Page 7 of This Time I'm Keeping You
“Why have faith in me?”
She nodded.
“Because you can trust me.”
“I don’t think?—”
“I’ve grown up since college,” he said, feeling all kinds of pissed off she didn’t believe he was capable of that, even though she had every right to feel that way.
Nick walked by her head with her hand clasped in his when they were ready to load her into the ambulance.The grip on his fingers grew punishing as they reached the doors.
“Breathe,” he whispered.
“I-I can’t.”
“Yes, you can.”He locked eyes with her.“Inhale, exhale.You’ve been doing it your entire life, or we wouldn’t be having this conversation.”
“N-not that easy, and you’re an?—”
“Asshole.Yeah, yeah, that’s getting old.”
They wheeled her in, and he followed.Poppy was breathing rapidly now.Bracing his hands on either side of her head, he forced her to look up at him.
“You need to calm down, or you’ll be unconscious in seconds.”
“Right,” she wheezed.“I know you’re right.”
“In and out.”He took her through several breaths until she’d calmed down.
“Thanks.”
“Welcome,” he said.
“When we get there, Nick, you can go.”
“I’m not leaving.”
She was terrified.It was in every line of her face, and the knuckle-whitening grip she had on his fingers as the ambulance drove them to the hospital.He talked to her about a lot of nothing until they arrived.Nick was fairly sure she heard none of it.
“Okay, Poppy, we’re here now.”
He moved out of the way once more as the ambulance stopped, and then, grabbing her laptop bag and shoes, he walked beside her into the hospital.She handled it but he could tell, hated every moment.They wheeled her into a cubicle.
“The doctor will be in soon, Poppy.”
“Thank you.”Nick watched her force out a smile to the two medics as they left.She then looked aroundthe room.
“You’re safe here,” Nick said.
“I-I hate hospitals.”
“I worked that one out for myself.You want to tell me why?”
She didn’t, he could see that, but then she let out a loud breath.
“It’s not something I like to talk about.”
He didn’t speak.If she wanted to tell him, then he would listen, otherwise he would just support her for as long as she needed it.
