43
ST PATRICK’S HOSPITAL, MANHATTAN
‘What the hell happened?’ Tony burst through the door of the room where Oliver was still sat on the bed.
‘Can you take me home?’
‘That ain’t a proper answer and don’t we need to sign you out or something?’
‘I’ve ended things with Hayley.’
If he said it out loud then it would become real and he could move on. He couldn’t get the look on her face out of his damn mind. He’d made her believe she was no better than one of his Wish Women. Just thinking about the title she’d made up hit him where it hurt.
‘You have got to be kidding me? Why? What happened?’ Tony exclaimed, running his hand through his hair.
‘Thishappened!’ He raised his hands to indicate his medical surroundings. Dr Khan had been in during the time it had taken Tony to get here and offered him more advice, including the one thing he was never going to consider. Why the word ‘risk’ scared him so much more in health than in business, he didn’t know.
‘She stayed the night… and this morning, you did your whole collapsing thing and… what? She freaked out?’ Tony pieced together.
He shook his head. ‘It was more likeIdid.’
Tony put his hands on his hips, sucking in his chest. Oliver could feel the displeasure from his friend. He didn’t want a dressing-down here. He was perfectly capable of doing that himself. He just wanted to get home and focus on something else.
‘I got it,’ Tony said nodding. ‘You met someone you actually care about. Someone you wanted to give more than one night to.’
Oliver took a stride towards the door of the hospital room. ‘Really, Tony, I don’t need to dissect it, I just need you to take me home.’
‘Now she’s seen you at your weakest. And she still stuck by you…’ Tony continued. ‘You’re scared, if you make this more than one date, you’re going to have to tell her the rest of it.’
Oliver turned on him then. ‘And so what? She’s better off without me. Everyone is!’
The volume of his voice shocked even him. He watched Tony close his mouth as if he had thought better of saying anything else. He didn’t want to say anything else either.
‘Please, Tony, no lectures. Just take me home,’ he begged.
With that said, his cell phone began to ring from the pocket of his jeans. He slid it out looking at the display.Daniel Pearson.
‘Oliver Drummond.’
‘Mr Drummond, it’s Daniel Pearson.’
‘You’ve got something for me?’ He tightened his core.
‘I’ve just spent a very interesting twelve hours shadowing Andrew Regis.’
‘Go on.’
‘Let’s just say, he didn’t spend the night alone and I think you’ll be very interested in who he shared his time with.’
‘Let’s meet,’ Oliver said, biting his bottom lip as he looked at his friend.
‘Just name the time and place.’
‘Give me an hour and I’ll meet you at Carly’s Coffee House. D’you know it?’
‘Yeah I know it.’
‘Good.’
