CHAPTER NINE
Spencer
There was so much pain. Sharp. Dull. Aching. It seemed to exist everywhere at once. My body was one excruciating, throbbing mass. And there was too much light, pressing against my eyelids, leaking between the cracks.
I groaned and opened my eyes, immediately regretting it.
The ceiling was white, the fluorescent lights merciless.
I turned my head, which sent a spike of pain through my skull, and realized I was in a small hospital room.
Something tugged at me when I shifted. I looked down and saw wires stuck to my chest, an IV hooked into my arm, and a monitor beside the bed blinking and beeping in a steady rhythm.
But the most surprising thing of all was the fact that Declan sat beside the bed.
He was asleep. Sitting in a chair that looked way too small for him, slumped to one side with his jacket bunched under his head like a pillow.
His legs were stretched out in front of him, ankles crossed.
He didn’t look comfortable. His jaw was tight even in sleep, and there was a crease between his eyebrows.
I stared at him, trying to remember what the hell had happened.
Why was I in the hospital, and why was Declan here?
My brain was working slowly, like a computer with too many tabs open.
Then, ever so slowly, the memories began to come back.
I remembered being at the Rusty Anchor, talking to Gil.
I remembered walking home, the cool air and the smell of woodsmoke.
The memory of the headlights and the accelerating engine right before impact.
I grunted in pain as my muscles clenched instinctively at the memory of being hit by the car. My ribs gave a vicious throb, and I sucked in a breath, which made it worse. The sound woke Declan. His eyes opened, and for a second he looked disoriented. Then he saw me, and he sat up fast.
“Hey.” His voice was rough from sleep. “You’re awake.”
“Unfortunately,” I croaked, my throat dry.
“That’s not actually funny.” His voice was gruff, and he had circles under his eyes.
“I’m in the hospital.”
“Yes,” he said. “You were hit by a car.”
“I remember.” I held his concerned gaze. “How long have I been here?”
“Since last night.” He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. His eyes moved over my face, assessing. “How do you feel?”
I winced. “Not great.” I licked my dry lips. “I… I thought I was gonna die.”
He reached out and took my hand, his skin warm and his grip reassuring. “But you’re okay.”
I started to shift so I could see him better and gasped as pain flared through my left side. “Shit,” I hissed, holding my ribs.
“You should stay still.”
“Yes,” I said in a tight voice. “I’m figuring that out.”
His thumb moved back and forth over my skin.
“It’s no wonder you’re in pain, Spencer.
You’ve got bruised ribs, maybe even a small fracture, and a mild concussion.
Your hip’s a mess, and you needed stitches in your head.
” He exhaled softly. “I know it doesn’t feel like it right now, but you were damn lucky. ”
“I know,” I mumbled. I did know that. I hadn’t been exaggerating when I said I thought I was going to die last night. When that car sped up, I was sure it was over.
“It’s a miracle you didn’t break any bones.” He shook his head, his eyes glittering. “Other than maybe that one cracked rib.”
I gave a weak smile. “I guess it’s a good thing I always drank my milk as a kid.”
He allowed a tired smile in response.
“What time is it?” I asked.
He glanced at his watch. “Almost 7:30 a.m.”
I frowned. “Did you sleep here all night?”
He dropped his gaze. “I didn’t mean to. I just fell asleep.”
I squinted at him. “Yeah, hospital chairs are so comfortable. Who needs beds?”
His cheeks flushed a little. “Seriously, I didn’t plan on staying. I just wanted to make sure you were okay, and I was going to head home. But I dozed off.”
“Okay.” Despite his words, I knew he was lying. He’d been worried about me, and that made me feel kind of good. I liked the idea he cared. Caring about people was a good trait in a person. I’d have cared if he got hit by a car too.
He let go of my hand, and his expression became more serious. “Do you remember any details about what happened? Maybe about the vehicle?”
“I definitely didn’t get a license plate, if that’s what you’re asking.” I let out a careful breath.
“Well, what do you remember? Anything?”
“I just remember I was walking home from the Rusty Anchor, and I heard a car behind me coming up the hill. I didn’t think much of it at first. But they had their high beams on, which was mildly annoying.
” I paused when my head throbbed painfully, then continued.
“When I realized the vehicle was coming up on the shoulder, where I was, I… I tried to jump out of the way, but I was too slow.”
His mouth thinned, and his eyes were dark with anger. “Did you hear the sound of brakes?”
