“I have the insurance card for Michelle DeAngelo. Her nurse was waiting for it I think?”
“Probably not the nurse, more likely patient services. I’ll call down there.”
“Thanks. Do you know how soon she can be discharged?”
“I’ll have her nurse stop by the room. She’d know.”
“Okay.”
Michelle…
“What’s going on? Flame’s worried and you look like you’re about to toss your cookies.”
“Nothing. I just want to get out of here.”
“Bullshit. You might be able to get away with that crap with Flame but I’m not buying it.”
Damn. Is everyone going to bug the shit out of me today? Can’t they leave it alone? If it was Bob I’m sure he’s done now. Right? No, I’m not stupid, but what would be the point to continue now Flame’s back? If it was him at all?
“I’ll tell you the same thing I told him. There’s a teacher at school who creeped me out at the park on Saturday. But it was the first time I’ve ever noticed him. I don’t have any enemies either, except maybe the principle. But she just fired me so why would she bother with anything else?”
“True.”
“You know I haven’t dated anyone in forever even before Flame. So I got nothing.” The look on her face showed she didn’t believe me either, but I wasn’t about to tell them things I couldn’t prove. Yeah I’d had the feeling I was being followed or watched or whatever, but since I never saw anyone, how could I prove it. I’d only sound paranoid.
“Whatever. But if you’re holding back I’ll figure it out.”
“Yeah, yeah. I know. Now please give me the bag, I want to get dressed.”
Laughing, she put the bag on the bed and I pulled out what I needed. Flame and Chaos came back as I was getting off the bed.
“Let me help you, baby.”
“Thanks. But I’m really okay. I think I can handle getting dressed by myself.” A hurt expression crossed his face, so I flashed him a smile hoping to take the edge off my words. I was bitchy, I knew it, but this entire situation was pissing me off. I’d been waiting four months to be with Flame and it’d been one screw up after another since he got back.
Throwing everything back in the bag, I got out of bed with the bag and as I passed Flame I hugged him. I wanted things to be back to how they were—fun, freakin’ hot sex, and love too. I was being stupid. I loved him, and I needed to get over being afraid and tell him.
In the bathroom and alone, I leaned against the door and took a deep breath. Scared much? Yeah I was. Did I want to admit it? Nope. From the time my parents died I learned I had to be strong and not show my emotions. My grandmother taught me well. It was usually a lot easier to hide, but knowing someone got to me scared the crap out of me.
Seeing my reflection in the mirror for the first time since all of this happened, explained why everyone was all over me. Pale, dark circles, and maybe a little green? I’d been drugged, wasn’t that enough of an excuse to look like crap?
A shower would have been nice, but the one in the hotel would be better. Pulling my brush out of the bag I got out the knots and twisted my hair into a bun on top of my head. Splashing cool water on my face helped andbrought some color back, and brushing my teeth got rid of the nasty taste. Now I didn’t look like one of the walking dead.
Yay for Cyn, she’d brought my favorite jeans and an oversized t-shirt. Back in my own clothes helped make things normal. Pasting a smile on my face, I opened the door to three worried faces. “Easy guys, I’m not dying. I wasn’t in there that long.”
Cyn smiled first. “You look better.”
“I feel better too. Thanks for bringing all this stuff.”
“You’re welcome.”
Flame stepped closer and slid his palm over my cheek and smiled. “Hey girl.” Before I could answer he wrapped his arms around me and kissed me. It was different—gentle—like he was afraid he would break me. Well hell I needed more than that. Dropping the bag on the floor, I slid my hands into his hair and held his mouth to mine and slid my tongue between his lips.
“Miss DeAngelo?”
Flame pulled away so fast I lost my balance. He steadied me and actuallyblushed. We needed some alone time and soon.
“Yes, ma’am.”
