A Winter's Date (8 page)

“The doctor needs to okay that decision.”

“Well, get him in here,” I reply with a bit too much irritation.

She leaves the room, and I turn back to Heather, smiling at her. “Keep fighting it; listen to my voice. Follow my voice, Heather. I’ll do anything you want. I’ll eat crinkle fries . . . you can have all of my bacon for the rest of my life. Just wake up for me.”

I watch her closely, but there’s no movement. I’m begging, willing her to move. “Come on, beautiful, tell me you love me. I need to hear it.” A few minutes later the door opens, and the doctor walks in, looking concerned.

“Well, let’s see what she’s doing here,” he says with authority as he walks over to Heather. He takes a small light and lifts her eyelids. Looking for what, I don’t know, but he grins.

“It seems as if Miss Lane doesn’t want to be asleep anymore.”

He turns to the nurse, and gives her instructions regarding her IV and then turns to me. “For whatever reason, her body is fighting off this medication. She’s trying to wake on her own.”

I can’t help my smile, and my chest fucking swells. Damn right she wants up.

The nurse nods as she reaches up to the IV bag, turning a switch to stop the drip. She quickly replaces the current bag with another. I’m guessing it contains fluids to keep Heather hydrated, but I can’t be certain.

“Is she going to wake up soon?” I ask the doctor as he’s writing more shit down.

“I’d give her a few hours. The sedative usually has to wear off first. I’d like to do a CAT scan on her when she’s awake and functioning. Would you prefer to give her the news about her miscarriage, or would you like for me to do it?”

I look over at Heather, frowning. “No . . . I’ll do it.”

He nods and walks toward the door. “I’ll make my rounds and be back shortly to check up on her.”

He leaves the room and I grab my phone. I send both Dillen and Coen a text, as well as Dani, giving them an update on her progress:

Hey. Heather’s been fighting the sedative and they just took her off of it. The doctor said it’ll take her a few hours to come around, but hopefully she’ll be awake once you guys are back from the airport.

I get a text back almost immediately after I’ve sent it, as if Dillen is waiting for updates with her phone in hand.

My little shit! She’s going to be okay, right? Oh please tell her I love her if she wakes up shortly. Dani is due to land in forty minutes, and I think we’ll be back at the hospital in an hour or two.

I quickly type out a reply:

Okay. I’ll keep you posted.

It’s been over a fucking hour. My forehead is resting on the edge of her bed while I stare down at my feet. Damn, I thought she was coming around sooner. I sigh and rub my thumb over the top of her hand. The constant beeping in the background is getting annoying, and I count them sometimes: it’s usually around eighty-eight beats per minute. Without warning, in the middle of my counting, the beeping in the background accelerates.

I lift my head and look at the machine with tired eyes.
What in the hell?
It’s beeping frantically. I sit up straight and look over at Heather. My heart slams against my chest when I see her eyes are open. I leap out of my chair, sending it toppling over.

“Heather? Baby?”

I push the call button again and cup her face. Her eyes are darting from side to side in a frantic attempt to see around the room. “Baby, calm down for me. You’re safe.”

She’s flexing her fingers then brings them up to the tube in her mouth in an attempt to pull at it. “Hey, I’m here. Calm down.”

I take her hand gently and kiss it as her eyes well up. She’s panicking. I can see her chest heave as her heart slams again and again.

Her gorgeous eyes find mine, and I smile down at her. “I’m here. I love you so fucking much.” I move my hand to cup the side of her bruised cheek and kiss her temple as tears stream down her face.

“Don’t cry, baby, it’s okay.”

I reach for her hands and hold them in mine so she doesn’t try to pull on the tube. Her rapid beats are coming quicker, and at the rate she’s going, she’ll pass out. “Heather, please calm down.”

I try using a commanding voice. “Squeeze my hand if you can hear me.”

She does, and her eyes don’t leave mine. The doctor and nurse finally walk in.
About fucking time.

I don’t let go of her hand, but I move out of the doctor’s way. They instruct her to try and cough as they take the tube out of her throat. She coughs, and it looks painful as hell to watch. Fuck, she’s been through so much.

I just want to hold her, and make her feel safe again. Shit, does she even know what happened? The nurse brings over a cup of chipped ice, and then slowly moves the bed upright.

The doctor starts talking to Heather, discussing her injuries. He stops and stares at me when he’s about to mention the miscarriage

“Why don’t I give you two a few minutes before I take her back for the CAT scan . . .” He trails off as he excuses himself and the nurse.

Heather’s eyes shoot up to mine. My eyes are stinging with an unnamed emotion as I look down at my broken ballerina.

I smile softly at her and pull my chair close to the bed. I cup her face as I kiss her lips. “Hello, my sleeping beauty. Did you have a good nap?” I take an ice chip and bring it to her lips.

She takes a deep breath in and opens her mouth, trying to talk, but her throat is too dry, “Shh, baby, listen to me . . .” She takes the ice chip into her mouth and sucks on it. “I’m going to ask you some questions of my own, okay? Don’t talk, though. Just nod or shake your head.”

She nods her head, but there’s confusion in her eyes.

I lean forward and kiss her lips softly. “Do you remember what happened?”

She nods her head slowly and opens her mouth to speak, but I stop her. “Shh . . .”

“Okay,” she replies, and it kills me. Her voice is odd and raspy, unlike her own.

“Baby, please don’t speak. As much as I want to hear your voice, I don’t want you to strain your body. About the fall . . . do you know why you fell?” I ask as I lace our fingers together.

