Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 72856 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 364(@200wpm)___ 291(@250wpm)___ 243(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72856 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 364(@200wpm)___ 291(@250wpm)___ 243(@300wpm)
She scowled.
“I guess. But you can’t throw anything away. I want it all, every scrap,” she stated firmly.
I sighed.
“But that wasn’t what I was talking apologies for. You need to figure out how to apologize to Tai,” she said. “For pushing him away when all he wanted to do was be there for you.”
I pursed my lips.
“Mom…”
She held her hand up to stop me.
“I’m serious. I think that you hurt him more than you realize when you froze him out like that. And he’s a nice guy. Give him a chance. Talk to him. Apologize…and live your life,” she said softly.
I thought about my mother’s words over the next two hours, thinking about how I’d shut him out.
Had I hurt him?
Yes, I think I did.
Could I have helped it?
No, probably not.
But should I apologize?
Yes. I definitely should.
As soon as he walked in.
Except two hours came and went, and I was drooping by the minute once seven o’clock came around.
“Go home, baby. Maybe he’s held up at work,” she said softly.
I turned to smile at my mom.
She’d fallen asleep hours earlier, and I’d tried to do the same, but my nerves and excitement kept me awake.
“Alright, mom. Do you want me to bring anything particular to you in the morning when I come back up here?” I asked.
She pursed her lips. “You could bring one of my machines…”
“No. I’m not bringing that up here. I meant more along the lines of clothes, shoes, deodorant, or shampoo,” I said laughingly.
She snorted.
“Clothes. Deodorant. Shampoo and conditioner,” she listed.
I nodded and stood, going over to the bed to wrap my arms around her neck.
“Take care of yourself while I’m gone and call me the moment you know anything, okay?” I asked.
She nodded.
“Bye mom, love you.”
“I love you, too. Be careful,” she ordered.
I gave her a thumb’s up, grabbed my bag that Masen had been kind enough to drop by on her way out of work, and slipped out the door, closing it softly behind me.
I’d made it out the door, and nearly to the ambulance entrance when the man that was supposed to pick me up three hours ago, came through the door looking ragged.
I stopped and moved to the side, allowing him to come through with his patient.
He was at a near run and didn’t stop to say hi as he ran for the side entrance into the ER.
Not that I expected him to.
I walked out the door and stopped at the sidewalk, waiting for the shuttle to take me to the parking lot where I’d left my car before work.
The hospital was expanding, meaning that there was tons of equipment and supplies in the parking lot where all the employees used to park.
Now the employees had to park a nearly five-minute shuttle ride away, which meant I had a bit of wait, giving Tai enough time to come back outside to his rig and see me.
“Hey!” He called.
I turned and looked at him.
“Yeah?” I asked.
“Get in,” he said.
I blinked, looking over at the ambulance, then back at him.
“No.”
He sighed and started toward me.
I waved at PD, who had a small smile on his face.
He waved back and got into the front of the ambulance.
“It wasn’t a question. It was a demand. Let’s go,” he said once he reached me.
I laughed at him.
“You’re not my daddy, Tai,” I said to him.
He snorted.
“Let’s fuckin’ hope not. Now let’s go.”
This time he took my arm, and I had to stand up since his grip was relentless.
He wasn’t hurting me, but he had enough power in his grip to do so if he really wanted to.
I dragged my feet as he pulled me in the direction of the ambulance.
“I’ve never been in an ambulance before,” I admitted, looking at the huge boxy vehicle warily.
“Cool. I’ll make sure your first time’s good for you,” he teased.
I swallowed my tongue.
He laughed at my expression and opened the passenger side door.
“Get in the middle,” he ordered.
“There’s not a seat in the middle,” I said dumbly.
“There isn’t. But you can sit directly behind my seat in the back,” he said, pointing to the opening to the back.
I did as I was told, patting PD on the shoulder as I passed.
“Nice ass,” he said.
I glared at him once I took my seat.
“A gentleman wouldn’t look at a woman when she was in that position,” I admonished him.
He laughed like I told him a really good joke.
Tai took his seat and buckled up.
I did the same and looked around the area.
I wasn’t lying when I said I’d never been in an ambulance before.
The back rocked when PD turned out of the hospital parking lot, and my stomach rolled.
By the time we’d made it to the intersection that turned onto Main Street, I was ready to puke.
“Tai?” I asked, placing my hand over my mouth.