“No,” I said bluntly. “Not once. But I heard the car accelerating.”
“Jesus,” he rumbled.
“After they hit me, they just kept going,” I said gruffly. “They didn’t even slow down.”
He was quiet for a moment. “It’s possible it was a drunk driver. They wouldn’t want to stop.”
“Could have been,” I agreed. “Just because it felt personal doesn’t mean it was.”
Declan’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t respond to that. “We’ll investigate it, of course. Hendricks is handling the scene. We’ll see if there’s any physical evidence on the road, tire marks, debris, broken headlight glass, anything.”
“Okay.” I closed my eyes. “I’m sorry. I can’t keep my eyes open. I’m so tired.”
“Rest.” Declan touched my hand. “I have to go to work anyway.” He sounded guilty that he had to leave.
I forced my eyes open. “Thanks for coming by.” I managed a weak smile. “I’m flattered.”
He narrowed his eyes. “Of course I came.”
“Not every patient gets a visit from the Chief of Police,” I mumbled as sleep began to take over. “I feel pretty special.”
“You are special, Spencer.” His voice was husky. “And I’m going to do my best to find whoever hit you.”
“Aww, thanks, Declan,” I slurred, and fell asleep.
I slept most of the day. Margot called, sounding unnervingly concerned for me. She even told me not to worry about work and to just focus on getting better. I wasn’t used to that sort of kindness from her. It was like getting a Valentine from the guy who usually stole your lunch money.
The concussion made my head feel like it was wrapped in cotton, and my ribs ached constantly, a deep, grinding pain that got worse when I breathed. That was inconvenient, since I had to do that fairly often.
The doctor came by that afternoon. She reviewed my chart and said the X-ray showed a probable minor fracture along with the contusion.
She also told me they’d be discharging me in a few hours.
There wasn’t much they could do for ribs except manage the pain and let them heal.
She said it would be a good idea to have a friend check on me now and then to make sure I was doing okay.
I had no idea who to call to drive me home.
I didn’t have many friends in Coral Cove.
I knew a lot of people, but not in a can you do me a huge favor kind of way.
I thought about asking Margot, but it didn’t feel right.
That left Declan. I went back and forth about whether it was asking too much of him.
I didn’t want to overstep with Declan. We didn’t know each other that well, if you weren’t counting biblically.
Was it too much to ask of him considering we’d only slept together once?
Of course, Declan had come to the hospital the night of the accident of his own free will.
That showed he cared. And Declan made me feel safe, which for some reason I needed right now.
After being hit by that car, I’d struggled with feelings of vulnerability.
Nothing like lying helpless in a ditch, bleeding to make you come face to face with your mortality.
So, I pushed aside my insecurities and texted Declan.
The doctor said I’m being released at 4:00 p.m. today. I need a ride home. I hate asking, but I don’t know who else to ask.
He responded in under a minute: I’ll be there at 3:59 p.m.
* * *
At 4:00 p.m. on the dot, I was released from the hospital and forced to sit in a wheelchair.
I felt ridiculous, but the hospital had insisted leaving in a wheelchair was the rule.
It didn’t matter that I could hobble fairly well, rules were rules.
So a nurse wheeled me out to where Declan was standing by his SUV with the passenger door open.
He looked handsome in a dark suit and red tie, and to be honest, I felt a bit breathless seeing him.
Or maybe that was just my fractured rib making it difficult to breathe.
I stood unsteadily, and he slipped his arm through mine. His clean, masculine scent and the heat of his body made me feel comforted.
“Thanks for doing this,” I said as I climbed clumsily into the car.
“Of course.” He put his hands on my ass and half lifted me into the car. It made the job easier, but it was also embarrassing when the nurse giggled behind us.
“Sorry,” I said, gingerly tugging the seatbelt around me. “If I’d had anyone else to call…”
He leaned in and said softly, “I’m happy to help, Spencer.”
I laughed nervously but said nothing.
The ride up Tideline Road was strange. The last time I’d been on this road, I was walking and someone had almost killed me with their car.
Now I was in Declan’s SUV, watching the same stretch of shoulder where I’d been hit.
I could see the drainage ditch. I could see the spot where the gravel was chewed up. I looked away.
Apparently, the accident was also on his mind, because he said, “Unfortunately, we haven’t been able to locate the vehicle or the driver who hit you. Without witnesses or physical evidence, it’s almost impossible to track them down. We’ll keep investigating, but …”
“Figures,” I mumbled.