She shakes her head, and her eyes pool with tears again.

I sigh and move my hand to her flat stomach. “It was Alexis.”

She breaks my heart when the tears steadily fall down her cheeks. I wipe them away with my thumb, grazing her soft skin.

“I’m so sorry. You looked so beautiful on stage. Fuck, I haven’t been able to breathe without you. The doctor wants to take you for a CAT scan soon. Dani, Dillen, Coen, and possibly Brannon are on their way as we speak.”

She nods and tries to speak through her tears. “What happened?”

“The medics brought you back here. You broke . . . fuck, what was it called? You broke the bones in the middle of your foot. I think he called it a Lisfranc injury. They performed surgery on you, and you’re going to be okay, but it’s going to be a while before you can dance again. We’ll need to ask the doctor for specifics on that injury. You had brain swelling and . . . and . . . you’ve been sedated for two days now.”

Why the hell can I not say it? I need to tell her.

Her eyes overflow with tears as her chest heaves. Fuck, this is going to kill me. I want to take away all of her pain and grief, but right now . . . I’m about to make it worse.

“I know, and I’m so sorry. I’m here, though.”

Her trembling hands squeeze mine weakly, and I look down, dreading what I have to do next. “I need you to stay calm, okay?”

She nods and closes her eyes. I hand her the cup of ice chips and kiss her wet cheeks when the door opens, and everyone who loves my girl quickly fills the room.

“Oh Heather!” Dani rushes briskly to her sister’s side.

Fuck. I guess I’ll have to wait to tell her. I know this is going to bite me in the ass somehow.

I let go of Heather’s hand and move away from the bed, giving everyone a chance to get close to her. I’m in protector mode when I speak, addressing everyone.

“Guys, they just took her breathing tube out about a half-hour ago. She’s having a hard time speaking, so let’s give her voice a little break.”

I feel their eyes all shoot up at me at once; I know they are all extremely protective of her too. I couldn’t give a fuck if they’re pissed at me right now. All I’m concerned about is her. I look over at Coen, and he is wearing a smirk . . . he knows exactly what mode I’m currently in.

The doctors come in and announce that they need to get Heather rolled downstairs for her scan and that only her next of kin may accompany her. I step forward at the same time Dani does.

Fuck.

I ask the doctor if I can speak to him privately. Everyone in the room stares us down as we walk out of the room and shut the door. I lower my voice. “I haven’t had a chance to tell her about the miscarriage yet. They came right as I was about to tell her.”

He assures me that he won’t mention anything while she is having her scan done, but it’s imperative that I tell her as soon as possible. We both re-enter the room, and I step back to lean against the wall. I cross my arms over my chest as I watch them unlock the wheels on her bed. She hasn’t been out of my sight in days, and this makes me anxious. I’ve even been taking a piss with the door open, so I can see her. She would have been mad as hell if she had woken up during those times.

I watch as they wheel her out, and Dani hurriedly follows them out of the room. Coen is at my side before I can move. “Hey man, how are you holding up?”

“I’m better now that she’s awake.”

“No shit, man, I bet.” His hand meets my shoulder. “She sure as shit won’t be able to beat this year’s gift, will she? Happy birthday, man. Now go shave because you look like shit.”

I bark out a lighthearted laugh before smirking at the thought. “Thanks. No, she won’t.”

I’m grateful for Coen’s sense of humor, which he brings with him into trying situations. He knows when to pull out his smartass remarks when I could use them the most.

Dillen helps me gather my shit together before I say goodbye to them and make my way back to the apartment to shower and change.

On my way back to the hospital after the quickest shower of my life, I stop at a Starbucks to pick up a cool drink for Heather, which I know will feel good on her raw throat. I ask the barista for a Strawberries and Crème frappuccino, knowing the pink hue will lift Heather’s spirits. It took about an hour and a half from the time I left the hospital to when I walk back into Heather’s room.

Heather sits up straight and calls out, “Noah . . .” Her voice is strong, not as strong as it should be, but I can recognize my girl. I feel like a thousand pounds have been lifted when I see her. I choke back tears when I can feel the electricity buzzing between us again; our love has developed from lust and want, to passion and an intense desire to be together. I stride to her bedside and reach for her hand.

“Hi, beautiful.” I press my lips to hers without hesitation.

“I missed you,” she says against my lips.

I chuckle lightly. “Now you know how I’ve felt.”

“Oh, I know how you feel . . .” Her eyes sparkle with mischief and I know she’s talking about my dick.

“Oh yeah?” I place my lips against her neck and speak softly, ensuring only she can hear me. “Damn, two days of sleep and you’re ready to go?”

“Little shit?” Dillen interrupts. “That’s the first time he’s left your side since you fell. I’ve been bringing him meals and clean clothes to change into.”

“I’m sorry it took me so long to get back here. I made a pit stop on the way.”

“It’s okay. Can I please be alone with Noah?” she asks in a hushed tone.

She eyes the pink drink in my hand and smiles softly. “Is that for me?”

I know she’s talking about the Starbucks drink in my hand, so I wink at her and joke, “Nope. It’s for me.”

I hand her the cool pink drink and take a seat beside her bed.

“Thank you.”

God, she’s still so incredibly enthusiastic.

“I guess we’ll see you guys later,” I say in an attempt to dismiss them.

Dani frowns and gets up. “You want me to leave my sister when I just flew around the world to be by her side?”

Brannon stands up next to her and squeezes her shoulder. “Let them be, babe. She needs him just like you need me.”