Page 6 of Holiday on the Rocks
He pushed me gently back into the vehicle. “We have to get you to the hospital. You might have a concussion.”
TWO
LEVI
IN HER PRESENCE
She held the sides of her head with her hands. “Just don’t talk to me.”
We drove in silence and the amount of time my eyes were on her instead of the road might not have been the safest. I’d day dreamed of this moment so many times, being in the same place with her, but in every thought, I’d always had the perfect thing to say, you know, smartassy and clever, but now my ability to spit out the English language seemed to be on hiatus.
It was too quiet. I needed to say something. Anything.
I cleared my throat. “So.” Yup, that was all I had.
She glared in my direction and panic shot through me. My eyes landed on the bag of candy sitting on the dash. “Skittle?”
She huffed as she adjusted the blood soaked glove against her head. “What?”
I grabbed the pack and meant to offer it to her, but I moved too quickly and several shot out and bounced off her face.
“Sorry.”
I pulled up to the emergency room entrance, opened her door, and extended my hand which she swatted away. “I don’t want your help.”
“Will you quit being stubborn, Langley?”
She stood and closed her eyes as she leaned against my vehicle. In an instant I scooped her up and walked through the double doors. While I half expected a punch to my jaw, instead she kind of settled in.
I never wanted to move again.
I held her and got her checked in and the nurse led us to an exam room where I set her on the exam table and she immediately lay down and closed her eyes.
I stood near her as the nurse examined and cleaned the gouge on her hairline.
“The doctor will be in shortly. You’re going to need some stitches.”
The door was closed and she rolled on her side. “Please just go.”
“I don’t want to.”
“Well you narcissistic douche canoe. How can I help the world revolve around you today?”
“Allie, I know you hate me?—”
“We’ve clearly gotten off on the wrong foot, Levi. It’s throat punch Thursday. Step on over and we’ll celebrate.”
“Langley—”
She groaned and put her hands over her eyes. “The sound of your stupid voice makes me want to get tanked by noon.”
“Come on?—”
“Please leave now.”
“I’m not leaving you here in the hospital.”
She rolled over and her eyes cut me. “Why not? You’re an expert on that front.”
