Page 21 of Parallel
“I don’t know what his schedule is like today. You may have to book a follow-up with him if you need moreinformation.”
My nails dig into my palms. “No. I need to see him today. I’ll wait if I haveto.”
“Yes, all the female patients want to see Dr. Reilly again,” she says with a smirk. “But he’s a very busy man. I’ll see what I cando.”
She thinks I’m trying to fuel a crush, when I’m really trying to endone.
My stomach growls loud enough for us both to hear. “There’s a room at the end of the hall with snacks,” she says. “You can grab something while I get your discharge papersready.”
As it turns out, the only snacks I find are graham crackers and juice, but I’m hungry enough I don’t even mind. I reach for a cranberry juice, peeling off the foil and drinking it before I’ve even closed the refrigeratordoor.
“You have to shut the door,” says a small voice. I look over my shoulder to find a little girl with no hair, pulling an IV behind her. “If you don’t, an alarm will gooff.”
“Want one?” Ioffer.
She frowns. “I’m not allowed until my test is done.” I look longingly at the cranberry juices stacked high in the fridge and shut the door. I can’t sit here and drink anything else in front ofher.
“So, are you here all day?” Iask.
She drops her eyes. “I kind of live here. When I ask my mommy if we are going home again, she smiles and cries at the sametime.”
She scans my face, searching for some kind of answer there. I swallow down the lump in my throat. “Do you miss beinghome?”
She nods. “And I miss being outside. We used to go get cupcakes. They have cupcakes here, but not goodones.”
“What kind of cupcakes did youget?”
“Red velvet with the white icing that isn’t justwhite.”
“What about this person?” I ask, pointing to the cartoon character on the T-shirt that covers her hospital gown. “If I come back with a cupcake for you, should I bring one for hertoo?”
She giggles. “That’s Raven. She doesn’t eatcupcakes.”
“Doesn’t eatcupcakes?” I ask, feigning horror. “That’s crazytalk.”
“I should have known Darcy would find you,” says a voice. I look up and Nick is standing there in all his broad-shouldered glory, crooked smile and dimple on fullblast.
My heart flutters and begins beating hard. All my good intentions fade away in his presence—I just want to stay right here and follow him wherever he goes. “Darcy was informing me that Raven does not eat cupcakes. I thoughteveryoneatecupcakes.”
“She’spretend,” says Darcy, dragging out the word and giggling at the sametime.
Nick grins at her. “You, Miss Darcy, need to get to your room so they can get you ready for your test. And you, Miss Quinn, need to get to your room so we can go over your dischargepaperwork.”
I wave at Darcy before she turns away. “Later, Raven. Later, Cupcake Girl.” Her smile is so wide it hurts. A patient like that must break Nick’s heart. She’s breaking mine and I just mether.
When I look up, Nick is watching me in that quiet way of his. I think if I could peek in his head I’d find a thousand words he’ll never give voice to. “So, it looks like you’re ready toleave?”
I want to run my hand over the rasp of his jaw, pull his head low enough that I can press my mouth to his forehead. Exactly the sort of thought that needs to stop. “I was wondering if there is something you can give me to stop the dreams? Maybe some kind of sleepingpill?”
He frowns. “There’s a drug that could help, but one of the primary side effects is headaches. I’m not sure it’s a good idea, under thecircumstances.”
“I’ll risk it,” I say quickly. “I need these dreams tostop.”
He cocks his head to the side. “Why? You were in so much pain yesterday you had to be sedated, and it sounds like these dreams aren’t evenbad.”
I’m frustrated more with myself than with him, though it probably doesn’t come across that way. “Because there’s no point. Do you actually think we’re going to figure out why this ishappening?”
“Probably not, but it’s possible. I keep thinking there’s some obvious explanation we are bothmissing.”