Page 77 of Hot Receiver

“You need to get a doctor now. Patient is Zak Kacey.”

For a long second, they don’t move. They just gawk at me.

I slam my hand on the counter to get them to snap out of whatever fog they’re in. “Thisisthe emergency wing, yeah?”

Fuck charm.

Zak needs help.

“Y-yes, Mr. Harrison. We’ll get a doctor in there right away.”

I run back down the crowded hallway and slide back into the room. A nurse is already next to his bed checking his vitals, his mom standing by his other side.

“Tell me what you’re feeling right now,” the nurse says as she wraps a blood pressure cuff around his arm and pumps.

“It started out as pins and needles, like everything just woke up. Then a rush of pain from my lower back shot into my legs.” Zak winces. “It hurts. Fuck, can you give me something?”

“The doctor is on his way here with your scan results. Before I give you anything, I need to make sure it’s the correct treatment.”

I crack my knuckles behind my back, hovering near the door. I want to be close to him, to hold his hand.

My heart lodges in my throat.

He can move. He’s not paralyzed.

Relief washes over me, almost immediately drowned out by apprehension.

If I go any closer, I run the risk of him telling me to leave. It’s safer here.

Maybe.

Then again, he pretty much hates me right now. I’m not safe from his wrath anywhere.

“You don’t need to stay,” he says flatly, not even looking at me. “I’m sure you have better things to do.”

“I want to make sure you’re okay.” I clear my throat, but the sides rub against each other like sandpaper, making my mouth dry as hell. “I’m staying, unless you want me to go.”

He turns his pained gaze at me, his mother’s dark eyes following. His spit hate and fury, but hers tell a different story. They don’t accuse. They’re softer, hopeful.

I don’t want to leave. Fuck, I don’t want to lose him, either.

His hard glare tells me that ship has sailed.

His mom’s expression tells me I might have a chance.

Maybe it’s wishful thinking on my part, but I cling to that hope like it’s a lifeline keeping me from drowning in the abyss of darkness my life would become without him.

A tall guy in a white coat pushes past me. I catch a look at his profile. He’s lean with dark glasses, kind of like Clark Kent. The heart in my throat clenches when I see him look at Zak, a wide smile on his face.

Of course, he’s got a fucking dimple to boot.

“Mr. Kacey, good news. Your scans don’t show any sign of spinal damage, although we did confirm you have a concussion, so we’ll need to monitor you here for the next six hours or so.”

“But I couldn’t feel my legs since the accident, only regained some feeling a few minutes ago… is that related to the concussion?”

“No.” The doctor furrows his brows and moves the bed sheet aside. “What do you feel now?”

“I told the nurse I have a lot of pain. Lower back, shooting into my legs. It was pins and needles to start. Then, it came on full blast.”

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