Page 30 of Painting Her Fate

I put the truck in drive and head to the hospital. Maybe she will keep me company while I sit in the waiting area. I sure hope so. Knowing her, she will tether herself to me, so I have no other choice. For our sake I hope we’re not there the rest of the day. This girl deserves more than vending machine coffee.

Would she notice if I made a wrong turn and avoided the hospital all together? Probably.

Not to mention, that sass of hers might get me into trouble.Mercy, woman. I find I want more.

Mind out of the gutter, man. It’s just coffee. She won’t have a thing to do with you after that. Best to gear up now to be disappointed later.

As we make our way onto the highway, I check on her every chance I get. She is quiet for most of the drive, until Disturbed comes over the satellite radio. She begins humming along to the lyrics. I catch her staring out the passenger window, her fingers tapping along to the rhythm on the center council between us. How I’d like to hold that hand.

Don’t go falling for a girl you met an hour ago, Zander. Drama follows, it always does. Stay far away from this one.

The song ends right before making the decision to pull into valet parking. I throw it in park and grab the damned sling from the backseat floor. I drape it over my left forearm, knowing the doctors would tell me to use it. We get out, the valet attendant handing me a ticket. I thank him then stand at Lili’s side.

I look her up and down while she pays me no heed. The happiness she had a few minutes ago is gone. She stares blankly at the building; her warm complexion is now pasty and grim. A stark contrast to the radiant woman commanding me mere minutes ago. She begins biting her lip as one of her fingers starts up a repetitive tapping on one of the buttons of her jacket. I’ve witnessed this before. Far too often.

She’s frightened of hospitals.

I’m not a fan, myself, but they don’t give me the heebie-jeebies, not like this.

“You feelin’, okay?” I ask, stepping in front of her to block her view.

Marines get this way too. Members of my patrol team would have that same quiet expression right before heading out. Once we got going, they would eventually calm down and the adrenaline would kick in. Lili’s adrenaline has to be shot at this point.

“Hmmm?” She looks up at me, her thoughts distant. The fear on her face was undeniable and hard to witness. I’d rather see that smile of hers again.

“You want to know a secret?” I hold out my hand to lend comfort. She glances down at it then takes it in hers willingly. I squeeze her hand, “I’m not a fan of hospitals. Maybe you can help me through it?”

It’s not one hundred percent true, I just hate the atmosphere and the staleness they give off. The weeks spent in a hospital in Germany, and all the Veteran hospital trips I attended once home; I’ve had my fill.

Her smile returns, although it’s forced. She takes in a few deep breaths then begins to relax and come back to the woman I chatted and laughed with. Then she sends me her nod of agreement as we head towards the entrance of the emergency room.

Once inside, the attendant at the counter gives me a clipboard to fill out. This in turn makes me release her hand as we walk to the seating area. There are only three seats taken, quite a surprise for being the weekend. Could be early enough in the day yet, I guess.

I find a set of chairs along the front windows and sit down the same time a buzzing sounds from her pocket. Lili checks the screen, her face instantly lighting.

“I have to take this. I’ll be right back.” She scurries around the corner to the vending machine area to take the call.

I complete the paperwork, take it to the attendant, and then sit back down. A minute passes before Lili’s bright smile greets me once again, her nerves nearly extinguished. I can’t help but smile back at her.

Damn it. This woman has my feelings all over the place.

“That was my dad with good news. He’s being moved from the ICU to the general floor.” She sits in the chair next to me and takes my hand in hers. “Can I hold this while we wait?”

My smile broadens. Who was I to deny her?

“Of course.” I give her hand a gentle squeeze, “How is he doing?” I try making small talk. I hate small talk.Who am I and what is she doing to me?

She heaves a sigh. “He’s giving the nurses a tough time and demands he be released. I reassured him he will be doing no such thing and to be nicer to the staff who are having to deal with his grumpiness.”

She takes on a maternal tone and I have to admit, it’s kinda cute. It’s then I wonder if her parents are no longer together. She’s deflected on just about every topic I’ve asked about her, turning it back to my life and the bar business. She can redirect things, for now. I’ll get something out of her by the end of the day.

I eye her with a smirk, “And what Lili says, goes?”

That wicked grin of hers tells me I’m right. Shy Lili is no longer present. I wonder how far her reaches go to the bedroom. She certainly has the sass to follow it up with.

“Exactly right.” She nods and confirms my suspicions, “In more ways than one.”

Was that a wink?Now I know I’m in for some fun with this one.

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