Chapter 17 #3
“I’ll put you down when we reach a medical bed and not a second before.”
“But what about your performance?”
“Fuck the performance. It’s not like they don’t have other bands waiting in the wings.” With a silent nod to East, they were off, the band paving the way through the crowd and Bailey and the others following closely on their heels.
A little woozy from the gentle sway of Phoenix’s gait, Addie tucked her head into the groove of his neck and listened to the thundering stampede of his heart. Both the steady beat and his familiar scent comforted her like a warm blanket and she sank deeper into his embrace.
Phoenix exchanged a few words with someone next to him, and they changed direction as her head started spinning. The more time that passed, the more her head spun, taking her stomach along for the ride.
“I don’t feel too good,” Addie murmured.
Someone shouted “grab the trash can” a second before a plastic bucket hovered in front of her with not a moment to spare.
She retched, each nausea-inducing wave bringing a fresh surge of hell. Once her stomach was sufficiently emptied, the trash can disappeared and a wet washcloth took its place. She grimaced as she pressed the cool cloth to her face and willed the world to stop spinning.
People in scrubs walked in and out of what looked to be a tent, and other than the obvious medical personnel, the only person there besides her was Phoenix. He stood directly in front of her while she sat on what she now realized was a gurney.
“Bailey, Max, and the others are waiting outside,” Phoenix stated. “They don’t let anyone but patients in here.”
“And you, obviously,” Addie joked dryly.
He smirked, but the worry never left his eyes. “Well, I was literally carrying the patient, so they made some allowances. Plus, they couldn’t get me to leave even if they used a fucking bulldozer.”
“This seems like overkill. I got knocked down. I’m fine.”
“Sorry, babe, but I’ll need to hear that from the medical professionals before I actually believe it. And even then, we’ll see.”
Her gaze caught his and the continued worry etched on his face nearly undid her. She opened her mouth to say something when an older woman in dark blue scrubs and a stethoscope tucked into her pocket stepped forward.
“Hey there.” She smiled warmly. “I’m Dr. Sethi. What’s this I hear about a ruckus up by the stage?”
“Some guy got too handsy,” Phoenix answered. “He gripped her wrist way too hard, and when things went to hell, she was knocked to the ground.”
“All right, well, let’s check you out…”
“Addie.” Addie smiled wanly.
She lifted her left arm, noticing the very obvious bracelet bruise forming around her wrist. Phoenix’s gaze dropped to it, too, and he cursed under his breath, muttering something about finding the asshole and punching him again.
Dr. Sethi poked and prodded, moving to her other hand to inspect her fingers that had been stepped on, and then she shone a ridiculously bright light into her eyes.
“Did you hit your head when you fell, Addie?” Dr. Sethi asked.
Phoenix remained deathly still at her side.
“Um … not when I fell.”
“But you did hit your head?”
“I think so…? It was pretty crowded, and I’m pretty sure someone accidentally kicked me in the head. I saw stars for a few minutes.”
“And she threw up the second we got into the med tent,” Phoenix added.
Dr. Sethi smiled in grim understanding. “It wouldn’t be a surprise if you had a minor concussion.”
“Should I take her to the hospital?”
The doctor glanced at Addie. “Did you lose consciousness?”
She shook her head and immediately regretted it. “No.”
“Then I don’t think you need an emergency room visit, but I do want you to treat yourself as if you have a concussion. We’ll give you some acetaminophen right now, and you’ll take it every six hours for any remaining headache. Do you have anyone to stay the night with you?”
“She does.” Phoenix drilled Addie with a try to argue with me look that sent her eyes into a roll.
“Apparently I do, yes.”
Dr. Sethi chuckled. “Then you’ll need to be woken up every hour for the next twenty-four. If at any time you become confused, or unarousable, or if your headache worsens instead of improving, then it’s time for that ER visit, okay?”
“Okay.”
“Any questions?” Dr. Sethi glanced from Addie to Phoenix. “All right. Then I’ll have a nurse bring over that acetaminophen and then we’ll let you get home to rest. And that’s a doctor’s order, Addie. Rest.”
Phoenix chuckled. “It’s like she knows you.”
Addie grumbled under her breath, glad someone was having a good time. It didn’t take long for the nurse to bring over the pain medicine, and then after a few signed papers, they stepped out of the medical tent and into a swarm of worried friends.
Maxi, Nai, and Bailey instantly wrapped her into a group hug.
“I’m okay. Seriously.” Addie attempted to reassure them. “Just a few bumps and bruises.”
Phoenix snorted. “And a concussion. I’m taking her home so she can rest.”
“Are you sure you’ll be okay?” Max nibbled her bottom lip, a nervous habit she’d had since they were kids. “Do you want me to go home with you?”
“I’m sure. And evidently I already have a babysitter for the night.” Addie, more than ready to climb into her pj’s and into her bed, kissed her sister on the cheek. “I’ll call you in the morning and let you know when I’ll be in the office.”
“How about at not-happening-o’clock?” Phoenix accepted the shirt Easton tossed his way and tugged it on.
She shot him a glare but ignored the comment, too distracted—and bummed—about the disappearance of his nipple piercings.
Witnessing the disappointment on her face, Phoenix wrapped an arm around her waist and whispered seductively in her ear, “If you’re a good patient, you’ll see them again later.”
Addie was determined to be the best patient ever.