Chapter 51
It turns out, even if you only ingest a small amount of poison, there will still be side effects. I started feeling nauseous and dizzy around the time Caleb got shot, but I figured it was due to all the blood and trauma. But then I passed out in Gary’s house, hit the corner of a coffee table, and now have ten stitches in the back of my head. It hurt like the devil. But the doctors gave me pain meds, and fluids to flush the poison, and the combination of the two has me feeling loopy.
Apparently, I told my doctor that I was an FBI agent with only one leg. Maddie even got it on video. Which she’s currently watching in the corner of my hospital room with Connor.
They’ve been here for the last two hours, by my side as I gave my statement to what felt like an endless number of people.
I love them so much, but I can’t wait for them to leave. Not because I want them gone. After the last twenty-four hours, I’m holding them closer than ever. But not right now. They won’t let me go see Caleb, so they are enemy number one…and two. No one will even tell me how he’s doing. Did they have to amputate a rib? Did the bullet crawl to his heart?
Apparently, my thoughts are still a little loopy. But one thing remains clear. He promised we would talk later. And guess what...it’s later!
Something catches my eye in the opposite corner of the room. My parents” painting, the good one, is propped up on a chair, facing me.
It looks different now though. Before I thought that no one saw the crying woman in the middle of the crowds, but from this distance it seems that a few of the people’s gazes have shifted, their focus solely on her. She’s not alone, even though she feels like it. She’s seen and loved by the people closest to her. The only ones that matter.
“Where did that come from?” I ask.
Connor looks where I’m pointing. “Oh, a police officer came and delivered it while you were asleep. He said they just recovered it and the museum wanted you to have it. You never told me that painting was on the other side.”
There’s probably a lot I didn’t tell him, but I’m stuck on the fact that an officer just “brought it by.” An officer? Or a person dressed as an officer? Because why would the museum give me something they rightfully bought? They didn’t. Liam brought it. Maybe he’s not so bad after all. I’ll have to clear things up with the museum, but for now, I’m grateful to have it back.
“Was the officer tall with dark hair and blue eyes?” I ask to confirm my suspicions.
“Yeah,” Maddie says. “Pretty attractive too.”
“You know I’m sitting right here,” Connor says.
“I know.” She presses her lips to his cheek. “I like keeping you close enough to kiss whenever I want.”
Now I’m nauseous again.
“Hey Connor, can you help me?” I say before they start making out.
“Yes!” He jumps out of his chair and is at my side in a moment.
“I can’t sleep without my fuzzy blanket. Can you get it for me?”
“You don’t own a fuzzy blanket. You say they make you too hot to sleep.”
I don”t recall those words ever coming out of my mouth. “Well, I’ve changed my mind about them. I’m a new woman who almost died and fuzzy blankets are how I choose to evolve. “Can you get me one, please?”
I can see him wanting to argue, but he’s too worried about me and he gives in. “Okay. I’ll see if the gift shop is open.”
“If not, there’s a Target down the road,” I yell at his back.
“Maddie?” I call her once Connor is gone.
She’s at my side almost as quickly. “What do you need?”
“Do you think you could bribe the nurses to turn Psych on that TV?”
She snorts. “I’ve got my tablet in the car. I’ll go get it for you.”
“You glorious goddess.”
Maddie chuckles and reaches for my IV stand, wrapping the cords around the basket. “Better take this with you when you search for Caleb,” she says with a wink.
A slow grin grows on my lips. “You’re the woman of my dreams. Don’t let my brother tell you differently.”
“Would you like me to tell you where he is?” She asks, helping me stand.
“Nah, I like a mystery.”
“Just don’t get kidnapped again, please.”
“I make no promises. Danger finds me.”
“Then you better stick with Caleb.”
“Like a fly on rice.” My voice comes out all high and sing-songy. It’s kind of fun to be loopy.
“You mean white on rice.”
“I’ve heard it both ways.”
“No, you haven”t.” She helps me to the door and then sticks her head out, checking both directions. “I’ll distract that nurse for you.”
I wait for her to get the nurse’s attention before sneaking the opposite way out of my room.
I tiptoe toward the hallway to the left, but Maddie shakes her head, nodding to the right.
Sneaking around is so fun. I’m practically a pro.
I pull my IV cart that I named Dave, and squeak down the hallway, reading names on the signs.
