Page 78 of Return to Me Always

My heart. Hearing my name coming from his lips made me dizzy with happiness—delirious, room-spinning dizzy.

Oh, boy, I needed to sleep.

***

"Lassie?"

I woke up, groaning.The nurse was back.

"Sorry, dear. It's just the doctor's on her way, and the police are here. The doctor has to give the all clear first before they have a go at you."

Yikes. That did not sound good.

"But don't fret, love. It's all fine now. But goodness, were you in trouble. All over the news. Everyone was looking for you. Your faces were everywhere. And everybody talked about how gorgeous you two were, what a beautiful couple, and what a shame the whole thing was, you know, that you went down the wrong path. We were all waiting for more bodies to turn up, thinking you were on some kind of murderous crime spree."

The nausea returned. I appreciated the information, but it was all a bit much. I just wanted to be alone with Tyler, be alone to talk with him and hear what he had to say. He was the only one who could understand. Truly.

His last words to me before the helicopter came popped into my mind then. "I've been dreaming about you all my life, lass." I clung to that memory. Ihadto talk to him. Ineededto talk to him.

The nurse fussed with the machines, the obnoxious beeping interrupting my thoughts.

"And now? Now, you're all over the news again. This time because youdidn'tdo it. Oh, before, everyone wanted your heads. They were going to lock you up for life and throw away the keys."

I groaned again as she messed with the needle in my arm.

"Darn thing is plugged up somewhere," she grumbled, adjusting the tape around my arm. "But anyway, then your mum showed up, saved the day. And then, of course, everyone couldn't shut up about the injustice done. How this police officer went after these poor young souls, making them scramble for their lives."

Her words poured through me as I fought for consciousness. God, I wished she'd stop.

"And, love, I've just got to warn you. Everyone—and I mean everyone—wants to talk to you now. All the news stations, newspapers, magazines. Everyone."

What? She couldn't be serious.

"Aye, you went from infamous to famous in a flash. Everyone wants to know your story, how you met, what happened with Malcolm, where you went, where you stayed, what you ate."

What I ate? This was ridiculous.

She moved back to the machine, trying to shut off the beeping. "We might have to change this IV line, but we'll see how long the doctor takes. If she says you can go, well then, we'll just take the whole thing out."

Please. Please do that.All the tape and plastic tubing made it impossible to even bend my elbow, not to mention the damnneedlein my arm. Feeling queasy, I fought for calming breaths.

"Are you all right, dear?"

I nodded just as a knock sounded at the door, and a woman in a white lab coat entered. The doctor. Thank God. I wanted out of this place. Now.

***

A few agonizing hours later, Tyler appeared in the open doorway, concern etched around his eyes.

"You okay, Ryder?"

I smiled at his gorgeous face. So we were back to Ryder, huh?

Before I could answer, my mom and Ben appeared behind him.

"Seems like you're ready to go, hon," my mom said. "How was everything? Did you talk to the police?"

Feeling utterly exhausted, all I could do was nod.

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