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)
I keep a constant reminder on loop—she’s checking on me, not visiting. I’m her patient, not a date. But would it be crossing a line to see if she’d be interested in seeing each other outside the blandness of these walls?
I turn my eyes toward the window where I hoped to see light brightening the edges of the blinds, but I’m disappointed. Summer likes to linger into fall, but the sun itself is struggling to rise this morning.
Night lasts forever in a hospital. The occasional voices heard in the corridor slip in through the cracks around the door, wheels that need oiling screech in protest when pushed past my room, and the occasional ping of a call light echoes down the hall. None of it inspires me to sleep. But I know the best way for time to pass is by getting through it.
It takes memories of the rain dancing across my roof, the smell of dew that comes after, and the view of the tops of green trees leading into the blue of the ocean to get me to relax again. I take a few deep breaths before being dragged deep into the heaviness of my body again.
Orange colors the inside of my eyelids, the invasive light too bright to escape. I can hear voices traveling into my room from the corridor before I’m aware enough of reality to join the present day. I open my eyes, then clamp them shut again. The room isn’t bright, but the sun’s rays sneak in around the curtain to remind me it still knows how to rise.
I blink a few times, then turn toward the light around the window, but find Tuck scrolling on his phone, like he has time for such nonsense with me out of commission. I swallow before my coarse throat works out, “Isn’t there a fire you should be extinguishing?”
He looks up with a grin already spreading across his face. “Fortunately, no fires.” Standing, he moves closer to get a good look at me, I suppose. “Wasn’t sure if I should come back.”
“Back?”
“I came by two days ago, but you weren’t seeing company.”
I laugh, which takes a lot of damn effort, and reply, “I wasn’t seeing anyone since I was asleep. Good to know you care.” Another laugh escapes the rawness of my throat. “What brings you by?” Tucker Travis is a year behind me in the firefighting journey and has become a good friend.
He chuckles without much humor involved. I can see where this is going. The wasteful worry over me. My mom was the same when I saw her the other night. Concern carved into their faces like I’m on the brink of death. They’re not getting rid of me that easily. I grin.
Tuck says, “You never woke up the other times I was here. Thought I’d try again today.”
“Here I am, despite the fire’s best efforts for my demise.” Maybe it’s a poor joke, but if I don’t jest about what happened, the reality of what did will start to haunt me again. Glancing at the window, I ask, “Want to crack some light into the place? It’s all gloom in this room.” Autumn shouldn’t come to mind, but she’d brighten the place up again without trying. I’m grinning behind his back. Don’t want him to think I’m enjoying this hospital stay because I definitely can’t tell him that the smile is from thinking about the gorgeous redheaded nurse. “How’s it going down at the station without me? I’d like to think I’m needed, but I’m certain life’s gone on without me.”
He opens the blinds, flooding the room with an overcast hue from outside. “Quieter.” He laughs with more depth this time. “Captain’s been filling everyone in on your progress.”
“I haven’t seen him.”
“He’s stopped by a few times, talked to the nurses when you were sleeping. You’re on everyone’s mind.” When he reaches the side of the bed, he asks, “How are you doing?”
“Been better, but not too bad considering.”
“Yeah.” His eyes drop to my shoulder. “What’s the real damage?” Guilt riddles his tone. This could have been him, or something worse could have happened. Tuck’s good at his job, but he’s frozen before in the heat of the moment. I won’t regret being the one if it spares my firefighting family. Technically, no one forced me to take the shift, so I’m not going to lay blame on him, especially when it’s already gnawing at his insides.
“Unfortunately for you, I’m told I’ll be good as new. Personally, I’m aiming for better than new.” Smirking, I add, “I’ll be at the top of my game sooner than you have time to miss me.” Why bother moaning about my injuries when they’ll go away, eventually? “As for the time being, I’m bored as shit lying here twenty-four hours a day with nothing but highlights from games I’ve missed playing on the TV.”