Page 17 of Save Me

“Charis, isn’t Justin Randall assigned to your floor?”

Charis nodded. “Yes, why?”

Lainie leaned closer and lowered her voice. “Everywhere I go, no matter what floor I’m on, there he is. It’s been going on for months. He just appears out of nowhere, asking me out. I make excuses but he doesn’t quit. He’s in my face. He’s in my personal space. And he creeps me out.”

Charis frowned. “How long has this been happening?”

“Since almost from the time you introduced us. He’s giving out stalker vibes like you wouldn’t believe, and you know me. I don’t flirt. I’m not sending out any vibes that could be misconstrued.”

Charis’s frown deepened. “Oh, honey, I’m so sorry. I’ll put a bug in the supervisor’s ear, and let her know he’s not on the job like he’s supposed to be. Other than that, I don’t know what else to do.”

Lainie’s shoulders slumped. “Thanks. I’ve never experienced anything remotely close to this, and it’s getting scary. These are the times when I wish to God I still had Hunter Gray in my life,” she said, and then went quiet, shocked that she’d actually spoken out loud.

Charis stilled. This was the first time any of them had ever heard her mention a man.

“So, he’s the reason you don’t date?” she asked.

Lainie nodded.

“I’m so sorry. What happened?”

“Our fathers happened. They were stepbrothers who hated each other, and Hunt and I committed an unpardonable sin. We fell in love. Life happened. And we lost each other. I don’t know where he is. I don’t even know if he’s still alive in the world...if he even lived to become a man, but he was my everything. He stood between me and our fathers’ hate until they broke me, and when that happened, I think it broke him, too.”

Charis was horrified. “Here I am all gushing about my happy life and pending marriage, and you’re living with this. I’m so sorry. That’s the saddest thing I think I’ve ever heard.”

Lainie shrugged. “It is what it is. Look, I would appreciate you keeping this to yourself. Hospital gossip is deadly. I don’t want this to be my identity because it’s not. That was me at eighteen. I’m neither broken nor helpless. All I want is Justin Randall to leave me the hell alone.”

Charis nodded. “I promise. And I’ll talk to our supervisor, too.”

“As long as he doesn’t find out that I’m the one who ratted him out, it should be fine,” Lainie said, but those were famous last words.

The next day, Lainie clocked in, locked up her things and was on her way out of the break room when Justin walked up behind her.

“Hey Lainie!” he said, and gripped her shoulder hard enough it physically stopped her in her tracks.

She jerked, then shoved his hand away. “What the hell, Justin? You scared me half to death! Don’t sneak up on people like that, okay?”

She knew the minute she said it that he was angry, because his eyes narrowed, and the smile on his face turned into a thin-lipped grimace.

“Sorry! Didn’t know you were so touchy. I know you’re off tomorrow, and so am I. I thought it would be fun to—”

Lainie held up her hand. “Justin, just stop. I’m not interested in dating anyone. Period. I don’t intend to hurt your feelings, but let’s not have this conversation again, okay? Now, I have to hurry, and that’s not an excuse. I’m doing MRIs all day today, and we don’t keep people waiting.”

“Yeah, sure. No problem. I understand,” he said, and walked off.

Lainie breathed a quick sigh of relief, thinking he’d finally gotten the message, and hurried up the hall.

Her first patient, a fortysomething woman named Renee Reilly, was already in tears from the fear of the test itself, when Lainie arrived, but she quickly launched into patient mode and began talking her down.

“Hi, Renee, I’m Lainie, your MRI technician. We’re doing an open MRI with contrast today, right?”

Renee nodded. “My doctor explained the process. I’m just scared.”

“That’s fair, and I certainly understand. We can talk while I start your IV so we can begin the drip for the contrast.”

“Yes, okay,” Renee said, and closed her eyes as the needle went in.

“There we go,” Lainie said, as she taped it down, and started the drip. “This will take about twenty minutes or so to finish. Are you cold? I can get you a blanket.”

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