Now it was time to go.
Of course (ugh!), I didn’t.
I said, “And you better do what the doctor orders. No gonzo bullshit. Tearing your stitches or whatever. You don’t know better than people with years of education and more years of experience. So stick with the program. No heroics.”
He again didn’t so much as twitch.
Okay, now it was time to go.
I released his hand and headed to the door.
At it, I stopped, though, and turned back to him again, mostly because when it came to that guy, I was a total idiot.
“You’re the love of my life too, asshole,” I whispered.
With that, I went out the door.
I headed right back to the waiting room, and with everyone’s eyes on me, evaluating, curious, concerned, I announced, “He’s good. In and out of sleep. Whoever’s up next can go on in.”
With that, I went right to the bag I’d left in my seat.
And of course, the Angels were suddenly there, crowding me.
All of them.
Raye, Jess, Harlow, Willow, Shanti, Joey and Gemma.
I loved them. They were the best bitches a bitch could ask for.
But…
God.
I had to get out of here.
“You okay?” Raye asked.
“Did he say something?” Jessie asked.
“You don’t look too good,” Harlow noted, worry unhidden in her tone.
“Gotta bounce,” I stated, shouldering the strap on my bag and pushing through them.
“You gotta bounce?” Shanti queried, her words sharp with shock.
Joey followed me. “What happened?”
“Need space,” I told her.
“What’d he say?” Gemma, also following me (they all were), asked quietly.
“Space,” I bit, quickening my step.
I felt some of them do the same, but heard Raye advise, “Leave her.”
“But—” Willow began.
“Trust me. Leave her,” Raye said.
