Page 141 of Things I Read About

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She closes her eyes. “I need time.”

My heart stops. “Time, time for what?”

“Actually, you need time. You need to call Fergus back and un-quit. You need to get better, calm down, and see how you really feel weeks from now.”

“W-weeks?”

“Nate, you look bad. Get back in your bed.”

“Weeks?”

She takes my hand from her face and squeezes it. “Nate, we can talk more later, right now, you have to get in your bed, for me, okay? Before you faint.”

I back up, crashing into something on my way. But I find the edge of my stupid bed and manage to sit on it. “You’re not sure anymore?” I ask. Doesn’t really sound like my voice.

“That was never the question, Nate. Just rest, lay back. Nate!”

Oh hell, I don’t feel so…

_____

I focus on breathing and opening my eyes. I’m relieved to see I’m in the same room. I look over to my girl’s bed, but it’s gone.

She’s gone.

I ignore the annoying beeping of my climbing heart rate on the monitor.

Nonononono.

Where’s my phone?

I find it on the built-in side table.

I open it up to my text thread with Shep.

Nate: WTF?!

Asshole Riggs: Sorry man, I pleaded your case.

Nate: Where is she??

Asshole Riggs: Not at the hospital anymore. It was leaked to the press and people started sending greeting cards for her by the truckload.

Asshole Riggs: Hardly any for you LOL

Nate: Focus man!

Asshole Riggs: Just rest and get better. I’ll come by tomorrow.

Nate: The hell you will

Nate: It’s time for those reinforcements

Nate: RIGHT NOW, RIGGS!

36

Shep grins at me from the steering wheel. “Nate still texting you every day?”

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