Page 10 of Ma Belle Marguerite
I must fall back to sleep, because after what feels like only seconds, I hear the door to my room open and people talking.Do people ever shut up in this place?
“Unfortunately, between the severe bruising of his ribs and the grade three concussion, Alexander will have to be admitted for about a week for observation. We need to make sure that there is no lasting damage from his head injury.”Who is this doctor? He doesn’t know what he’s talking about.
“I’m fine. I can rest at home. Just sign me out, Josh.”I’m not staying here. I try to give him my best angry face, but it is difficult with my eyes closed. I don’t want to have the lights make my head pound again. He is so lucky that it hurts to move. Otherwise, I’d just punch him in the face and walk out.
“Sorry, Alexander, the safest option is to keep you here, especially until we know what caused the accident.”God, this doctor is making his way up my shit list. “You haven’t even opened your eyes to talk to me. Plus, your father will kill me if I let you leave and something happens to you.” There is genuine fear in his voice as he mentions my father.
I struggle to open my eyes so I can glare at the doctor. “I will have you know, I was just relaxing my eyes and could have opened them if I wanted to. I’mfine.”
Who turned the fucking lights on again?I squint at Josh, and he just raises his hands in surrender.
“Sorry, boss man. The big boss agrees with the doctor here.” Josh's look of amusement doesn’t match his tone. “Also, do you know what fine means? Fucked up. Insecure. Needy. Emotional.” He takes a small step away so he is out of my reach.
He’s lucky it hurts for me to move right now.Chicken shit.
“Well, I’ll let you two discuss things. We’re getting a room ready upstairs for you. It will be private and more comfortable. A nurse will come and get you when they’re done.” The doctor rushes out the door before I can say anything.
I just want to go home and be comfortable. Is that too much to ask?
Josh is pacing around this tiny room and driving me crazy. “What is your problem? You need to sit still. You’re making me nauseous.” I close my eyes so that I don’t get sick. “Do you need your laptop or something?”
He moves to sit in a chair in the corner of the room. “Sorry, I’m just trying to process everything. Something isn’t sitting right with me.” His brows are furrowed.
“Well, go pace in the hallway and come tell me when you figure it out. I need quiet.” I lay back and try to relax.This pounding in my head needs to go away so I can get up and get out of here.
I hear Josh mutter what sounds like, “Still an asshole.”
“Call me an asshole all you want, but if you felt how I do, then you would understand.” I say this even though I actually like Josh. I would never want him to feel this way. At this moment I don’t really care, though.
He just sits in the corner, quiet and pensive. He’s usually the smart ass cracking jokes. Something is definitely bothering him. It is rare to see this side of him.
“Josh, if you are upset about your car, you know that you can talk to me. I’m your friend, not just your boss.” I can’t open myeyes much to see his face, but I have a feeling I know what it looks like: angry. “I’ll buy you a new Corvette if I can’t fix this one.”
Josh just grunts. He obviously isn’t listening and is in his own world looking at his phone. I don’t have the energy to deal with this right now. I know he loved that car, but he should know I wouldn’t have damaged it on purpose.
I lie back and try to remember what happened last night. It makes my head hurt the more I try to force myself to remember anything.
“Hey, boss. I have something to tell you. You aren’t going to like it, but just wait for me to finish talking,” Josh mumbles while still staring at his phone.
“What? Not like I can do anything about it at the moment.” I point to my ribs. Just that slight movement has me flinching.
“I wouldn’t put it past you to jump out of that bed and try to beat the crap out of me if you really wanted to.” His voice is full of apprehension.
Maybe he is more intelligent than he acts.
“Turn the fucking lights off, then tell me.” God, those lights hurt. It’s like someone is using my head as a drum from the inside. It’s like the banging and throbbing is bouncing around inside my skull.
He hurries to do as I ask and looks back at me. “So when we arrived, I had to get your health card from your wallet. And there’s a new girl working in the front registration area.” He starts fidgeting with his bracelet as he looks away.
Most girls here know who we are and just wave us on to the nurse without bothering to register us. I still don’t see why this matters or what has him so anxious. Annoying and inconvenient? Yes. Is it my problem? No.
“Okay, and so far, I’m not hearing anything I won’t like,” I quip impatiently. “Just get to the point already!”This pounding in my head is going to be the death of me.
“Okay, so, you know the picture you keep in your wallet?” He pauses. “Well, it fell out as I was getting your health card. The girl picked it up before I could get it, and her face went white. When I looked to see what would make her react like that…it was her.”
I turn my head too fast in his direction, causing a sharp, shooting pain. Holding my fingers to my temple, I ask, “Bella? Are you sure it wasn’t just someone who looks like her?” This is too much for me right now. “She has family that still lives here, maybe a cousin or something?”
“Yes, I’m sure. It looked just like Isabella. A bit older, but the same.” Josh grabs a weird, kidney-shaped thing and places it beside me before he continues. “Her name tag also said Isabella Moreau. So, she either changed her last name to hide from you, or she’s married.” My heart sinks. I guess she found someone else while she was exploring without me.Was anything we had even real? Did she just use me to pass the time until she could escape this town?
