Page 97 of Unpredictable
I glared at him. “What the hell? No. I’m not going to jump.” I shook my head.
“What?” He shrugged. “I’m only trying to help. When Izzy had an awful stomachache last summer, that’s what the doctor had us do.”
By the time we made it to the car, Reg announced we were going to the hospital. I squeezed my eyes shut. I wanted to fight him, but deep down, I knew he was right. This pain was unreal.
A long—agonizing—ride later, I was being wheeled inside.
“I don’t need—” I squeezed my eyes shut as if to ward off the pain.
“Mm-hmm,” Reg said with a smug tone I didn’t appreciate. “Just take the wheelchair.”
Reg waited in the lobby, while I had my vitals taken and went over my symptoms with a nurse. They hooked me up to an IV, then I peed in a cup and waited. All the while, I was reminded of the day I took Juliana to the hospital after her allergic reaction. I could remember how terrified I’d been of losing her. Even now, as my mind raced with the possible reasons for my pain, my only thought was of her.
I lay back against the bed, visions of Juliana on repeat in my head. But nothing could erase the pain of her walking out on me.
There was a knock at the door, and the doctor returned.
“Mr. Hayes,” he said, glancing up at me from the chart. “You have kidney stones.”
“Really?” I jerked my head back. “Kidney stones? That’s it?”
Kidney stones didn’t sound so terrible after the scenarios I’d imagined. My dad had had kidney stones years ago, and he’d lived to tell the tale. Even though that was the prognosis, it certainly felt more like a broken heart.
“Yep. Though I’m surprised you didn’t feel them until today. They’re a fairly decent size.”
I lifted a shoulder, knowing I had a high tolerance for pain—at least of the physical variety. Emotionally, I was shattered. But he couldn’t help me with that.
“So, what’s the plan?”
“We have a few options,” the doctor said and began listing them.
We opted to blast them, which meant I’d be given a sedative. I texted Reg with an update and told him to go home, but he insisted on staying. I was feeling more relaxed already, thanks to the drugs. And by the time we returned to my hospital room after the procedure, I felt as if I were floating on a cloud.
There was a knock at the door, and then Reg peeked his head inside. “Hey.”
“Hey.” I smiled, feeling a little loopy.
He stepped inside and closed the door behind him. “You okay?”
I nodded, lying back and closing my eyes. “I’m fabulous.”
“I tried calling Juliana, but her office said she’s out of town. Do you want me to call her on your phone?”
I shook my head, listening to the rhythms of the hospital—the squeak of shoes outside in the hall, the steady beat of my heart rate. It was oddly relaxing. At least it had been until he’d mentioned Juliana.
“Did you guys break up?” he asked, sending my pulse racing.
“It’s complicated.”
He dragged one of the chairs over so it was next to the bed. “It always seems to be when it comes to her. So, what happened?”
I stared at him, hard. “You really want to talk about that?Now?”
He leaned back in his chair, crossing one leg at the knee. “You got something better to do?”
I laid my head back against the pillow, the sheets stiff against my skin. He made a good point. I had nothing but time at the moment. They wouldn’t release me for at least another hour.
“She went to Thailand to try to find him.”
