Total pages in book: 54
Estimated words: 50872 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 254(@200wpm)___ 203(@250wpm)___ 170(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 50872 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 254(@200wpm)___ 203(@250wpm)___ 170(@300wpm)
He takes them from my arms. “I’m going to swap cars with you for the night. There’s glass all in yours. I’ll get it cleaned up tomorrow and then we can swap back.”
I nod. “Thanks, Huddy. And thanks for coming so quick.”
He nods with a grunt. He’s mellowed some since he got with Elle, but he still has trouble processing emotions sometimes. “Sure, no problem, brother.”
He steps off the porch, and I go back inside. Trip after trip, I carry Ally’s stuff outside. I wait for her to object or try to stop me, but every time I walk past her, she’s staring at me with her fingers pressed to her still swollen lips.
After I’ve cleared out her drawers and the bathroom, I go back in for her as I’m pulling on a T-shirt. I pull out my phone, shoot off a text to the doctor, and then help Ally up from the couch. “You ready?”
She nods, visibly shaken now. “Yeah, I’ll just stay a few days, Austin. Just enough for things to die down and then I’ll come back home.”
I’m nodding my head as I lead her out the door. She must not have been paying attention because I packed all her clothes. Huddy’s waiting for us, and I lead Ally over to his truck. “My window’s broken, and Huddy’s letting us use his truck so you don’t sit on broken glass or anything.”
She sighs worriedly. “Your whole family is going to hate me before this is over with.”
Huddy opens the passenger door to his truck. “Nope, no chance. His whole family already loves you. I’m pretty sure most of us would pick you over Austin anyway.”
Ally laughs, and I let it flow over me. I’ve always loved the sound of her laugh, but right now, I need to hear it.
When I’ve thanked Huddy again and we’re pulling out of the neighborhood, I break it to Ally. “We’re going to see your doctor.”
Ally turns in her seat. “It’s late. I’ll go tomorrow to make sure everything is okay.”
The fact that she’s not telling me straight-out no worries me even more. “I already called, and he’s meeting us there.”
She puts her hand on the dashboard, and I realize I’m driving too fast. I take my foot off the pedal as she tells me, “My doctor is out of town.”
I don’t respond. I’m not sure how to respond, so instead, I change the subject. “How are you feeling?”
“I’m fine, Austin. It was just a twinge.”
I grip the steering wheel even tighter. The trip to Jasper Hospital takes thirty minutes normally, but I make it in twenty. The ride here, Ally is quiet, and about halfway through the trip, she’s fallen asleep.
I park in the lot and then go around to wake her up. When I pull the door open, she doesn’t even budge. I undo her seatbelt and lean in, unable to resist. I press my lips to hers. “Ally, honey.”
She blinks at me and then looks out at the dark parking lot. “Austin, the doctor’s office is closed at this hour. If you insist I get seen, then we’ll probably have to go in through the emergency room.”
Just as she finishes, Brandon pulls in next to us. He comes over to the truck and looks in at Ally before holding his keys up. “Come on, I’ll unlock the door.”
I help Ally out of the truck, and we walk inside. The whole way, she’s berating me for having her doctor come in this late at night. “Do you have any idea how much this is going to cost?” Her forehead creases as she tries to process everything. “Wait. How did you know he was one of my doctors?”
I tuck her into my side and wrap an arm around her. “Don’t worry about it.”
She shakes her head and starts to mumble. “Don’t worry about it, he says. Sure, let’s call in a doctor to come in after hours. No big deal.”
I lean down and kiss her, and when I pull back, she’s quiet as she stares up at me. Finally, I figured out a way to stop her from arguing with me.
We follow behind Brandon as he flips light switches in each room we pass. When we get through the lobby and the hallway, he stops at the first exam room. After flipping that light on, he opens the door. “All right, let’s get you situated, and we’re going to take another look.”
Ally nods and gets up on the table. I stand to the side, still holding her hand as she lies back. Brandon pulls out a tray for her legs, and she’s lying on her back, staring at the ceiling. “You okay?” I ask her.
She nods as she continues to stare up at the ceiling.
Brandon is doing something on the other side of the room, so I lean in to whisper to her, “Are you mad at me?”