Page 20 of The Love Raffle

“Yes,” Levi said at the same time Amber said, “No.”

The waitress jumped back at the sight of Amber. “Oh my God, your face!” She started to hyperventilate.

“Jesus Christ,” Levi whispered as one guard walked quickly to the girl to calm her. “Are you okay?” he asked.

The girl was on her knees.

Amber joined the guards to help her. “What’s wrong?” She squeezed the girl’s arms and brought her to her seat.

Levi barely knew where to turn.Get out more, Rachel said.“It’s okay. Nothing bad will happen. It’s all going to be fine.” He stood beside the young waitress.

“I can’t believe this! I’m going to get reprimanded because I served you crab!” The girl seemed to come back to her senses. She was breathing normally—thankfully—and staring at Amber.

Amber shook her head. “No, no, it’s fine. I’m going to be okay.” The itching was unbearable. Her throat burned at this point. Like there was a literal fire inside it. “It was my fault for not knowing.”

Levi nodded beside her. “I’m going to take her to the hospital.” He held Amber’s arm. “Whether she likes it or not,” he said through clenched teeth.

Amber looked at his firm hand. Levi loosened his grip, sensing he may have overstepped. “We have to go.”

Chapter 7

It was cold, freezing even. The cool sensation was all Amber could focus on as the stethoscope made contact with her upper chest.

The doctor put the tool back around her neck after listening to Amber’s heartbeat. “Well, everything else seems alright and the medicine has already kicked in, so I think you’re good to go.”

Amber wiped her hand against the plastic cover placed on the bed. Levi had left the waitress a tip large enough to pay the girl’s rent for three months. After doing so, Amber had the honor of riding in his luxury SUV, the latest black Cadillac Escalade, to the nearest hospital. He hadn’t even been the one driving it. Levi had adriverwho took him wherever he needed to go.

On their way here, Levi had pulled out a hat and sunglasses from the back of the passenger seat to conceal himself. He and his bodyguards had also provided words of comfort to Amber amid her predicament. To her, the itching and swelling was not too alarming, but it had seemed that they’d viewed it as the end of the world. She was sure it would have faded with time if they had allowed it to.

“Thank you, doctor,” said Levi. He had been so glad when the hospital waiting room had been nearly empty aside from an old couple. It ensured Amber had been treated quickly.And, of course, I didn’t have to worry about getting recognized.He was still surprised the paps hadn’t found him.

“I’ll go ahead and write you your prescription for an EpiPen. Just give me a moment first, okay?” The short-haired woman left the room.

Levi and Amber sat in silence once she was gone.

She tried not to cringe at the stench of bleach and alcohol that filled the observation room. Amber sat on the typical patient’s bed. The room was barren, aside from a built in counter with a stool and a large steel cabinet. She tried to avoid staring at the posters of the human body and possible viruses that could pose a threat. It was strange to think of her body under attack right now.

Levi kicked his leather shoe against the white floor. “So…you look a lot better now.” He rubbed the back of his neck.

“What? Did swollen lips not work for me?” Amber grinned.

Levi smiled a little then walked over and stood in front of her. “This date, huh?”

She managed to laugh. “Started with you thinking I was crying and now we’re at the hospital.”

“Yeah.” Levi shared in her laughter. He eyed her down. “Bet when you imagined dating someone like me you didn’t picture this.”

“Who said I’ve imagined dating a movie star before?” Amber replied smartly.

Levi hated it when she sent his head spinning. Was he being conceited, or did she just enjoy playing around? “You would have had to imagine this before coming here, right? Or did you come in with zero expectations?”

Amber giggled. “Okay, you got me. I did try to picture how this would go before coming.” She looked at her lap then at the examination bed.At least he stuck around.And to her it didn’t seem like an act of politeness.Probably is.“And being rushed to the hospital really wasn’t part of what I envisioned.”

Levi grimaced. “Yeah, but despite that this wasn’t so bad, right?”

Amber buzzed but hid it. “You’re not the one who got stabbed in the thigh with a needle earlier.”

Levi panicked again but her laugh calmed him down. “Why do you keep doing that? Is it fun to watch me freak out? I keep thinking I’m saying all the wrong things.”

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