Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 82955 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 415(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82955 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 415(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
Lifting his eyes to mine again with a smile tipping the sides of his lips upward, he says, “I was just wondering, how long do you think I’ll be in here?”
I peek back at the whiteboard. “You’ve been here three days. Based on how you’re responding, I would think no more than a week max. But that’s not my decision to determine.”
The small smile he had manages to disappear as his fingers fidget with a pulled thread on the blanket. “Not the answer I was looking for.”
“I think it’s best to err on the side of caution.”
“In all things?”
I can’t get over how Brandon looks at me like he’s seeing me with fresh eyes instead of the girl he’s always known. There’s a weird sense of freedom starting to meander through my veins. I can be whoever I want to be with him. I can stay mad, or I can embrace the opportunity. Knowing that his amnesia is temporary gives me a momentary reprieve from the anger and hurt I’ve experienced because of him. Freeing indeed.
“Well,” I say, a trickling laugh escaping with my mood lifting. “Not all things.” I roll my eyes when I catch him smiling. “That grin is going to get you in trouble.”
“It usually does. That, and when I say, ‘Hey, watch this.’”
A laugh that feels so right flows from my gut, tempting me to hold back. Am I just supposed to forget everything that happened because he did? Right now? Yes, Autumn. Take the weight off and enjoy the present. I say, “You don’t even know how many ER visits we get after someone says that. It should be outlawed to protect people from themselves.”
“Sometimes people need to learn for themselves.”
Instead of staring into his brown eyes, I look at the IV and roll it around a few inches like it needed the attention. “Yep, some of us learn the hard way.” I glance at him. “Anyway, if you’re going to be up, I’ll bring you some ice chips for your throat.”
“I’ll be up.” His eyes are locked on mine, and he says, “I have too much on my mind to sleep.”
“I know the feeling.” I exit before either of us gets any deeper into the innuendos and areas that I’d rather skirt around than address with an amnesiac patient in the middle of the night, much less Brandon.
I peek in on the other patients who are sleeping, like they should be, on my way to get him a cup of ice. Staring at the machine, I stand there wondering why I feel like I just gave up a piece of myself to laugh with him. Did I? Or is it just a new stage we’re entering? A new pair of shoes that needs to stretch out to fit just right?
This patient has really thrown me for a loop tonight. I came to work expecting the same boring shift I usually perform. Not tonight. Brandon Culver just flipped everything on its axis. And for the first time in forever, I’m not upset about not knowing what comes next.
CHAPTER 6
BRANDON
The white numbers of the clock threaten my well-being. How can every minute feel like an hour and every hour feel like an eternity?
The surrounding walls are inhospitable after four days, and my patience has worn thin from boredom. With nothing but my thoughts to keep me company, which isn’t the greatest for keeping up a good attitude, the silence sends my mind wandering.
The ice chips have melted, leaving only water for a plant at this point, since I have my own pitcher right next to it. The glow of machines and the faintest of light sneaking in under the door illuminates the room enough for me to see, to study every scuff, outlet, and fraying edges of the blanket from too many washings. But I keep coming back to the question of how my body could possibly be healing when all I’m doing is lying here all day and night. My lungs aren’t being pushed to any meaningful capacity, even by a casual walk around the floor, and my heart rate only peaks when a certain nurse enters the room, which should be taken as a good sign of healing, given my natural reactions. So will continuing to lazily lie here for days on end really make a difference in my physical recovery?
I’m doubtful. Nurse Debbie mentioned keeping an eye on me, but what exactly are they monitoring? My blood pressure? It’s great. My breathing? Better every day. My strength? Other than a few movements that cause some discomfort, I feel stronger despite the aches and pains.
Glaring at the door, I know what would be much more entertaining than constantly thinking about me and this room, and I have no doubt healing for me in a lot of ways—Autumn’s company. I could invent fifty reasons to keep her coming back to visit me, but I don’t want to create a reason. I’m drawn to more than her smile or how she fills out her uniform. Her beauty is obvious, but behind her green-eyed glances, I can feel something more between us, even if I can’t quite put my finger on it.