“She is not ours,” I tell him.
He snarls, clearly unhappy.
Good thing he isn’t in charge.
29
Carla
The wheelchair is the most humiliating part of this whole thing.
Why won’t the nurse let me walk?
Okay, I know why, but still.
There are things you pick your battles over, and Nurse Kayla is not one of them. She’s sweet but sticks to the rules.
She wheels me past the nurse’s station and turns left, and we head down the main corridor in the direction of the west wing. This part of the hospital is quieter for some reason.
“His room is just up this hall,” Kayla tells me. “It’s the second-last door on the right.”
“Great. I’ll be fine from here. Thanks so much.”
She wheels me another three feet and then stops. “Are you sure? I’m happy to take you all the way.”
“Really,” I say. “I’m good.” I smile up at her. It’s a little stiff because I’m a little nervous. “I’ll find my own way back. It isn’t that far.”
She gives me an uncertain nod. “All right. You know where to find me. Any of the staff would be willing to assist if you need help.”
“Thanks, Kayla.”
She leaves.
I put my hands in my lap and look down the hall.
I can do this. I showered, washed my hair, and put on actual clothes, and I am here. All I need to do is wheel myself down and say my bit.
It is that simple.
I sigh because I can’t force myself to do it.
I’m being absurd. We are adults. He just spent a couple of days keeping me alive in extremely hostile conditions. We had sex.
And that, right there, is the problem.
We had sex. He was inside me.
I feel hot all over just thinking about it. I force myself to take a few deep breaths.
“Are you okay?”
I jump. It’s a different nurse. She’s looking at me from the supply room doorway with her head cocked to the side. Her eyes are a little narrowed and focused on me.
“Yes, I’m good. I know where I’m going.”
“Would you like help getting there?”
“No,” I say. “Thank you. I’m on my way.” I give her the thumbs up, which is a touch overkill, but who cares?
