Page 87 of Liar's Point

His eyebrows tipped up.

“I mean... this would definitely freak them out.” She shifted on the gurney. Pain shot up her ankle, and she tried not to wince. “I’d like to call my sister, though.”

He entered the passcode and handed the phone over.

“Take your time,” David said. “I’ll go see about those pain meds.”

“Thanks.”

She looked down at his phone, disoriented by the unfamiliar screen. The nurse continued to work on her elbow, inflicting agony with his cotton swabs. Gritting her teeth against the pain, Nicole tried to pull her thoughts together. Kate was supposed to be having dinner with their parents tonight. The very last thing Nicole wanted to do was tell them she’d been hit by a car and send everyone into a panic. And anyway she hadn’t been hit. But the near miss had left her banged up and shaken to her core.

Taking a deep breath, she dialed. Kate didn’t answer—probably because she didn’t recognize the number—and it went to voicemail.

“Hey, it’s me.” She tried to sound, if not normal, then at least functional. “I’ve been in an accident. I was on my way to dinner with David and I tripped and broke my ankle so... Anyway, I’m at the ER now. Everything’s under control.”

Her elbow burned, and she darted a look at the nurse as he dabbed ointment on her cut.

“They’re getting me fitted with one of those boots and then David is going to drive me home.” A call came in, and Nicole hurried to wrap up. “Anyway, don’t worry and don’t let Mom and Dad freak out either. Everything’s fine. I’ll call you later, okay? Bye.”

She hung up just as David returned.

“You get her?”

“I left her a message. Thank you.” She handed back the phone. “You missed a call from someone.”

“Thanks. So, Chan’s on his way in. He’s going to get you taken care of.” David glanced at the nurse. “How’s the elbow coming?”

“Almost done here,” the nurse said, wrapping the gauze. “Don’t get it wet for forty-eight hours. And you’ll need to change this dressing out twice a day.”

The nurse finished taping and then smiled and ducked out, leaving Nicole and David alone in the little curtained-off area. Well, alone except for the kidney-stone guy groaning next door.

“I’m sorry this happened to you,” David said.

“Me, too.”

“The officer at the scene told me they’re trying to get a license plate.”

“I know.”

He pulled his phone from his pocket and read a text message. His face tensed, and Nicole recognized the look.

“You have a callout?”

He glanced up, and she knew the answer.

“Let me just—”

“It’s okay if you have to go,” she said.

“I might not. Let me just take this.”

He stepped into the busy hallway, and she stared at the empty doorway. Was he really going to leave her here and rush off to work? She knew from the look on his face that he was. He was just nailing down his excuse.

Glancing around the room, she found herself alone for the first time in what felt like hours, although she had no clue what time it was. Her head was whirling, and her entire body felt off-kilter.

She looked at her swollen foot, and suddenly reality crashed over her like a wave.

“Shit.” She clutched her stomach.

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