Page 25 of Not that Impressed
I relax slightly when she moans in response.
Her eyes flicker open. “Will?” Her voice is surprised, like she can’t fathom why I’m here.
I lift her pant leg to eye her ankle. The heel of her shoe is broken, but there’s no swelling or bruising there to indicate she injured it.
“I’m about to pick you up so we can go to the hospital,” I tell her. I carefully push some hair from in front of her eyes. I hope my voice is gentle, but I’m stressed and anger is still heavy in my chest, so it’s unlikely.
She scowls, but her expression is confused. It’s almost adorable. “Why?”
“You fell, and I’m pretty sure you have a concussion.” She hasn’t objected to me picking her up, so I scoop her into my arms and enjoy the little gasp she gives.
She moans again and leans her head against my chest. I forget everything she said to me before. Holding a beautiful woman, her soft hair brushing against my arms with every step, makes it hard to stay angry.
Her knowing about my history with Hollis explains a lot.Already my chest is easing over her accusation. He’s obviously been spreading lies again, and I’d correct her right here and now, except she probably wouldn’t remember.
She gently strokes my cheek. “Your face is sooo pretty,” she murmurs. “Too bad you’re such a meanie.”
“It’s a tragedy,” I say dryly.
She sighs forlornly in response. “So pretty you’d never believe you caused Grayson so much misfortune.”
I snort. “Misfortune?”
She nods seriously then cringes. “Poor guy.”
You know how everyone is a different kind of drunk? It’s the same with concussions. Charlie says the last time I got one, I was moody and angry and not that much different from my normal self. Charlie, on the other hand, like Ellie here, gets goofy.
I settle her in the passenger seat of my Expedition, leaning the seat all the way back for her. Then I empty out some trash from a Chipotle bag on the floor into a nearby garbage can. Normally my car is spotless, but I grabbed food on the way over to the service project. I hand her the bag when I get back.
“We’re going to drive to urgent care,” I tell her, trying for a comforting tone. I wish Charlie was here for me to check in with. His expressions always tell me how I’m doing with not sounding like an entitled jerk. “If you feel sick, throw up into this.”
“Will?” she says, sounding confused again about seeing me still there.
“Yup.” I put the bag in her lap and shut the door. I run a hand down my face as I walk around to the driver’s seat. Tonight ended up a lot differently than I planned. I text Charlie before I get into the car, since he’s with Janelle. I don’t know how to get a hold of anyone else in her family.
Will
I’m taking Ellie to urgent care. I think she has a concussion. Tell Janelle.
Charlie
Bro…
Will
It wasn’t my fault. I’ll explain later.
We get to urgent care without incident, but I keep the bag with us as we head in since she looks increasingly pale. I carry her in, and several heads pop up as we step through the door. I settle her in a chair away from the few people waiting, and she leans her head back with a moan.
“I’m going to go check in,” I point to the desk.
Her answer is another groan.
We’re lucky. A nurse calls for us only a few minutes after we get there.
She hands me a clipboard, but I shake my head. “We don’t know each other well. I happened to be there when she fell. Her sister’s on her way.”
The nurse eyes me. “Okay.” She turns to Ellie, who’s clutching the Chipotle bag even though the nurse has put a small plastic bin in her lap. “Can you tell me what happened?” she asks.
