Page 77 of Kiss Me Ever After
“We need to get you seen to.” Alex took charge and pulled me to my feet. “Curtis, call a taxi.”
Curtis punched a number into his phone then went to the living room to get my belongings. He slung a jacket around my shoulders, and the three of us headed outside to wait.
The taxi driver didn’t comment on my appearance or our destination, which I was grateful for. After what seemed like an eternity, we arrived at the urgent care facility. I’d been drifting in and out of consciousness, the only way I could cope with the pain.
Alex and Curtis supported me on either side as we went up to the reception desk. Alex gave the receptionist the basics he knew, and we were told to take a seat and wait. Current waiting time was around three hours, so I tried to make myself as comfortable as possible.
“We shouldn’t have asked you to move out,” muttered Alex. “If I’d have known this was going to happen…”
“It’s not your fault,” I reassured Alex. “If this doesn’t convince my mum Ted is bad news, I don’t know what will.”
“Do you think she’ll leave him this time?” asked Curtis.
I shrugged, then winced as pain shot through my ribs. “No idea. But after everything he’s done, messing around with other women, now this, she’d be crazy to stay with him.”
“I can call her if you like?” Curtis went to get his phone out of his pocket.
“Let’s wait until they’ve seen me. It might be nothing to worry about.” As I finished the sentence, nausea overwhelmed me, and I threw up all over the floor.
A nurse rushed over. “I think we’d better hurry you through,” he said, gesturing to the receptionist. “Can you get someone to clean this up?”
He helped me to my feet, and we went through to one of the cubicles. He patiently helped me to lie on the bed. “Let’s take a look at you.”
I closed my eyes as he asked me several questions about how I’d got the injuries and where the most pain was. I answered as truthfully as I could, explaining the pain in my ribs and behind my eye. While he bathed the wounds and wiped off the blood, a doctor appeared. She repeated the same questions and prodded and poked my body.
“I’d like to keep you in overnight as a precaution,” she stated. “Nothing serious, although the vomiting could be an issue if it happens again. I think it’s mostly superficial, but we’ll get your ribs x-rayed just to be sure, and check for any signs of internal bleeding. You’ll certainly need to take it easy for a few days.”
Unable to think of anything to say, I nodded. The painkillers she’d prescribed were already starting to take effect, and I succumbed to their strength.
Going home hadn’t exactly been as I’d expected. I needed to work on Candace and get her to let me move in, otherwise God only knew what Ted would do next.
34
Lennon
Carly had finally persuadedme to go out with her and her friends to see a band. Since the incident with Robert, I hadn’t ventured out much except to the cinema with Lucas. He was the one who had convinced me to go in the end, telling me I couldn’t stagnate in the apartment every night and I needed to give myself a break.
“All work and no play makes Lennon a dull girl,” he quipped. “And you can always call me to come and rescue you if it gets too much.”
Lucas was right. I needed to have some fun.
When the evening came, I met Carly at the pub. She introduced me to her friends, mostly couples, and those who were single were female. Inwardly, I breathed a sigh of relief that I wouldn’t be chatted up or have to answer any awkward questions about my relationship status.
“Lennon’s amazing!” said Carly to the group. “Wherever she last worked was crazy to let her go. She’s so good with customers, our tips have increased about twenty percent since she joined.”
I laughed. “Don’t be ridiculous. It’s at least thirty.”
She nudged me in the ribs. “Whatever. It’s been nice to have you there.”
“Thanks.” A smile crept across my face.
We drank and chatted easily until the time came for the band to start.
As they played the opening chords, my hand froze as I brought my wine glass up to my lips. At first, I couldn’t place them, but as the song wore on, it became more recognisable. I twisted in my seat to get a better look at them. The lead singer definitely looked familiar, and I’d met him before. But where? The set continued, and I studied them until recognition kicked in.
“He’s pretty hot, isn’t he?” Carly yelled in my ear.
I couldn’t deny that, but it wasn’t the reason they captivated me.
