Page 52 of Seductive Desires
I nodded slowly. Jo grabbed a bag from the side of the bed. “Here. I brought you these. When I woke up in the hospital, it was nice to put on new clothes and not worry about anything. Liam’s sister always bought new stuff for me to make me feel a little better.”
I managed a small smile. “Thank you. I appreciate it. Do you think I can change now or do I have to wait for the doctor?”
“I think my ears are burning. Did someone mention a doctor?”
Dr. O’Connor poked his head around the curtain. Jo immediately hopped off the bed, throwing her arms around him.
“Sean!”
He squeezed her tightly. “Hey, Jo. When are you guys going to stop ending up in my hospital?”
She snickered. “Mariana, this is Sean, Liam’s younger brother. He’s been treating Mateo upstairs. Are you coming to discharge Mari? The ER doc is a huge asshole.” She didn’t know that I had already met Dr. O’Connor the last time Mateo ended up here.
He snorted. “I’m going to tell him you said that. Yes, I’m going to do a quick check, make sure you didn’t bump your head when you fell, then you are good to go. I’m sure you’re eager to get upstairs but don’t rush, he’s sleeping right now anyway.”
I was frozen, my hands clutching the blankets. “You treated Mateo? He’s okay?”
He nodded. “He’ll be fine. He got lucky, both bullets missed the major organs.”
“BOTH?!”
Sean actually jumped. “You…didn’t know that part, did you?” He rubbed the back of his neck, looking sheepish. “I’m sorry. I thought you were there…”
I was there, but I couldn’t tell where he was hurt, there was too much blood and everything happened so fast. I didn’t know he got hit twice. I jerked the blanket off my legs, grabbing the bag that Jo had brought. I couldn’t sit here, I needed to go see him.
Sean looked startled. “Hey hey calm down. Like I said, he’s fine. He’s just resting right now. He won’t even need to stay very long.”
I ignored him, pulling the clothes on underneath the gown. When I got to the top, I paused, waiting until Jo shoved him past the curtain. She jerked it closed and I ripped off the gown, throwing on the rest of the clothes. I was tugging on my shoes when he came back.
“Alright, freeze.”
I hesitated. He looked a little more put out and he wasn’t smiling anymore.
“Before you go rushing out of here, I need to do a quick exam. What’s with you guys always wanting to make my job more difficult?”
Jo and Gabi snickered and he rolled his eyes, stepping in front of me and forcing me to sit on the edge of the bed. To his credit, he was quick. He rattled off his questions while checking my eyes, prodding my head to check for any pain. Finally, he handed me a clipboard.
“Sign this.”
I scribbled my name and tossed it back to him. “Can I go now?”
He raised an eyebrow. “Well, I was going to offer to show you the way but…”
I flinched. I was being an asshole. “I’m sorry. I’m not usually such a bad patient, I promise. I just…”
He waved his hand dismissively, smirking at me. “I’m teasing. Come on, I’ll show you the way.”
* * *
Jo and Gabiwalked with me all the way to Mateo’s room before saying goodbye, saying they wanted to give us privacy. When I hesitated outside the door, Sean gripped my shoulder supportively.
“He’s okay. You can go see him now.”
The lights were off in the room, the curtains drawn. The only light that came in was from the open door. I hovered by the doorway. I don’t know what to do. Everything was so confusing. I stepped lightly up to the edge of the bed, trying to stay quiet so I didn’t wake him. I slipped my hand into his and a lump formed in my throat.
“You’re an idiot, you know that?” I whispered. “You should’ve let me handle it. We had a plan… I didn’t want you to get hurt.” I swiped stray tears away with the back of my hand.
“I was already hurt, Mariana. When you chose to stay with Liam instead of coming home with me.”