Page 35 of Baby Me

“No, nothing new, but I always say, no news is goodnews.”

I hoped so. As much as I was beginning to like living in this town, I wished I were back with Cameron at thecabin.

Chapter 9

Cameron

Iwokeup to the sound of a pulsemonitor.

“Kate? Kate, are youhere?”

My words were slurred and my jaw ached, but I could finally move it. There was an IV needle in my arm. Above me, I watched as the liquid streamed into the thin tube drop by drop. The smell of antiseptic filled the air, and that’s when I remembered that last night we had driven to the hospital to unlock my jaw. My stomach had been hurting on the way, but I’d assumed they were hunger pains, even though I couldn’t remember beinghungry.

“Kate?” I said more loudly, and the door to my room opened. Evie stepped in. She was wearing the same clothes she’d had on for Thanksgiving, which I found odd forher.

“Hi, sleepyhead. You’reawake.”

“Where’sKate?”

“She’s safe in town. Charlie asked me to stay here until you wokeup.”

That was when I remembered that I’d asked her to stay behind as well. Why in the world was my head sofuzzy?

“Why am I still here? My jaw isfine.”

“Your appendix burst on the way over to the hospital. Another few minutes and you would have been gone. Charlie said you’re officially a lucky son-of-a-bitch. His words, notmine.”

I growled in frustration, wondering how long it would be before I could leave. I scanned the empty semi-private room. There were no flowers and no gifts, which was a good sign. I didn’t want anyone to know I washere.

“Who’s behind curtain numberone?”

“Oh, some dude who had an accident. Don’t worry. He’s in an induced coma. And we didn’t use your real name to registeryou.”

“Who’swe?”

“Me andCharlie.”

Right. The two lovebirds I recalled flirting, making my car ride to the hospital nearly unbearable. Still, it looked like they’d brought me here intime.

“Thankyou.”

I tried to sit up, but it wasn’t easy, so I pushed the button on the bed frame and the backrest buzzed upward, bringing me to a semi-sittingposition.

“Hey, take it easy. You’re going to be here a fewdays.”

“I can’t. Kate’s waiting forme.”

“You don’t have a choice: doctor’s orders.” I watched as Charlie closed the door behind him. He was wearing his white doctor lab coat and had a stethoscope around his neck, making him look like a real doctor foronce.

Evie grinned from ear to ear as if she’d just been told that she’d won a million dollars. Come to think of it, dating Charlie Lockheart would be the same as winning thelottery.

“What’s up, doc?” Iasked.

“I see the morphine is still working. I’ll make a note to have it reduced foryou.”

I realized that had to be the reason why everything in the room appearedpink.

“Oh, Charles, maybe you shouldn’t reduce it that quick. It’s the first time in a long while that I’ve seen Cameron relax. He’s usually uptight like he’s got a pole stuck up hisbutt.”

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