Page 9 of Hooked on Marshall

As I try to breathe through the pain, I turn my head and look at Marshall. Even though his head is down, I can tell that his face is pained. The sight of it does something to me. So, for the first time since I met him in the days after Mark’s passing, I say his name.

“Marshall.”

Very slowly, he lifts his head. When his eyes meet mine, something breaks free inside me. And against my better judgement, but because I needsomeonein this moment right now, I lift my hand toward him. As soon as he wraps both his hands around mine, my entire body relaxes. And even though I could very easily get lost in his dark chocolate eyes, I let mine close. The feel of his skin against mine is all I need right now.

Several minutes later, someone announces that we’ve arrived at the hospital. My eyes fly open in a moment of panic, but Marshall is still there. Holding my hand and watching over me.

“I’m staying right beside you,” he says. “Okay?”

I nod and give him a weak smile. His brow only furrows a bit in response. Then the back doors of the ambulance open and I’m being taken out. Somehow, Marshall manages to keep hold of my hand as I’m led through the double doors into the emergency room. Once I’m wheeled into an available space, Marshall and a nurse help me off the stretcher and onto the hospital bed. Marshall thanks the paramedics and they take their leave. The police officer named Ryland walks in just as my cell phone rings.

When I reach for it, a dark look passes over Marshall’s face. I’m not surprised considering what he’s witnessed after myinteractions with Jonas recently. And as I start to look at my screen, I pray that it isn’t him now.

No.

It’s worse than that.

It’s my mother.

After I touch my screen to answer, I lock eyes with Marshall.

“Hey, mom.”

“Lana!” she shrieks. “What’s going on? Ellen came over and said she saw some drunk man carry you out of the Alehouse and the police had to be called! Are you okay?”

Marshall’s expression has just barely relaxed. So, I speak as gently as I can to calm my mother.

“I’m fine, mom,” I sigh. “I got a little scraped up, but they brought me to the hospital as a precaution. It’s just procedure.”

She starts in with her twenty questions again, but I don’t answer anything just yet because the doctor arrives to look me over. When I tell her that, she offers to come pick me up. And although I love her, that is the absolutelastthing I need right now.

“No, mom,” I tell her. “I’ll call you when they release me and let you know what’s going on, okay?”

She doesn’t like it and tries to argue, but I tell her the doctor is here, and I need to hang up. She allows it after another promise to call her as soon as I’m released. After I set my phone beside me, I answer the doctor’s questions about the incident while Marshall explains how things started and what he saw once the man picked me up. All the while, Ryland takes his own notes.

Thirty minutes later, I’ve been treated for bruising and some mild scrapes, and the gash over my left eye has been sealed with some type of medical glue. I’m given a prescription for a low dose pain reliever and sent on my way. Marshall keepshis arm firmly around my waist as we walk out. Ryland takes down my personal information and tells me he’ll be in touch tomorrow. I start to thank him, but someone starts talking from his radio and he rushes off.

Leaving Marshall and I alone outside the emergency room without a ride.

Something that has obviously not escaped his attention either.

“Jace is on his way to pick us up,” he says as he leads me over to a bench. “They just finished closing up.”

I nod and sit a little too heavily on the bench. Exhaustion is settling in on me now. Fast. So, when Marshall wraps his arm around my shoulders, I close my eyes and let my head rest against his shoulder. Then I startle when he whispers my name.

“Lana?”

“What?” I gasp as I sit up.

Then I press my hand to my forehead as the world starts to spin with my fast movement.

“Shit,” Marshall mutters. “Come here.”

I let out a groan as he pulls me into his chest. Eager to regain myself, I go willingly. Then I find myself in his arms once again as he carries me to Jace’s car. Somehow, he gets me into the backseat. And it feels so good beside him, I speak without thinking.

“I don’t want to go home,” I whisper. “I…don’t want to talk to my family right now.”

“But you need to call them,” he reminds me. “You promised.”

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