Total pages in book: 180
Estimated words: 182075 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 910(@200wpm)___ 728(@250wpm)___ 607(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 182075 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 910(@200wpm)___ 728(@250wpm)___ 607(@300wpm)
She expected him to protest and she was ready for an argument. So it was actually a letdown when he just nodded.
And for some ridiculous reason tears welled in her eyes.
What was wrong with her? She was being silly. Just because he didn’t insist that he wanted her to come stay with them she got all upset?
“I need to call the nurse,” she told him. “And you need to leave.”
“Why?”
“Um, because I don’t need you to stay.”
“No, not that. I’m staying. Why do you need the nurse?”
“You can’t just ignore my wishes, Spencer,” she told him. “If I called the cops they’d make you leave.”
“You’re not going to do that, though. I know . . . I get why you don’t want me here. But we can’t leave you alone, Indie. We just can’t. We have so much to make up to you. And the first way we do that is by making sure that bastard can never touch you again. By ensuring you have everything you need. Can you let us do that? Can you let us protect and take care of you?”
Indie stared at him for a long moment. Her headache was getting worse and her bladder was screaming. “I think you should all leave.”
It hurt to say it. But what if she fell for all their promises and they rejected her again?
Spencer nodded. “I get it. I’d feel the same way. I will do anything for you, Indie, but I cannot leave you.”
Damn it.
Her headache grew worse and she still really, really had to pee.
“You’ve got a headache, haven’t you?” Spencer asked quietly. “You have that same look that Slade gets. We shouldn’t be talking about all of this right now. Not when you’re meant to be resting and healing. Let’s get you some painkillers for that headache.”
“Yeah. I need the nurse.”
Monica came quickly after Spencer hit the buzzer, making her wonder if she’d been waiting around outside the room.
“Are you all right, Indie?” Monica asked. She shot Spencer a look filled with suspicion and mistrust. “You’re still here.”
“Yeah, I’m spending the night,” Spencer said cheerfully with a wide grin. “You won’t even know I’m here. I promise. I’m just here to look after Indie.”
Monica’s frown seemed to soften. Indie knew why they’d chosen Spencer to stay. He was easily the most charming. The least likely to ruffle feathers.
Slade was intimidating. Quaid was downright terrifying. While Rock was misunderstood.
“Indie has a headache. I’m sure you can help fix her up, right?” Spencer said to Monica.
“Let me check your chart,” Monica said. “I’ll see if I can give you anything. Have you had much water?”
“Umm,” she said.
“I take that as a no,” Moncia said dryly. “You have to keep yourself hydrated, all right? It’s important.”
“Yes, I know. But I really can’t drink right now,” she said.
Spencer frowned at her. “Why? Does the water taste funny here? You never liked plain water that much.”
Spencer grabbed his phone and started to tap on it.
What was he doing?
He’d gone from talking to her to concentrating on his phone.
“It’s not that. I’m not that fussy anymore. I just really have to use the bathroom.”
“No problem. I just need you to move out of the way,” Monica said to Spencer.
“Oh, that’s no issue,” Spencer told her. “I’ll help Indie to the bathroom.”
Um. What?
Yeah, that wasn’t happening.
Spencer stood and drew down the blanket, frowning at her. What? What was wrong with her?
“Your pajamas have holes in them. We’ll get you new ones.”
“No!”
Both Monica and Spencer stared at her in surprise. She could feel her cheeks growing warm.
“I like these ones.” The same person who had grabbed her phone and other things had gotten these pajamas from the apartment for her.
They were like a guilty pleasure. A security blanket.
Suddenly, realization filled Spencer’s face and then he softened and nodded. Great, he remembered these pajamas.
Slade had given them to her for Christmas one year. They were white with candy canes and reindeer on them.
These were the pajamas she wore when she needed to feel closer to them. When she needed some comfort.
“All right, Princess. Leave them on. Now, I’m going to lift you up.”
“I can help Indie,” Monica told him.
“I’m sure you have other patients to help,” Spencer told her cheerfully. “Indie has me now.”
He might have been smiling but his voice was firm.
Just then, a buzzer went off.
“Shoot. I have to take this. Don’t touch her. You might hurt her,” Monica told him.
Spencer shot her a dark look that made Indie freeze. That was definitely not a look she’d ever seen from him.
“I would never harm her.”
Monica looked torn.
“I’ll be fine, Monica,” Indie told her. “Just go help whoever needs you.”
“I’ll be back,” Monica promised before she moved quickly out of the room.
“I’m going to pick you up now, Princess,” Spencer warned. “I’m telling you because I don’t want you to flinch or get a fright.”