Chapter Five
My foot caught on the parking curb, and suddenly I was falling. My elbow smacked the pavement first, followed by the back of my head with a jarring thud that made my vision darken.
As the lights from the motel parking lot came back into fuzzy view, I tried to sit up.
“Whoa!” Jeremy’s hands were on me instantly, steadying my shoulders. “Molly? Hey—don’t move. Are you okay?”
I blinked, trying to focus on his face hovering over mine. For a second, the world tilted sideways. “I...uh, I think so?”
“You think so?” His brow furrowed and he crouched lower, his voice soft but firm. “How many fingers am I holding up?”
“Two.”
“Close—it’s three. Definitely not taking chances. Come on.” He slid an arm around my back and gently helped me to my feet, his touch steadying me even as my knees wobbled.
“You know,” I muttered, wincing as I rubbed the back of my head. “For a fake boyfriend, you’re awfully good at the real thing.”
Jeremy’s lips twitched like he was debating whether to crack a joke or let the moment sit. His voice dropped a notch when he finally replied, “Maybe I’m just full of surprises.” He smiled, but there was genuine concern in his eyes. “And you’re way too good at keeping things interesting. Let’s get you to the hospital.”
“No. No. I’m okay.”
“You blacked out.”
“I closed my eyes.” For an undisclosed amount of time. “The hospital is the last place I need to go. I simply smacked my head.” I curled into a crunch position, feeling a strong stabbing headache in the back of my head, but nothing a little Advil couldn’t take care of. As I braced myself, my left arm rang out in pain. “On second thought, my elbow hurts, and if it’s…” I didn’t even want to think of the possibilities. Any damage would prevent me from playing at the fundraiser.
Reaching around my waist, he lifted me to my feet. I stumbled and braced myself against my car.
He pried the keys out of my hand. “You’re not driving. You can barely stand.”
He was right. My head was spinning. My stomach felt like it was too.
“Can you drive a stick?”
“It’s been a few years, but it can’t be that hard to remember.” Holding me upright, he helped me over to the passenger door.
Once securely buckled in, he drove me to the hospital like a textbook driver. I checked the highway for RCMP, and there wasn’t a car in sight to explain his cautious driving. However, I was grateful all the same to arrive at the ER since my elbow was throbbing as much as my head.
Parking, he raced around the car to my side and opened it, extending a hand. With my right hand, I pulled myself to a stand and he quickly wrapped his arm around my right side, avoiding my left shoulder.
Jeremy stiffened slightly as my forehead met his chest, then exhaled like he’d been holding his breath. His hand rested lightly on my back, offering steady reassurance without pressing too much like he was trying not to overwhelm me.
After a deep breath, he said, “Let’s get you healed.” With a gentle tug, he led me inside.
The triage nurse took my information and escorted me toward an open bed.
“I’ll…” Jeremy swallowed and slowly released his air as he looked around uncomfortably. “I’ll wait for you.” He pointed to the plastic chairs like they were his escape route. Still, he stayed within easy reach, shifting on his feet like he wanted to be anywhere else—but also couldn’t quite leave me. “There.”
I stared at Jeremy, with his brows deeply knit together. He didn’t look like he wanted to be here anymore than I did.
“I’m okay if you want to sit with me and keep me company.” When his face scrunched up, I backpedalled. “But only if you’re comfortable with it.”
He blinked slowly and spoke just as calmly. “You sure?”
“I’m serious. Crossword clues make great conversation,” I said, trying for a joke. Hospitals scared me—the overwhelming feeling of hurt and pain was too much to feel—and doctors were no better. Every time as a child when I was forced to visit one, it was uncomfortable, rudely invasive, and frightening to a level I never remembered what was asked.
Being alone was just too much to handle at the moment.
“Fine.” He rubbed the back of his neck, and then met my eyes. “But if you scream, I get to pretend I don’t know you.”
“But what if I’m holding your strong hand when they do whatever it is they’ll need to do?”
We both looked down at his hands. They did look strong, slightly rough, and weathered, but still powerful. Just what I needed right now.
“I’ll still pretend,” he said with a wink.
He remained two steps behind me to the second curtained-off bed, and after I explained to the nurse what had happened, I handed him my coat.
She took notes, and said she’d be back with the doctor. As Jeremy was draping my jacket over the empty chair, the curtain parted enough for me to see the nurse talking to the doctor who had his back to me. Until he read the chart, turned around, and his face lit up with a Cheshire grin.
Well, grind my beans and call me bitter – Dr. Derek Davidson was the on-call doctor.