“I’ve told you everything I know.”
“I’d like to see him.”
“You can talk to the doctor about that. Right now, I need you to rest. Can I get you anything?”
“Water would be good.”
She nodded, her short ponytail bobbing as she went to retrieve his drink.
“I heard what you did,” she said when she returned, dragging a tray table around to hover over his lap. She poured water from a pitcher into a paper cup and set them both on the table. “Brave, but stupid.”
“My dad would have died.”
“I’m not saying I don’t understand why you did what you did. I’m just saying. You both could have died.”
“I’d do it again.”
Her lips pursed. “I bet you would. The doctor will be around soon. You know where the call button is?”
“Yeah.”
“Ring if you need anything.”
“Thanks.”
He sipped the water, and the cool wash threaded down his throat. It soothed but also irritated. He leaned back onto the pillow and closed his eyes. Moments ago, he’d wanted to jump out of bed. Now he was exhausted.
“Gideon?” The voice was followed by a gentle knock. This voice he knew for sure.
He opened his eyes without moving his head and saw Nikki standing in the doorway, a lopsided smile on her face. “The nurse said you were awake.”
“Hey.” He pushed himself up in the bed. “Come in. Please.”
“You’re okay?”
“I seem to be. All my fingers and toes work, so that’s a good start.”
“You should be taking this more seriously. You could have died. It was stupid, Gideon. Really, really stupid.”
If tears hadn’t been edging her eyes, he would have given her a hard time. Instead, he said, “I know. You’re not the first person to tell me that.”
“Sorry.” She looked away for a second and took a steadying breath. “When I got to your dad’s place and couldn’t find you, I thought—Even when I heard you got out, I was still freaked out.”
“Why don’t you sit?”
She let a dark blue backpack she was carrying slide off her shoulder and onto the floor at the end of the bed. “I brought you a change of clothes. Thought you would need it. I hope you don’t mind.”
“Thank you. Why would I mind?”
Her cheeks pinked. “I had to go to your room at the motel.”
“You broke in?” He was kind of impressed.
“I know the guy at the desk. Went to high school with him. He let me in. I thought that with your dad in here too, you wouldn’t have anyone else to do it.”
“I don’t. Thank you.” He watched her wring her hands as her eyes darted around the room. “Everything’s okay, Nikki. I just inhaled too much smoke.”
“I know. It’s not that. Uh, it doesn’t sound like anyone else was hurt. I didn’t know if you’d heard.”