Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 82798 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 414(@200wpm)___ 331(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82798 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 414(@200wpm)___ 331(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
What? I shook my head, not understanding what he meant exactly. “I don’t have that kind of money, and I know Irish didn’t either. Not even in her savings.”
Levi’s jaw twitched, and I noticed the vein in his neck appearing. “You won’t be paying for it.”
Did he think he was going to be paying for it?
“Absolutely not,” I replied, shaking my head. “I don’t know what you do for a living, but I do know I refuse to let you pay for my health care. I don’t even know how you found out about my heart.”
“We look for cases such as yours to take on and provide the proper insurance. I’m the head of cardiology at Miami Medical. You qualify for the program through the research grant,” Dr. Andrus informed me.
I blinked several times, then turned back to Levi. “How? This kind of thing takes months, years, to get into, and every time I’ve tried, I got declined. You don’t just contact them and have the head of cardiology at Miami Medical approve you and show up at your home.” I looked at the doctors, then back at Levi. There were clearly things I didn’t know about him that I realized I should. “Who are you, Levi?”
He rubbed his beard and flicked his eyes over to the doctors, then back to me. “That’s something to talk about later. Right now, let’s just get the paperwork signed.”
Something to talk about later? I just stood there, looking at him.
His face softened, and the pleading look in his eyes got to me. “Please, Aspen. Sign the paperwork. The other questions we can deal with later.”
Sign the paperwork because I had been accepted into a program in less than a day that my gran hadn’t been able to get me into my entire life. Levi drove a Harley and dated strippers, but he wasn’t just some ordinary guy. Ordinary people didn’t have these two men making house calls.
Feeling as if I were walking in some sort of daze, I went to the paperwork that Dr. Andrus placed on the desk. He handed me a pen and showed me where to sign. He asked about the medications I was taking, symptoms, and my last hospitalization, which he’d known details about, oddly enough. I answered as if on autopilot. My mind kept telling me this was a dream. It didn’t make sense.
When he finally nodded and stood up, I watched him speak to the other doctor and then Levi before he told me he’d be back next week. I stared down at my hands in my lap, listening to Levi talk to Dr. Carmichael. Thanking him for his help. When the door closed behind the last doctor, I lifted my head and looked at Levi.
I was convinced I was stuck in a dream, and I hadn’t woken up yet. I’d pinched myself several times, and I’d felt every one. How was this real?
“How did you even know about my heart?” I asked him.
He sighed and walked over to sit beside me. “Your sister mentioned it. I didn’t have details, but when you asked for your medications this morning, I did a little digging.”
A little digging? What did that mean?
“I just want to help you. I’m not trying to control your life, Aspen. But eventually, you’ll leave here and start a life. Get a job, a place to live. I want to make sure you’re healthy and you have what you need when that day comes.”
“How did you make this happen?” I asked, still not sure I completely believed that my sister had mentioned my heart condition to him.
“I have some friends with connections. Blaise Hughes is a very good friend of mine. I work for him in a way. Our families go back a long time. His father, Garrett Hughes, is a powerful man. A billionaire who happens to own Miami Medical.”
Talk about friends in high places. I was stunned. There was a man who owned a hospital? Could one man own one of those?
“So, your friend just called Dr. Andrus?” I asked.
He nodded. “Yes. He just called Dr. Andrus.”
There were more questions, but right now, I needed some time alone. Again.
“Thank you. I keep saying that to you, and the words aren’t enough. I don’t know how I am ever going to repay you for all you’ve done. Just saving me last night was enough. You just keep doing things, and now, you’re making miracles happen.”
His low chuckle made my insides feel warm. “That wasn’t a miracle, Aspen. Just things I had the power to handle.”
“But why? You’re spending all this time and energy to help me. I’m a stranger. Why? Do you normally do this kind of thing? Are you some kind of philanthropist?”
He grinned and shook his head. “So fucking far from it. Not even close.”