What’s Caleb”s last name? Sexy Pants? I don’t see that on any signs.
Seymour? Close enough. I push open the door and am greeted by the bare backside of an eighty-year-old man.
Not Seymour! I do not want to see more!
“I told you that was the wrong one, Dave.” I retreat into the hall and keep reading.
Hastings. Harris.
Harris! That’s his name. Duh.
I creak open the door and there’s Caleb. Asleep in the hospital bed like an angel. His shirt is off and his chest is bandaged across the middle.
He’s beautiful.
I wheel Dave inside but he squeaks at me. “Shut up, Dave. I don’t need your opinion.”
Caleb shifts in the bed. “Amelia?”
“Hey, Agent Die Hard. Were you so desperate for attention you purposely put yourself in harm”s way?”
He smiles, but it seems to take effort, he looks exhausted. “What are you doing here? You’re supposed to be in your room being monitored twenty-four-seven.”
I scrunch my forehead. “I don’t remember the doctor saying anything like that.”
“Those were my recommendations.”
“Ah.” My knees go weak, which isn”t ideal since I”m already lightheaded. “Then it’s a good thing I came to you so you can keep a very close eye on me. Besides, Dave was bored in my room.”
“Who’s Dave?”
I pat my IV guy.
His lips curl up. “Mine’s Janice.”
“We should set them up.” I slide Dave next to Janice. “There, now they won’t be focused on us.”
I perch on the edge of his bed, careful not to jostle him. “How are you feeling?”
Caleb snakes his good arm around my waist and pulls me into his side. “Like the luckiest guy in the world.”
I pull my legs up onto the bed, snuggling into him. “You’re just saying that because you got shot.”
“Maybe. But I’d do it again.”
“Are you mad at me?” I ask, feeling vulnerable all of a sudden.
He squints at me. “For what?”
“I left the hotel without you. But I tried to call you, and I left messages and a note. And I looked for that agent, but apparently, he took a bribe from Gary.”
Caleb growls. “I’ll kill him.” Frown lines deepen in his forehead and I smooth them away with my fingers.
“I felt like I had no choice, but of course I did and I chose to leave without you.” My rambling picks back up. “But I promise I’ll never leave you again.”
He sighs. “You promise you’ll always come back?”
“Of course.”
“Then that’s all I need to know. I trust you.” His eyes close and he’s quiet for so long that I think he’s fallen asleep. Until he speaks up again. “I didn’t get any calls.” His eyes pop open. “Did you call the number I left?”
“Yeah, but I couldn’t remember if the number at the end was a six or a five.” My head hurts trying to recall the memory.
He clenches his jaw. “It was an eight. I have terrible handwriting. I’m so sorry Amelia, I could have gotten to you sooner.”
“You found me just in time.”
“But what if—?”
I press a finger to his lips. I’m tired and so is he. Tonight isn’t the best time to talk. But that’s not all I came for. “Honestly, the only mystery I want to figure out right now is what it feels like to kiss you while I”m loopy.”
His lips twitch beneath my touch. “Let’s find out.”
I press my lips lightly to his, careful not to hurt him.
He doesn’t seem to have the same care because he grabs the back of my neck and deepens the kiss. I follow his lead, gently nipping at his bottom lip. But it’s not enough. It never will be. I press into him, opening more of my heart and soul to him.
Every brush of his lips whispers promises that he’s not going to pull away this time. That he will always protect me. My kiss says infinitely more. How I’m going to annoy him for as long as he lets me, but I’ll always love him.
My heart speeds up with the commitments I silently make, and I kiss him harder trying to convey with my lips words I’m too afraid to say yet.
I cup his jaw, pulling him closer.
“I told you they were fine.” I hear Maddie’s voice in the doorway.
“They’re clearly not fine,” Connor grunts. “They’re going to kill each other.”
I pull away from Caleb. “What a way to go.”
“Dangerous woman.” He nips at my ear.
“Ooh look! Jell-O shots!” I grab the two Jell-O cups off his table and crack them open. “To us! For not dying tonight.”
“To us!” Caleb cheers and I chug the Jell-O. The texture is all wrong and I choke on it, spitting half of it on Caleb as I do. “I’ll order some more!”
Our talk will have to wait until tomorrow when both of our minds are clear and when the trauma isn’t so fresh. And when our lips are done with each other.
We may never talk.