Chapter 9
Misty planned to outsmart any claustrophobia they warned her about by closing her eyes before she entered the MRI tunnel and not opening them until she was out. As far as her body was concerned, she could’ve been lounging on a sandy beach. Despite the circumstances, she’d try to meditate and calm herself down.
Then the noise started. They’d given her headphones, but she didn’t feel like listening to music.Ping, ping, ping. Pong, pong, pong. Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom…
Random thoughts drifted through her mind. Gabe, sitting in the waiting room. She pushed the thought away and went back to her happy place. She wondered how Parker was doing. She pictured him safe, maybe playing cards with his buddies. Gabe in bed with her, rolling her over. Kissing her.
Ping, ping, ping. Pong, pong, pong, Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom…
Damn. As often as she tried to push thoughts of Gabe away, her mind returned to him. She set that thought aside again and pictured herself in a dance class. In her mind, she could execute every turn and even the acrobatic moves perfectly.
Ping, ping, ping. Pong, pong, pong. Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom.
Dear God, I hope I don’t wind up in a wheelchair.
And on it went until at last the techno-torture was over. When the white-jacketed guy reentered the room, she sat up and asked, “What did you see?”
“I don’t interpret the results. That’s up to the doctor.”
She studied him for any sign of discomfort. Apparently, he was used to the question, because he didn’t seem to have much of a reaction. She wanted to press him for some kind of hint, but chances were he’d just practice avoidance again. Men were good at avoidance. She rolled her eyes.
As she changed out of the hospital gown and back into her jeans and sweater, she wondered if Gabe was really waiting all this time.Of course he is. He promised Parker he’d look after me.
But would he be there if he hadn’t?
She sighed and pushed open the door to the waiting room. Yup. There he was, reading a magazine.
She wandered over to him. “Anything good in there?”
He flipped the magazine over and said, “Yeah. Some new cars coming out this year.”
He had been readingConsumer Reports. Fascinating. “Are you thinking of getting a car?”
He shrugged. “Depends.”
She knew she was supposed to ask “On what?” but instead, she just waited to see if he’d elaborate on his own.
He didn’t. Instead, he rose and dropped the magazine on the table. “Ready to go?”
“More than ready.”
He dug the car keys out of his pocket. “Where to?”
“Home, I guess.”
“How about Starbucks?”
“Really? You’re going to take me out for ice cream because I was such a good girl at the doctor’s?”
He looked puzzled. “Starbucks doesn’t have ice cream.”
“I know. I meant…” She sighed. “Never mind. Coffee sounds good.”
On the way there, he turned toward her and asked, “How did it go?”
He seemed more comfortable driving—and talking—than he had before. That helped her relax a bit, but she was still aware that something had changed. “It was okay. About what I expected.”
“Did they give you any results?”
