Page 85 of Last Date
He strode toward me, face hard and his mouth a grim line. When he reached me, he put his arms around me, and I slumped against him. I felt like I had to be dreaming. Had the van run me over and this was a hallucination?
“Are you okay?” Merrick’s urgent voice asked against my ear.
“Think so.” My face throbbed and my ribs ached, but for the most part, I was fine. At least I was alive. “I don’t understand,” I grated out, trying to comprehend what had just happened.
“I’ll tell you everything, but first, you’re going to the hospital.”
An EMT approached, leading me to an ambulance, and Merrick disappeared into the crowd of cops and spectators. From that point on, everything was a blur. I was taken to hospital, where they did X-rays and gave me an MRI to be sure my brain wasn’t swelling. They informed me I had a cracked rib but that my nose wasn’t broken. Every inch of me hurt, until one nice nurse gave me some pain medication.
By the time they released me, Thomas was there along with my mom. Mom looked like she’d been crying, and Thomas was talking to Peter. Just my luck he was apparently on duty in the ER. I had no idea where Merrick was. I hadn’t seen him since the parking lot.
If I’d had my choice, I’d have avoided a face-to-face encounter with Peter. Unfortunately, the nurse who’d insisted I ride in a wheelchair pushed me straight up to the three of them. I had no idea if Merrick had been able to talk to Peter yet, or what the status of their relationship was, until my gaze met Peter’s. My stomach sank as his eyes glittered with animosity.
Awkward.
Peter’s smile was strained, but at least when he spoke, he sounded professional. “Kip, I’ve given your mother and Thomas some suggestions on how to make you more comfortable at home. I’m afraid that cracked rib is going to be very painful for a while. The first two weeks will be the worst, then it should gradually get better.”
“Thank you. I’ll plan on taking it easy.”
“Good idea.” His voice was clipped. “Anyway, I have lots of other patients, so I wish you luck on your recovery.” He turned and walked away, shoulders stiff.
Thomas studied me, his hands in his pockets. “You look like you were run over by a car.”
“Thanks to Merrick, no.” I licked my lower lip, feeling it was swollen.
Mom bent down and gave me an awkward hug. “How’s my baby boy?”
“Really, Mom?” I muttered, face red.
She ruffled my hair. “I was so worried. They were taking forever giving us updates.”
The nurse who’d made me sit in the wheelchair said, “They never want to give the wrong information. Better to give the correct information late than the wrong information early.”
“True.” Thomas nodded.
“I’m going to wheel Kip out front. You can bring your car around to pick him up if you’d like?” the nurse said.
“Sure.” Thomas nodded and took off for the sliding doors.
Once outside, Thomas helped me into the back seat, and Mom insisted on sitting in the back with me.
“I feel like a chauffeur,” Thomas complained. “Why couldn’t you sit up front with me, Mom?”
Mom took my hand in hers. “Because Kip might need me.”
“It’s a ten-minute drive,” Thomas said.
“You never know.” Mom patted my hand.
“I’m going to drop you off at your house, Kip, and then go pick up your pain pill prescription.”
“Thanks.” I closed my eyes.
Mom sighed. “Thomas, did Merrick tell you yet why that monster attacked Kip?”
I opened my eyes. “Yeah, I’d love to know that too.”
“He hasn’t told me a thing.” Thomas met my gaze in the rearview mirror. “Sorry. I’m sure he’ll fill you in, Kip.”
