Page 15 of Maple Sugar Mix-Up
“Ouch,” Paul said, after I explained.
“So, I’m done,” I said with a shrug. “He’s obviously serious about not wanting to date and, well, I didn’t want to either.”
“Sorry I got you stuck in that,” said Paul.
“It wasn’t your fault,” I reluctantly admitted. “I knew there was a chance you wouldn’t win the bid.”
We said our goodbyes and I dove back into a pile of discharge files, trying to take my mind off of Ashton.
Shit, I was even seeing his name now.
Wait no, this filedidsay Ashton.
I rolled my eyes at myself; it wasn’t that uncommon a name after all. But as I started checking it against the computer I froze.
Basque, Ashton
First name sure, but last name too?
No, this wasn’t a coincidence. It was him!
I didn’t usually delve into files any more than I needed too, but I quickly flipped it open and my jaw dropped. According to the admission information he had come in just a few hours after our date ended. Unconscious, nearly hypothermic, and with a broken ankle. Gods!
My break was soon, so I skipped out early and headed into another wing and up to his room. He hadn’t been ghosting me at all, he had beenhere, right under my nose all week!
I eased open the door to his room and stepped in. My heart skipped as I spotted him, sitting on the edge of his bed. Nervously, I cleared my throat and rapped my knuckles gently on the open door.
He looked up and his eyes widened.
“Jace?!” he gasped.
“Hey,” I said awkwardly. “Um…”
“What are you doing here?”
Here in his room? I had no fucking clue. “I work here,” I said, going with the easy answer. “I saw your discharge papers and… What happened?”
Ashton grimaced. “I decided to go home after you left and slipped on some ice. Hit my head. I guess I was there for a couple of hours before someone found me.”
“Oh shit,” I gasped. An urge to protect the omega rose in me and I cursed myself for having left. I should have stayed.
He patted his leg. “And managed to snap my ankle between the curb and my car,” he added, rolling his eyes at himself.
“I’m so sorry.”
“Not your fault,” Ashton replied with a shrug. “My ankle is going to be a pain, but it isn’t so bad. I had to wait here all week because of surgery delays and complications, but I’m finally waiting to get discharged.”
“I saw,” I said, nodding.
He grinned. “Now I just have to wait for my mother to call me back for a pickup. Of course, I also had to go and fallonmy phone, so I can’t text her or anything. I’ve been stuck leaving messages with the hospital phone and waiting for her to call.”
“That sucks. I… wait, your phone is broken?!” I cried.
Ashton looked at me curiously. “Yes?”
“I thought…” I started laughing and sank down on a chair.
“What?”
