Chapter 38
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
Leonard
“You’re not family.”
The words echo in my head. Over and over, the nurse’s words punch me in the gut. No one will tell me anything about Shelby.
Sitting forward in the uncomfortable white plastic seat, I scrub the back of my neck.
I’ll be changing that real fucking soon.
But telling them that she’s my fiancé hadn’t been enough, not when she’s still unconscious, especially after I tried to look at her chart.
She’s okay, I try to convince myself.
I’m looking right at her. Lying in the hospital bed, Shelby looks pale and fragile. The monitor to her left shows a steady heart rate. She’s been assessed and treated.
I need patience, the one thing that I’m out of.
Pulling out my phone, I text Lara Cromwell, wanting another picture of Riley. The reply comes quickly. Face covered in chocolate ice cream, my sweet girl smiles at me through the lens. The picture blurs.
Sniffling, I wipe my nose.
She’s okay, I know she is. I’d insisted on more scans and X-rays than necessary, but when all came back clear, the hospital was happy to discharge her.
I owe Michael and Kaleb. They’d kept Michael’s word and stayed with Shelby until they were kicked out of the room, and even then, they’d stayed in the viewing room with some interns.
They’d never left her.
Movement on the bed has me shooting to my feet.
Shelby!
Grabbing her hand with my left, I press the call button with my right.
“Hi, baby. You’re okay, you’re okay.” I whisper, stroking her face with the back of my hand.
Shelby’s mouth opens and closes silently; wide, panicked eyes flit about as if she’s searching.
“She’s okay, Riley’s safe. You saved her.” I croak, blinking back tears. “You saved her,” I repeat, kissing her forehead.