Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 55839 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 279(@200wpm)___ 223(@250wpm)___ 186(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 55839 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 279(@200wpm)___ 223(@250wpm)___ 186(@300wpm)
“Of course they’re going to call me. You’re one of my best friends.” I step back so I can look him over once more, like I’ll know what’s wrong with him by one glance.
Ledger moves next to me. “The doctor says they want to check his heart out. They’re ordering an echocardiogram, and they’ve already checked his chest for a blood clot.”
“Blood clots?” This sounds so serious. I think about how I felt after losing my mother, and I worry about what will happen if I lose Roman.
I can’t lose him.
“We’re going to go downstairs and get something to eat,” Dev says, wrapping an arm around Chloe. “Baby’s hungry.”
Chloe pats her belly. “The baby’s always hungry.” They turn to leave and then she glances over her shoulder. “If we’re not back by the time they move you, text us the room number.”
Roman nods. “I will.”
Ledger clears his throat. “I’m gonna head out with them. I need to get to the club soon. You keep me updated. I don’t care how late it is. I’ll call and check in.” Ledger leans in to give Roman a hug.
“Will do.” Roman appears so laid-back about what’s going on, but his eyes dart anxiously around the room after Ledger leaves.
I scoot a chair closer to the bed and take a seat. “Care to tell me what happened?”
“After you left last night, I got dizzy. Chloe and Dev said I should stay at their house until I felt better.” Roman sucks in a deep breath. “I thought I was having a heart attack. I just don’t feel good and I don’t know why.”
I take his hand in mine and give a reassuring squeeze. “The doctors will figure it out and get you back to feeling better.”
His blue eyes shift to the ceiling. “If I’m being honest, I’m kind of scared to find out what it is. Don’t tell anyone that I’m scared, but I am.”
My heart clenches inside my chest. He almost looks ashamed of his confession. “It’s normal to be scared right now, but we’ll get through it. No matter what the doctors say.”
He looks over at me and one corner of his mouth lifts. “I’m sure I’ll be out in time to make brunch since the picnic is canceled.”
I laugh lightly. “Brunch is the furthest thing from my mind. So is the picnic. The only thing that matters now is you getting better.”
A nurse, wearing light blue scrubs, pushes a wheelchair into the room. “Ready to get out of here?” she asks Roman.
He nods. “Sure am.”
Her silver-streaked red bob swings as she bustles around, disconnecting wires before helping him into the wheelchair.
“We’ll let your wife grab your belongings and follow us up to your new room.” She smiles at me with warmth in her dark brown eyes.
“I’m not his wife,” I clarify as I move to gather Roman’s things.
“Oh, sorry,” she fires back.
“I’m not that lucky,” Roman says to the nurse. He gives me a wink. “But she is my girlfriend.”
The sight of Roman in the hospital has me mentally wrecked, and I internally cringe that I forgot we’re pretending to be in a relationship. I need to be better at this game, but it’s hard when all I can think about is his well-being.
“Ah, okay. So there’s hope for you two yet.” The nurse pushes him out of the room, and I gather his things and follow behind them.
The nurse wheels Roman toward the elevator amid the distant murmurings of medical staff and the eerie hum of machinery.
“How long have you two been together?” the nurse asks as the elevator doors slide open and we move inside.
“A few months,” I answer at the same time Roman says, “Years.”
She laughs and pushes the button for the third floor. I squeeze my eyes shut. I think we need to get our story straight.
“We’ve known each other for years, but only recently got together,” I correct as the doors slide closed and the elevator ascends.
“I met her when she was just a bratty kid,” Roman says with a fond smile. His gaze sweeps across my face and his voice turns husky when he says, “But I’m the lucky one who got to watch her grow into this beautifully amazing woman.”
Roman’s amazing at pretending. I can feel my face growing hot as a blush creeps up my neck. “He’s just being nice.”
“I’m not a nice guy,” he says.
The elevator doors open, and the nurse pushes him out with a wistful look on her face. “Sounds like true love to me.”
Thankfully, no response is required because she goes right into how she knew her husband was her true love when he bought her cat a Christmas gift. An ugly Christmas sweater to be exact.
“Aw,” I say as she wheels Roman into a larger, private room with a nicer bed than he had in the emergency room.