Total pages in book: 65
Estimated words: 63410 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 317(@200wpm)___ 254(@250wpm)___ 211(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 63410 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 317(@200wpm)___ 254(@250wpm)___ 211(@300wpm)
When a nurse enters the room and attaches a document to the clipboard at the foot of my bed, she says, “The doctor will explain the results when he makes his rounds.”
I wait for her to leave then look at Miss Sebastian and Leigh, who is Jaxson’s wife. The whole group arrived from Los Angeles this morning and are taking turns in groups of four to visit with me.
Having Leigh nearby is a great comfort because she’s the most logical one of my friends, being a doctor herself.
“Please, will you look, Leigh? I can’t wait for the doctor to come.”
“Of course.” She picks up the clipboard, holding all my medical details, and looks at the report. Miss Sebastian joins her, glancing over Leigh’s shoulder.
The silence is becoming unbearable, but then Leigh clears her throat. “It came back negative.”
A breath rushes from my lungs as pins and needles spread over my body.
I begin to shake my head, but then Leigh says, “It doesn’t mean anything, Jamie. If you were drugged, there’s actually a low chance of it being detected in your blood. Most drugs work out of your system in eight hours.”
“Really?” I ask, feeling hopeful.
“The tests show nothing?” Della asks, a worried expression making her look older than her twenty-nine years.
Leigh first places the clipboard back and then looks at me. “As a friend, I’d like to believe something more sinister is at play. Jamie has never shown any signs of being unstable, and it’s just hard for me to believe she would try to end her life so suddenly.” She turns her gaze to my sister, “Della, you would’ve seen signs, at the very least, some form of depression.”
“She’s right,” Miss Sebastian confirms. “Honestly, Jamie is the sanest person in our group.”
Tears well in my eyes because Miss Sebastian and Leigh are at least giving me the benefit of the doubt.
“That…” Della swallows hard as fear tightens her features. “That means someone tried to kill her?” Her breaths begin to speed up quickly, and it has Carter placing an arm around her shoulder.
He glances at me and seeing fear on Carter’s face only makes my own apprehension grow. He’s the strongest man I know and if he’s scared for me…
The door to my room opens, and when Julian, Falcon, and Layla walk in, the conversation pauses for a moment so everyone can greet each other.
“Have you received the toxicology report? Julian asks Carter.
Carter nods. “Nothing showed up.”
“It doesn’t mean anything,” I jump in, feeling highly defensive. “Leigh said it could’ve worked out of my system already.”
“Let me think for a moment,” Leigh mutters, and it makes my eyes lock on her. After a moment, she looks at Miss Sebastian. “It’s too late for a urine sample, but we could still do a hair analysis.”
“It’s worth a chance,” Miss Sebastian confirms, being a nurse herself. Getting up, she gives me an apologetic look. “This might sting a little.”
“You can shave me bald if it will help get to the bottom of this mess,” I try to joke even though my heart feels heavy with worry and fear.
Miss Sebastian pulls a couple of strands out, then says, “I’ll send the request to the lab at our hospital and let you know as soon as we hear back.”
“Thank you.”
I glance around the room, and seeing all the concerned faces makes the gravity of the situation hit hard.
Someone actually tried to kill me.
Oh, God.
Dressed in the jeans and t-shirt Layla brought me, I sit and watch everyone argue about what to do with me.
“I’m right here, and I can decide for myself,” I snap when things begin to get ridiculous. “I’m staying so I can continue with my studies. I’m not going to let whatever’s happening derail my life.”
Everyone turns their attention to me, looks of shock and frustration warring on their faces.
Focusing on Carter and Della, I continue, “I understand you’re worried, but Della, you’re in your final trimester. You can’t fly up and down at the drop of a hat, and Danny and Christopher need their mom.” I take a breath before I lock eyes with Carter. “I know you want to keep me safe, and I appreciate it, but you have a company to run. You both need to go back to New York. I’m not alone here. Julian and Mason said they would increase the security on campus, and I’ll be more careful.”
Carter shakes his head, clearly unhappy about my decision. “We can’t just leave you here and go on with our lives as if nothing has happened. A crazy fucker tried to kill you, Jamie. It’s my responsibility to make sure you’re safe.”
“And I love you for it, but I’m not going to stop living just because there’s some creep out there.”
Carter comes to sit on the bed, and I reach for his hand.