Page 7 of Rejected Broken Mate

"I'm sorry, baby," I said, touching his forehead again. I knew he occasionally got high temperatures, but they had never been this high before, so was this something more serious?

It was moments like this that I wished I had some guidance.

"We're going to take you in," I said, scooping him up. He clung to me, and I could feel his entire body heat slam against mine. He was too hot.

I slowly walked down the stairs, grabbed my keys, and went to my car. I buckled him in and took us down the road.

I was pretty sure I was speeding, but I didn't care. I needed to get us there.

As we arrived at the ER, I parked and pulled him up once more. I carried him inside, suddenly realizing how I probably looked. I was wearing slippers and my pajamas. My hair was in a shitty bun that I struggled to get it in last night.

I hurried over to the desk, where a short older lady stood. "Hi, my son has an extremely high fever."

She looked up, and her eyes quickly bounced towards Michael. She pulled up a clipboard with papers. "Fill these out while I check to see if a room is open," she said.

I grabbed the clipboard and turned, taking a seat. I placed Michael next to me as I quickly scribbled our information down.

I pulled my gaze up just as a couple came to the counter. A tall man was holding a child who looked to be around Michael's age. They were given a clipboard, and when they turned, my eyes widened. It was Ayden.

His eyes landed on me just as quickly. "Laura? What are you doing here?"

The woman looked at me and then back at Ayden, confused. "Do you two know each other?"

"I just hired her," Ayden said.

"I started today," I added, "And I swear I didn't look like this when I went in."

"What are you doing here?" he asked again, his eyes looking down at Michael.

"He has a high fever, and he's not feeling good," I said.

"Michael, correct?" Ayden asked.

I nodded. Ayden had interviewed me by phone and video before I was hired. During the video interview, Michael ran in looking for his backpack for school.

"Oh, poor thing," the woman said, giving me a sympathetic look. "Sucks when you aren't feeling good."

"This is Wendy, my wife, and our daughter Poppy."

Poppy turned, giving me a soft smile, which I returned.

"Someone has been trying to tell us she can fly," Wendy added, rolling her eyes. "This is our ninth time in the ER. She keeps popping her shoulder out."

Poppy smiled, though. "I will fly."

"Maybe stop jumping off our staircase," Ayden added, reaching out a hand and pinching her cheek.

I was suddenly jealous. I could tell they both loved Poppy so much, and I wished Michael had more than just me. I wished he had his dad as well. It was moments like this that made me wish I had someone to lean on.

"Laura."

I pulled my head up as the nurse called my name. I scooped up Michael and headed towards the back with the nurse. I laid Michael on the bed and sat in a chair next to him.

The nurse held the clipboard and smiled. "Okay, so someone has a temperature and isn't feeling well?"

I nodded. "Yeah. He's had these before, but they've never been this high. We're new in town, and I haven't even gotten my new insurance or anything."

The nurse smiled. "It's fine. Ayden is right outside."

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