“Ashley Simon?”
“Want me to come?” I ask as the nurse who called for Ashley comes over and grabs the handles of the wheelchair.
She turns with a glare. “I might love you like a sis, but no one is going to hold my hand while I pee.” Then she tips her head back to the nurse. “And you can quit pushing that. I can walk on my own.” She stands with a flourish and opens the door the nurse came out of.
The nurse just snickers before moving the wheelchair to the front desk. Someone is bound to need it at some point, and if it’s still here at the end of the appointment, I’ll bring it back upstairs.
I go back to reading the magazine, knowing it’s only a vitals check right now and she’ll be back out here soon to wait till the doctor actually has a place for her. Plus, it’ll take Ashley a while to submit her typical deposit. She always says peeing in a cup every time she comes is the worst part. She can never pee on command, and she takes forever to get comfortable enough to just go when she knows others are probably waiting.
“If your friend doesn’t take off the tags, she can always return the outfit after she gets whatever use out of it.”
I look up at Ruby with wider-than-normal eyes, surprised she’s talking to me, willingly and everything.
I don’t speak, but she must think I’m confused by her words or something because she continues with a shoulderlift. “I know the owner. She’s pretty lenient on returns as long as the items weren’t worn and the tags are still on. If it’s been worn, though, even with the tag, she doesn’t do returns, but she gives a discount on the next purchase and lets you keep it.”
I nod because it seems like the thing to do. Who would want to buy used lingerie anyway?
“Um, thanks. I’ll let her know.”
Ruby just raises her eyebrows and goes back to reading whatever’s on her phone. Something far more interesting than me. Which is fine because I really don’t know what to say to the woman. But Karter says they’re starting new, and maybe that means she’s willing to accept me in some capacity. At the very least, not yell at me like I’m some sort of prostitute, like she’s alluded to in the past. We might not be friends, not even acquaintances, but at least we can hold a semi-conversation without any issues.
The sound of the door opening wide and smacking against the wall makes me jump before I look that way.
“Barry, hey. I didn’t think you’d make it.” I stand with a kind smile, happy to see he’s here. Feels like this is a good sign that things aren’t as bad as Ashley thought they were between them.
“Where is she?” He looks around, movements erratic in a way that has me looking at Ruby to check if she’s seeing how off he seems, even though she doesn’t know him.
“Um, getting her vitals checked. She should be back in a minute.”
“Ashley,” he yells and goes to the door that leads to the patient rooms, opening it and stepping through.
I glance at Ruby, then the prospect, before going after him. I can still hear him shouting her name.
“Barry,” I call after him. “She’s just in the bathroom. She’ll be back in a minute.”
He doesn’t hear me, or chooses not to listen, calling her name and opening closed doors. Patients yell at the intrusion, but he doesn’t notice as he keeps searching for his wife.
I follow, closing doors where I can, apologizing to each person I pass. I see a nurse at the desk on the phone, no doubt calling security. I nod at her, giving her silent encouragement that she’s doing the right thing.
I look back out of habit and see that Ruby has followed in my wake. I give her a grateful smile, and she gives me that same reassuring nod I just gave the other nurse. More numbers seems like the best option right now.
“Ashley!” he bellows once more.
Like the sea parting, she rounds the corner and stops to stare at her husband—and everyone else who seems to hover just out of his reach.
“Yeah? Barry? What are you doing here? Why aren’t you at the station? I thought you were on shift today?”
“Where is he?” he demands.
She shakes her head. “Where is who?”
“The man you’re fucking.”
Her eyes slide to me as her hands come up in front of her to shake off his accusations. “There’s no man. I only love you. I’ve only been with you. You know that.”
He looks at her with narrowed eyes for longer than I can hold my breath. He squints a second before speaking. “You lie.” Then he pulls out a gun from behind his back and aims it at her.
Anyone out of their rooms cries out, but not a single person moves. Half the people here are pregnant, and they’re terrified to harm their child. The other half are trained not to add to the problem.
