Page 28 of Collide
“Your scans look good. I’ll need to check your vitals and take a look at your stitches before we can discharge you,” Dr. Ryan says, grabbing the blood pressure cuff and wrapping it around my arm.
“Will your boyfriend be taking you home?” she asks, eyeing Alex.
Boyfriend?
Blood rushes to my face, and I glance up at Alex through my lashes. He doesn’t flinch, merely nodding at the doctor as if he has every right to be here.
“Um, no, he’s, um, my sister—he’s not my boyfriend,” I stammer, immediately regretting the way I clarify things.
I glance back at Dr. Ryan, then back to Alex. He winks at me.
What, why didn’t correct her?
Dr. Ryan proceeds with the examination, shining a small flashlight into my eyes, then inspecting my head. I wince at the slight pain as she prods at the stitches. I feel a cool hand slip into mine, and I know it’s Alex. My body calms momentarily, but heat surges up my arm, and I can’t focus on anything else.
“Everything seems okay. We’ll discuss aftercare and your follow-up appointment. Any dizziness or blurred vision, please come back to emergency immediately,” Dr. Ryan states, pulling away.
She adjusts my head back gently. “You’re not allowed to get it wet for the next twenty-four hours, and try not to use any products in your hair until the stitches dissolve in about a week.”
Just then, a commotion outside catches my attention. The door opens, and a flustered nurse enters, followed by averyirritated Philippa. She storms into the room, immediately eyeing Alex, who hasn’t released my hand.
He doesn’t move it. I glance at him, confused, but he remains in position.
“Why didn’t you call me?” Philippa seethes, eyeing Alex up and down.
I shrug, removing my hand from his, embarrassed at enjoying that moment a little too much.
“Would someone please explain?” She huffs, looking between the three of us.
“Miss…?” Dr. Ryan interrupts, and both Alex and I seem to exhale in relief.
“Miss Montgomery,” snaps Philippa, prompting Dr. Ryan to proceed.
“If you would please step outside with me,” Dr. Ryan continues, gently ushering her out into the hallway.
I risk a glance at Alex. He’s looking at me with an intensity that makes my heart race, and I quickly avert my gaze.
“Sorry about my sister,” I apologize, feeling bad for the way she barreled in here, though I don’t blame her.
“It’s okay.” He smiles, brushing a strand of hair from my face with the gentleness of someone far too used to calming people down.
Philippa walks back in a moment later, her eyes glassy. She looks at Alex and then at me, her expression shifting from irritation to something softer, but also a little surprised.
“Oh, God! We thought something awful had happened.” She gasps, her eyes filling with tears as she pulls me into a quick but tight embrace.
Oh, shit. Guilt hits me hard, fast, and without warning. “Sorry, Pip, it was an accident. I was out of it, and by the time I came to, it was almost midnight. Figured you’d be asleep.”
“Well, you thought wrong. We’ve been sick with worry. The police wouldn’t let us file a report because it hadn’t been twenty-four hours yet. We assumed you’d run away—back to Australia or off withsomeguy,” she exclaims, looking directly at Alex.
The thought warms something in me. My sister had been worried. I knew she cared in her own way. I didn’t mean to make her panic. Still, it meant something.
“And you rescued her?” she directs at Alex, who looks at her with hardly any emotion on his face.
He nods. “Yes, I did.”
“Thank you,” she says. She tilts her head slightly like she’s studying him. Then I see it—his mask slips.
“All good.” He shrugs, shifting slightly, taking a step back. He coughs uncomfortably as he turns to the side.
