“We don’t see people for infusions on the weekend, so I got you an appointment for Monday at 8 a.m. That way, we’ll have plenty of time. Dr. Ash wants to do the next infusion very slowly to prevent a second reaction, so the infusion itself could take four or five hours.”
I nodded, feeling sick at the idea of having to come back. But this was the course I had chosen. I needed this tumor to disappear.
I was in and out of sleep for the next hour. My guys were quiet, occasionally asking me if I needed anything. I knew they were stressed—I could scent it on them—but I didn’t know how to fix it.
Wendy came back a while later, this time with a wheelchair. “Alright, you are cleared to head out, Westin. I’m sorry you had such a hard time today with this, and I hope things go better on Monday.”
“Thank you. And I can walk,” I said softly. I actually wasn’t sure I could walk, but the dizziness was much better and I wanted to leave in the most inconspicuous way possible.
“It’s hospital policy,” Wendy said with a sympathetic smile.
“I can carry you, sweet girl,” Liam said in my ear.
I shook my head. The idea of being carried out of the hospital was so much worse. I didn’t want anyone looking at me.
Liam tightened his arms around me and for a moment, I thought he would refuse to let me go. Then he took a deep breath, kissed my cheek, and helped me move my legs over the side of the bed. “Let Bear help you off the bed.”
Bear held his hands out and I grabbed them, standing slowly. I was a little shaky, but I felt confident I could stand and walk on my own.
“I need to go to the bathroom,” I said.
“Alright, baby.” Bear helped me into the wheelchair and pushed me around the corner to the bathroom. “Do you need me to come in with you?”
“Definitely not,” I said, scrunching my nose.
Bear laughed softly. “I would do it, baby. It wouldn’t be a big deal.”
“I know you would, but let’s keep the romance going for a while longer.”
“Like this would ruin anything,” he said with a snort. “Let me see you stand by yourself.”
He gently pulled me up from the chair, his arms hovering around me as I stood again.
“I’m okay,” I said.
He tilted my chin up and kissed my forehead. “You scared the shit out of me, baby. Don’t do that again.”
“I’ll try.”
He nodded and opened the door, and I slipped into the bathroom. When I was done, I moved to the sink to wash my hands. I glanced up at myself in the mirror and was startled by how terrible I looked. My face was drained of color and my hair hung lankly around my face. I looked like a corpse. I didn’t think of myself as vain, but right now, I hated that my guys had seen me like this. I ran my fingers through my hair, trying to fluff it up. I sighed. I guessed I had more important things to worry about right now.
I exited the bathroom, giving Bear a strained smile before sitting back down in the wheelchair. We moved back the way we came, finding the rest of the guys standing in the hallway.
“You ready to go, love?” Gray asked, leaning down to cup my face.
“Yeah.”
“What do you want for dinner?” Henry asked, squeezing my shoulder as we headed towards the hospital exit. “I thought we could order something. Whatever you want, darling.”
“The steroids will probably make you hungry,” Liam said, grabbing my hand.
I was hungry, but I didn’t know what I wanted except to be in my nest. The hospital’s white halls and bright lights had me on edge, making me feel like I was under a spotlight in the world’s worst play.
“What sounds good, princess?” Gray prompted.
“I don’t know,” I whined, pulling my hand out of Liam’s and burying my face in my hands.
We came to a stop by the front doors. The lobby was dark and empty. We had been here for so many hours.
