Chapter 24 #2
I stop her with a shake of my head. “Go to class. I’m fine. I think I’m just going to go to sleep, anyway.”
She hesitates. “Are you sure?”
“Yeah, we’ll talk later.” I force a smile that actually aches.
She frowns. Then, with a quiet sigh, she gets up and leaves the dorm.
I sink back into the chair and stare up at the ceiling, my brain straining to grasp what happened to me yesterday. One minute, I’d been hurrying to get to Noah, and the next, I was jumped. Then I blacked out and woke up in the woods.
Not being able to recall anything that happened between the blackout and when I woke up gives me an icky feeling that makes my stomach churn.
Maybe River is right. Perhaps I should get checked out by a doctor. But I’m not about to let him pay for one. I’ll go to the free northside clinic. I’ll skip class today, which isn’t ideal, but is necessary.
Dragging my butt up, I go into my room and change into a pair of loose jeans and a baggy T-shirt.
I pull my hair into a high ponytail, slip on my sneakers, then grab my wallet.
I’m lucky I didn’t have it on me yesterday, but I don’t have my phone, and I have no clue when I’ll have enough money to purchase a new one.
What the hell am I going to do? Lily is helping me get that job waitressing for the event planner her mom knows, but how am I supposed to stay connected with her if I don’t have a phone?
I want to bang my head on the wall. Maybe later.
Right now, I need to catch the next bus so I can move on from this.
As I’m exiting the room, River is about to knock. He startles, lowering his hand and blinking a few times
“Shit, you scared me.” He shifts his weight. “I was about to knock.”
“Yeah, I got that.” I step out and shut the door, only realizing as it clicks shut that I have no way of getting back inside.
His eyes scroll over me. “Are you going to class?”
“No.” I note he’s changed into a pair of dark jeans, a gray shirt, and thick books. His hair is styled, and the way he stares at me makes my chest annoyingly fluttery. “Are you?”
“I don’t have classes today.” He slips his hands into his pockets. “Look, I know you’re upset with me because I paid Drew off—and I really am trying to understand why you’re upset with me about it—but I’m also worried about you … I know you said you didn’t want to go to a doctor, but—”
“I’m going to one,” I cut him off as I start down the hallway.
He follows me. “Oh … That’s good.” He gives a short pause. “Are you going to the one on campus?”
I slow to a stop, and he does, too.
“There’s one on campus?”
He nods, sweeping his fingers through his hair. “It’s a free clinic.”
“I didn’t know they had one. I guess I can just go to that one. Where is it?”
He chews on his bottom lip. “My family’s private doctor is the best in the city. Are you sure you don’t—”
“Yes, I’m sure,” I answer before he can even finish. “Can you please show me where the clinic is?”
He smashes his lips together for a beat. Then he nods before starting forward again, heading toward main office.
The hallways are relatively empty, but a few people are lingering around, watching River and me.
“I thought everyone would stop staring by now,” I mumble as I hug my arms around myself.
“It’s because we’re dating,” he reminds me of our fake dating agreement.
Speaking of which … “Why did I get targeted by, well, you know?” I say quietly to avoid being overheard. “Did you find anything out from Finn?”
He hesitates then tension fills his body as he scans the hallway. “I did, but let’s talk about it after you get looked at, okay? And in a more private setting.”
He’s right. I know it, but I wish we could talk about it now.
I reluctantly tell him, “Okay.”
He falls silent for a bit, his gaze glued to the floor. “I don’t know if you still want to fake date me, but if so, maybe I should hold your hand since people are staring.” He lifts his gaze to mine.
Right. But the point of fake dating was to protect me from the society, and that clearly didn’t work.
“I know what you’re thinking,” River says under his breath. “But I promise it’s better if we still do it.” He offers me his hand, silently asking me if I trust him.
I don’t trust easily, but he saved me a few times. And while I refuse to be a damsel in distress, I’m so grateful he found me yesterday. So, I take his hand.
A relieved breath eases from his lips as he threads his fingers through mine.
We continue the walk, holding hands and attempting to ignore the amount of attention we’re drawing.
In order to get to the clinic, we have to exit the main building and hike across the grass that stretches past the track and to a building located near the back of the campus, near the trees.
The building is an ancient, brick-like structure that has been nicely renovated.
Above the double-door entrance is a sign that reads, “Royal Academy Clinic.”
