Page 22 of Consumed By Fire

At two pm, I park and we enter the hospital. We go up to the seventh floor and as soon as we get out of the elevator, I feel her nervousness. We walk along the corridors and eventually arrive in the room of Charlotte's sleeping father. Charlotte approaches him, stroking his head.

While she’s in the bathroom, I take and read her father's file. I see that the surgery went well. He needed a bypass after having had some heart attacks in the past few years.

All the vital signs are good and it's a good sign. I'm surprised when someone takes the folder from my hands quite violently.

"This is personal data and you shouldn't be here," I hear in an arrogant voice. He’s a doctor even though he looks young. I'm about to answer him when Charlotte comes out of the bathroom and her eyes widen.

"Logan, what the hell are you doing here?"

"It was about time you showed up! You disappeared without saying anything. You didn't answer my calls. What's your problem?"

"No, what’s your problem?” she says, pointing her finger in his chest and taking back her father's folder, which she gives to me. The man’s eyes study me but I ignore him.

"Baby, I missed you. Where have you been?"

"Oh stop it. You didn't miss me when you were fucking the others! I'm not here for you. In fact, I would have preferred to not see you at all."

I think it’s the former asshole who wanted to get rid of the baby. Now I understand. I feel my anger mounting but I keep it at bay, clenching my fist.

"Charlie..." The idiot tries taking her arm.

"It would be better for you if you took your hands off her now, if you still want to have them," I warned him in a calm voice, closing the folder and putting it down.

"Oh, I see you wasted no time,” he says and I raise an eyebrow, incinerating him. If he's smart, he’ll stop bothering her and go away. I'm not in the mood to tolerate someone insulting my woman.

"Surely you lost less since you were between Elodie's legs the night I dumped you." His amazed look almost amuses me. "We're here for Dad. I don't have time to waste on your games. What do you want?"

"You don't have time to waste ... yeah, I figured,” he says, looking at me. I clench my fists. "You said you were pregnant the last time I saw you, or maybe it wasn't my baby?"

"Fuck you, Logan!” she says and he looks at me again.

"Dude, trust me, she's just a slut trying to..." I don't let him finish talking as he lands with his ass on the ground and his nose bleeding.

"This is just a warning. Respect her, asshole!" I tell him as I go to hug her.

"I'll sue you!" he shouts as he leaves the room.

"Go ahead, do it!" I answer, looking at my angel. "Are you okay, love?" I ask and she nods, hugging me.

"You shouldn't have. If he really sues you, you'll be in trouble with your job."

"Shhhh, don't worry. The douchebag doesn't have the balls to sue me,” I whisper, kissing her head.

We sit on the sofa and wait for her father to wake up.

Meanwhile, Charlotte takes out her iPad and starts writing down everything to do for Valentine's Day. This reminds me that I don't have a present for her, but I have an idea of what I’d like to give.

13

CHARLOTTE

I decided to work a little, and with Dylan's help, it's even easier.

Dad wakes up and I go near him. As soon as he sees me, he starts to cry and hugs me.

"I thought I wouldn’t see you anymore, Charlie! I'm sorry, honey, I'm so sorry for what happened."

"It's okay, Dad. I'm here now."