. “You’re more awake.”
“The infection hit me so fast. Hell,” Troy said.
“Infections can do that. Our real worry was you were septic. Mac being fast to respond and his ability to get that stent in quickly to drain the infection averted that,” Tim explained.
“Did I screw up the surgery?” Troy chewed his fever-chapped lips.
“Everyone is coming here to meet with you. I think it’s a go. But this is Ethan Miller’s case; he’ll tell you.”
After a knock on the door, Russ Sommerfeld walked in. “I’m first. It means I get a good seat.”
“Not funny, Doc.” Troy’s lips turned up.
Ethan Miller, Eric Seton, Mac Novak, Jayden Humphries, Jackson Parker, Trask and two new faces entered, each rolling their own chair. “Why do I feel like I’m in the principal’s office?”
“You are, but we’re waiting for the principal to arrive,” Ethan said flatly.
“And whom may that be?” Troy asked.
When Eric’s phone buzzed, he looked down. “Two principals are on the way up.”
