18. Renne
Renne
The press that reported from the hospital had vanished by the time I got to work that afternoon. Pete was in surgery, and I didn’t get to see him until late that night. I don’t care for him as a person, but I also wish him a speedy recovery.
I arrived in the hallway to see a florist placing a massive wreath of yellow roses on a stand next to the door of his room. For a moment, I thought Pete might have died, but once the florist left, I read the gift tag on the wreath: Best wishes from the Crossbow family.
Connor must’ve sent Pete a wreath of yellow roses. Yellow is a joyful color.
Connor Crossbow broke Pete’s fingers and hands, then nailed him to the door of a restaurant because Pete didn’t take care of me during our date.
Every day that Pete was hospitalized, Connor sent a bouquet of flowers.
I only know this because nurses from that floor talked about it in the cafeteria. I never visited again, and when I was there before, Pete was sleeping.
But the Crossbow message was loud and clear: Ekatia is untouchable.
To be honest, I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or a bad thing.
Or perhaps a bit of both. Coworkers are avoiding me like the plague.
I never made great friends with my coworkers the way I have with Dina, but I like most of the men and women I work with.
We used to socialize during lunch hour, but now I eat alone in the cafeteria.
I used to eat in the nurses’ lounge on the floor, but now when I walk in, others leave.
I’m not trying to make anyone uncomfortable by existing, so I started having lunch in the cafeteria.
Which, if I’m being honest, has a better view.
The Mediterranean is beautiful and does wonders for the soul.
“Do you have a minute?” Sera, my boss, joins me at the lunch table.
I swallow and wipe my mouth. “Sure.” This is highly unusual, so my palms start sweating instantly.
“I have your evaluation ready.” She hands me a piece of paper.
I look at the raise she gave me, which is circled at the top.
It’s preposterous. Way over what I deserve, given how I was late several times and Sera gave me shit for it.
But considering how I dodged actual bullets in this place, and I need the money, I don’t protest. I’m pretty sure that fear of the Crossbows made her give me such a big raise, so all I say is “Thank you so much.”
Sera nods. “Absolutely. Listen, Ekatia.” She clears her throat, a slight blush creeping up her cheeks.
“The hospital set up a clinic near the new theater. I nominated you for the head nurse position there. It’s a Monday-to-Friday position.
Eight to four. Not like these crazy hours we have here. Perfect for you, don’t you think?”
Speechless, I lean back and look around the cafeteria. My coworkers sit at a nearby table, probably overhearing this conversation. She ought to have called me into her office.
“I see what this is. You’re too scared to fire me, but you can’t keep me on the floor anymore.”
Sera stares at the paper she gave me. “You made that bed.”
“Which bed?”
“You know which one. He broke Dr. Olton’s fingers. He’ll never perform surgery again.”
Pete is a victim. I’m not a victim of anything anymore now that Connor Crossbow is involved. “What’s that have to do with me?”
“If you hadn’t gone out with Pete while you were also involved with Crossbow, Pete would be fine.”
“Pete went after me. He asked me out after he saw Connor with me.”
“He didn’t deserve to have his fingers broken.”
I grit my teeth. “I didn’t break them.”
“Your boyfriend did.”
“Connor is not my boyfriend, and even if he was, you can’t fire me for that.”
“Nobody is firing you. Please, Ekatia, do the right thing and stay away from us.” She pushes a pen toward me. “Please sign for the raise and the relocation?”
“I’ll think about it.”
Sera appears annoyed, but she can’t force me to sign anything. And I’m allowed to take time to think about her proposal.
“The florists have been here daily, delivering flowers to Pete’s room. They talk to the staff. They’re saying there’s a rehearsal dinner for the Crossbow wedding coming up. Take some time off until the clinic opens, which is the week after the rehearsal dinner.”
“Are you kidding me?” I ask.
Sera gets up. “You can take your vacation now. Effective immediately. I have someone covering the rest of your shift.”
“Pete was no saint. Or maybe you already know that, but you’re covering for the bullshit the hospital turns a blind eye to.
I was here when Connor Crossbow was brought in, remember?
Nobody told me anything about him because you all wanted me to treat him like he was a regular patient, and yet when I brought up the fact that the man was being sedated and strapped to the chair when he needed his lungs and airway treated, you all told me to do what I was told.
“See, you can’t have it both ways. You can’t pretend like you’re the good guys while treating Connor Crossbow like garbage, hoping he’d die, while protecting someone like Pete, who’s harassed and violated multiple women.
” Her eyes widen, and I continue. “Pete was after me for months before I went out with him. But it was Connor and not you who told me that in our HR, Pete has a mile-long file of complaints from nurses. Maybe you want to bury it before some random journalist gets ahold of it and exposes you all. No worries, I’ll take my time off.
With pay, and I’ll let you know if I’ll move to the clinic. ”
I march out of the cafeteria so fast, I’m jogging. I don’t want them to see my tears. The moment I step outside, the tears fall. I wipe my cheeks as I walk to the bus station, where I sit on the bench and let out a scream.
People stare, and I remember how I can’t scream in public and draw attention to myself. But I scream again, this time letting out a year of frustrations and worries. There. I feel better already.
I wipe my face again and wait for the bus.
A sleek black sports car pulls up to the bus stop. Cars shouldn’t park here, not even for loading and unloading. The bus arrives on its heels and honks loudly.
Connor steps out of the car. Shades on. Black T-shirt, faded jeans, guns holstered but visible. He walks around the back of the car and waves at the bus driver, who stops honking. Thankfully, the driver recognizes him.
Connor steps in front of me and tucks a finger under my chin, then lifts. I look up at him.
The shades slide down his nose, uncovering his blue eyes. “Who made you cry?”
“My boss.”
“Which one? I just need a name.”
“I handled it myself.”
“Then why are you crying?”
“Because I didn’t punch her in the face.”
Connor smiles. “That a girl. Does it have anything to do with Pete?” Stopped behind the car, the bus loads and unloads the passengers.
“I have to catch the bus and get Hanna from the babysitter.”
Connor shows me a car key. It’s one of those sleek keys with only two buttons. He takes my hand and puts it in my palm. “Take the car. I’ll see you around.”
With that, Connor boards my bus and leaves.
I stare at the car key, then at the retreating bus. “What the hell?”
A taxi pulls up and honks, its driver looking like he’ll jump out and kick my ass. I rush to the car, and the moment I sit down, I realize that it’s Pete’s. The dashboard, the scent, the interior leather, and stitchwork are all the same as I remember.
I don’t have time to think about why Connor has Pete’s car or why he gave me the keys before the taxi driver bumps it from behind. Damn. I rev the engine and drive out of the stop, my lips stretching into a smile.
I’ve had a crappy day. A crappy week. A crappy year. But Connor Crossbow knows how to make me smile.