River holds the door open for me as we enter. The air smells like lemons, and the waiting area is spacious, with comfortable chairs and tables stacked with books. The receptionist’s desk is in the corner, and the woman behind it is in her thirties and has short blonde hair.
She greets me with a smile. “How can I help you?”
To be honest, I’m not sure I know how to answer. “Um … I need to get a check-up.”
She continues to smile at me warmly, and I’m so grateful for that. She asks me questions and types the answers into her computer. When we’re finished, she tells me to take a seat and the nurse will call me back in a few minutes.
River and I sit down near the corner, and I stretch my legs out, yawning.
“I still feel so tired,” I admit as I recline back in the chair.
“You should go get some rest after you’re finished here.” He rests an arm behind me, the scent of his cologne engulfing my nostrils. “You’ve been through a lot.”
I look at him. “I will after we talk.” I waver. “Actually, I need to run a few errands, too, so after that.”
He frowns. “What errands?”
Like I’m going to tell him that I need to figure out how to find my phone—he’ll just try to buy me a new one.
“Just some stuff. Private stuff,” I stress, hoping he’ll drop it.
I can tell he doesn’t want to, but ultimately keeps his lips sealed.
As we sit in the silence, my eyelids begin to lower as exhaustion tugs at me.
“You can rest your head on my shoulder if you need to,” River whispers in my ear.
I shouldn’t, but I’m too tired to care. So I twist my body and lean into him, resting my head on the curve of his shoulder.
His arm slips lower, and his fingers slip through the strands of my hair soothingly.
“I’m still mad at you for paying off Drew with so much money,” I mumble with my eyes shut. “But thank you.”
His nose brushes my hair—I think he might be smelling it. “You’re welcome, Maddison.”
God, does my heart do crazy things in my chest at the sound of my full name coming off of his pretty lips.
I’m so damn screwed. I know this. Not only is he a royal, but he’s a betrothed royal.
I should lift my head and go back to being mad at him, but I can’t bring myself to.
Dammit, this is going to end poorly, yet I can’t find the energy to care.
Instead, I end up falling asleep with my head resting on his shoulder and the scent of his cologne circling in my dreams.
River wakes me up when the nurse calls me back by smoothing his hand over my cheek gently. When I open my eyes, he’s staring down at me with a trace of concern.
“Hey,” he says softly. “They’re calling you back.”
“Oh.” I straighten and stand up, my gaze traveling to the woman dressed in scrubs, standing in the doorway in the far back. She has an iPad in her hand and offers me a smile.
“Are you Maddison?”
I nod and start to walk toward her when River calls out, “I’ll wait out here for you.”
I twist back around toward him. “You don’t have to.”
“I know, but I want to.” He reclines back in the chair and stretches out his legs, getting comfortable and showing me that he means his words.
I exhale loudly. He’s so stubborn.
And nice.
Too nice.
I don’t even know how to handle that.
Instead, I focus on talking to the nurse as she takes me back into a room and asks me questions. I don’t give her the details of what actually happened, even though I want to. But I worry that the society will find out and come after me again.
So, I lie and say I fell and hit my head. The nurse assesses me skeptically, like she can tell I’m lying. That’s a new one. Usually, I’m much better at lying, but I’m also tired.
She takes my vitals, and I’m relieved when she informs me everything appears to be good on that part. Then she leaves me alone to wait for the doctor to come in. It takes a bit, but the doctor eventually enters. She examines me, asks a series of questions, and then gives me some annoying news.
“You show signs of having a concussion, so you’ll need to take it easy for a handful of days.” She slips off her gloves and tosses them into the trash. “I’ll email you some follow-up instructions, and I’d like to see you again in three to four days.”
Great, my training is going to get screwed up.
“Does that include not running?” I ask, although I’m pretty certain I already know the answer.
She gives me a tolerant look. “Yes, that includes running.” She taps a few keys on the computer screen. “It’s important that you don’t do anything to risk getting another injury, as well.” She glances over the screen. “How did you say you fell?”
“I never said.” I pick at my fingernails. “I was doing exercises on the bleachers.”
She glances at me with wariness in her eyes. “Are you sure that’s what happened?”
What the heck is with the accusatory questions?
“Yes.” That’s all I offer.
I hate this.
I hate being afraid.
Will there ever be a time in my life where I won’t be?