Page 83 of The Fire Walker
“Someone will come to see you when she’smoved.”
“Thanks.”
As the doctor disappeared again, I sank back down into the hard waiting room chair and wondered how long Zoe was going to be. I had no idea how long it took to fly from Jacksonville, but I hoped it was fast. Ed said he was coming, but he couldn’t leave the cafe. I assumed he was talking to the police or something or they were scouring the place for evidence. I didn’t know how long I could hold on bymyself.
I looked at my phone, knowing it was probably bad I had it turned on inside a hospital, but the screen was clear. I typed in a text to Zoe and slid down in the seat, closing myeyes.
“Dee?”
My head snapped up at the sound of Zoe’s voice. When our eyes met, she launched herself across the room and into myarms.
“Fucking hell, are you okay? Jessie?” she asked as I buried my face into the crook of her neck. She was finallyhere.
“She’s gonna be okay,” I murmured, breathing in her familiar scent of jasmine and leather from her jacket. “She’s stillasleep.”
“ThankGod.”
A hand came down on my shoulder. “So fucking glad, mate.” Will. Ofcourse.
“Thanks for coming,” I said, pullingaway.
“You and I are a package deal,” Zoe said, squeezing my hand. “Your shit is myshit.”
“That goes for me, too,” Will said. “Do you want anything? Something toeat?”
He seemed to know that I wanted some alone time with Zoe. I fucking loved that guy right now. He was a good egg. Nodding, I said, “Yeah, sounds good. I haven’t eaten sinceyesterday.”
“Can’t have you wasting away,” he replied. “Be back soon. You good,Zo?”
“I’m okay,” she said, waving himoff.
Watching as he disappeared around the corner, I said, “He’s too good for you,Zo.”
“Shut your face,” she said, slapping me on the arm. “This is aboutyou.”
Grimacing, I wrapped my arms around her waist, and her head fell against my shoulder. I needed the familiarity right now. Sitting in the hospital had brought back memories of when Zoe had been the one in surgery. This time, even though I wasn’t the one who’d been hurt, our roles werereversed.
Wincing as she shifted against me, she pulled back and gave me a look. “Youhurt?”
“No, nothing like that,” I said and pulled my shirt up. “Tattoo.”
“Fire walker,” she read, her fingers tracing the inflamed skin. Her eyebrow quirked as if asking me aquestion.
“Do you really have to ask?” I sighed, my eyes beginning to fill with tearsagain.
“No.” Her hand found mine and squeezed. “But you do look like someone beat the crap outtayou.”
My fingers brushed the cut above my eye. “The other guys were muchworse.”
“Otherguys?”
“You don’t want to know.” I grimaced remembering thefight.
Zoe’s fingers pressed against my lip. It didn’t hurt anymore, not like the hole in myheart.
“I love her, Zo,” I said, wiping myeyes.
“I know. I’ve known since back inLA.”
