Page 97 of Cluelessly Yours

Every muscle, every bone,every cellinside my body feels like someone has put it in a blender and hit the highest setting. And when I open my eyes, it takes a concerted effort, along with more blinks than my foggy brain can count, to find focus on anything.

First, I see the ceiling.

And then, the bright-white lights above me.

My head throbs as I move my gaze down the wall and spot a whiteboard that has the wordsNurse: Daniellewritten out in black marker.Did I sleep in a patient room last night instead of my on-call room?

“Is he awake?”

“He’s awake!”

“They’re getting the doctor!”

“Sammy, I don’t think you should be getting out of bed.”

“I’m fine.”

Familiar voices filter into my ears as my brain tries to put the puzzle pieces together. My own body, inside this hospital bed, an IV in my arm, and a hospital gown on my body.

And bruises. Lots of fucking bruises and abrasions down my arms.

What in the hell is going on?

I try to sit up, but a gentle hand to my chest keeps me in place. “Don’t get up yet, Noah.”

“Brooke?” I question when I meet her eyes.

But before she can answer, Sammy steps up beside her, dressed in a hospital gown just like me.

“Sammy?”

“Hi, Noah,” she whispers, and I swear, a sheen of tears coats her perfect aqua-green eyes. “How are you feeling?”

I don’t have time to answer that question, though, because a third woman is now standing at the foot of my bed. A woman who has the power to bring back a waterfall of memories.

Sammy and I were kissing and laughing and trying to make our way into my apartment. The night was perfect. Everything was perfect.

Until I sawherstanding at my door.

“I’m pregnant,” Ashley said. “And we need to talk.”

The rest of the memories are fuzzy as they come in.

Sammy walking away. Me going after her.

The sidewalk. The street.The cab.

All I remember after that is sprinting out into the street and the loud sounds of brakes and metal crunching, along with the initial shock of pain that vibrated through my body as I tried to hold on to her with all my might.

Without hesitation, my gaze locks on Sammy again, and I search over her manically, checking for injuries. She looks banged up with bruises like me, but she’s standing. That has to be a good sign, right?

“I’m glad to see you’re finally awake,” Brooke announces with a soft smile.

Finally awake? As in, I’ve beennotawake for an extended period of time?

“H-how long have I been out?”

“A few days.”

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