Page 35 of Hollywood Crush

“Right,” the handsome paramedic said. “I’m just going to put a needle into your hand. It’ll just be a little sting and then we can start with the painkillers. Are you allergic to anything I need to know about?”

“No, nothing. Well, celery, but I doubt you’re pumping me with that,” I said. I felt him wiping down my hand and then a little sting as theneedle was inserted. I knew there must be more paramedics around but he was the only one in my field of view and I still didn’t want to risk moving my head.

“Right, this is still going to hurt a little bit, but it’s better we avoid jostling your head and neck than your ankle.” The paramedic moved round so that he was directly over my head. Another older man was next to him, and together they took a firm grip on my shoulders and steadied my head. I felt further hands grip on my legs and hissed as my ankle moved slightly. It wasn’t as bad with the painkillers but it was still no walk in the park.

When they lifted me, I howled in pain. My neck, my head, my ankle and foot all seemed to reach a chorus of agony in unison.

I was settled down into a stretcher and strapped in like a straitjacket, preventing any movement on my part. The paramedics lifted me, and this time with the restraints I was blessedly free of pain, just dizzy as I watched them and the clouds bounce above my head with every step they took.

I could feel the painkillers working. The edges of my vision dimmed and blurred, and every reassurance from the paramedics sounded like they were slurring.Maybe they’re all on painkillers, and I am completely fine,my brain supplied in all its wisdom. As the edges of my vision blurred ever further, Patrick’s shock of red hair crept into my vision and his head blocked out the sun.

“I’ll talk to him. I’ll tell him.” His voice sounded like he was miles away, shouting at me down a tunnel. It was the last thing I heard before I slipped into blissful, painless sleep.Tudor.I could feel the edges of my mouth lifting into a smile.

Chapter Twelve

Tudor

I had read the blogs in the couple of days since the incident, though I was resolutely pretending I hadn’t. It was one thing to admit in my head that I may have misread a situation but it was another thing entirely to admit that outwardly.

“Are you alright love?” Mum asked for what must have been the twenty-second time that day.

“Fine,” I mumbled. I pulled a sheet off the bed that had been Daniel’s perhaps too dramatically and let the whole mattress fall to the floor.

The image was seared into my brain, a BBC News showbiz report with Daniel laying on the beach, blood trickling from his head and his foot at a horribly painful angle. The fact that he had been in Patrick’s arms was immaterial now. Whether or not they were in some kind of charade, I was glad that someone had been there for him in his time of need. I had sent him one solitary text via Instagram toask how he was feeling. In amongst the thousands of well-wishes he’d had it could easily have gotten lost in the throng.

But it hadn’t. Daniel had read my text. And ignored it.

“Are you going to talk to me about it or just sulk? Because you’re certainly not fine and you’re definitely avoiding something.” Mam had taken the sheet from the floor and pushed the mattress back onto the bed as I thought.

“Nope. Not everything needs to be talked about,” I replied. If I could keep my feelings in, they need not bother anyone else. And perhaps in time I’d get over them.Yeah, right.

I had fucked up. I had walked away when Daniel needed a hand to hold most. And now I was staring at headlines that readInjury for Film Star - Star-Crossed Lover Holds Him Close.

The main story on most reputable news websites was the uncovering of how unsafe the set had been under Roland’s thumb. It was a miracle no one had already been seriously injured, apparently, with how overworked the stunt doubles had been, how many explosives and stunts had been coordinated by underqualified technicians after their supervisors had been fired by an irate director.

I knew that was the main story, the main concern. And yet I kept going back to the same old stories. The ones on the seedier gossip sites that honed in on Patrick and Danny staring into eachother’s eyes. And though I knew the gossip sites were only out to get clicks and that I shouldn’t read them, I did. I read every comment about how gorgeously in love the two of them looked, and howMidlandsMum82had never seen a cuter couple in all her life.

It was my fault, and I was throughly miserable. Because however inadequate I had felt before, I felt doubly so now. When I was needed, it had been Patrick — gorgeous, rich, capable Patrick — who had stepped up to be there for Danny. And I hated both him and myself for it.

“Would you mind manning reception for the afternoon? Remember Beca and Glynis have invited me out,” Mam said once we’d left Daniel’s room.

“Can’t you ask Nadia?” I asked. I had been avoiding customer service for a couple of days as my temper couldn’t handle the diva demands we’d had from the actors and some of the higher ranking crew.

“You know Nadia doesn’t work all day, she’s still in school. And you do own this hotel, you know.”

“Yes. Sorry Mam.” I shook myself physically like it would somehow help me to get rid of the mood. It might have just made me look stupid but when Mum smiled in response I couldn’t help one side of my mouth lifting.

“Right. I’m off to get ready. Keep an ear out.” Mam handed me the pager that beeped whenever someone rang the reception bell.

I mooched around the downstairs of the hotel for a bit. It had gone quieter since filming had ended, with only actors and a skeleton crew in attendance whilst it was decided what would happen with production now they had lost their star actor and director.

I headed to the conservatory to water my plants, and was shocked to find it was already occupied.

Patrick sat in one of the folding chairs I had put out when I ate with Danny. I bristled automatically, but he gave me a faint smile and waved.

“It’s roasting in here, isn’t it?” he said.

“I guess.” I wasn’t in the mood to speak with him. I knew it was childish to hold it over him, but he felt like the root of all problems in my life. He was right though, the sun was shining high in the sky and making the conservatory feel more like a sauna.

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