“So I’ll hum a song for you, and you try to guess what it is.”
The look of terror on her face fades. “If you’re trying to distract me, taking off your shirt will do the trick a heck of a lot faster.”
“I’d prefer not to get arrested tonight, thanks. Pretty sure it’s a crime to strip down in an emergency room.”
“I’d let it slide,” the nurse says with a grin. “Just this once.”
Billie heaves out an exaggerated, long-suffering sigh. “Fine. I’ll play your stupid game.”
“Eyes on mine.” I use my first two fingers to direct her line of vision away from the nurse. “All right, song number one.” Clearing my throat, I start to hum. I feel ridiculous, a little embarrassed even, but I do my best to keep my voice steady and strong.
Billie gasps, and my stomach drops. But then she smiles, and I realize she made the sound not because she’s in pain, but because she’s delighted.
“Shut up!” she says.
“You keep saying that.”
“Since when do you know another Taylor Swift song?”
Now I’m really blushing. “Since you introduced me. Her stuff was fun to play on the guitar, so…”
“And ‘I Knew You Were Trouble’ is your favorite because it clearly makes you think of—ouch!”
The nurse smiles. “IV is in.”
Billie’s eyelashes flutter. “Seriously?”
“Yep. All done for now.”
Billie turns her head to stare at me. “Keep humming.”
“Right. On it. Song number two.”
She bursts out laughing after I hum for all of three seconds. “‘Chattahoochee’ by Alan Jackson. I hope you know thatyou’rethe one who’s hotter than a?—”
“Don’t finish that thought. Okay, song number three.”
This one takes her a little longer, but she finally gets it when I hit the chorus. “Nirvana. ‘Come As You Are,’ I think?”
I let out a chuckle. “Since when do you know your nineties grunge?”
“Since you and Colt played it nonstop growing up. You forget his room was right next to mine. I swear I heard Eddie Vedder singing in my sleep.”
“I’m impressed.”And if you weren’t my best friend’s kid sister, I’d be a little turned on by the fact you know your Pearl Jam.
Billie kicks her feet. “I like this game. Your voice is better than I thought.”
“Ha.”
We keep playing as we wait for Billie to be wheeled into surgery. By the time we leave the room, she looks…not relaxed, but not like she’s about to pass out either.
Is it wrong that my chest swells a little knowing I have that kind of power?
Only when the nurses tell me that I have to let her go do I realize I’m still holding Billie’s hand. It’s not cold or clammy anymore, but she does hold my palm in a grip I can only describe as fierce.
A little afraid.
Without thinking, I lift our joined hands and brush my lips over her knuckles. “You’re gonna be just fine, Billie.”
