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I don’t answer, don’t dare to open my mouth for fear that everything that’s happened in the past week will spew out. The man, the recurring nightmares, the drip, drip, drip of my parents' blood. Sam’s bruised, broken body…
I must look terrible because Dr. Slater pulls a bucket from beneath the bed and sets it on my lap.
“Lillith…” His mouth twists with sympathy. Not the manufactured kind he reserves for patients but real, honest concern. “I don’t expect you to tell me what’s really going on, but I am asking you to listen to my advice. Go home, get some sleep.” He gives me an authoritative glance. “Unless you’d like me to suspend you for a week. The choice is yours.”
My chest tightens. The last thing I want is to go home, where I have nothing to keep me company but my wretched thoughts. Thoughts of him.
“Lilly?”
I jump, having forgotten Drew was still here. “Sorry. I’ll do it. I’ll go home and rest like you said.” I doubt the smile I give Dr. Slater is convincing.
He sniffs, looking dubious. “Okay. I’ll see you tomorrow, Ms. Hayes.” He shoots Drew a look that screams make sure she listens, then swirls from the room as swiftly as he arrived.
The door clicks shut, and I let out a deep breath, leaning my head back against the wall. What the hell am I supposed to do now? How am I supposed to go home and pretend everything’s fine?
“Lilly? You okay?” Drew asks, resting his hand on top of mine. His skin is soft and warm, everything I should crave, but I can’t stop the urge to rip it out from under him. I wonder what the scarred man’s hands would feel like against my skin, calloused and strong and—
“Hellooo? Earth to Lillith.”
I shake the thoughts away, turning to Drew with an apologetic smile. “Hey. Sorry, I’m not sure where I was.”
“You’re telling me,” he mumbles, his brows narrowing as he examines my expression. “I still think I should order that MRI.”
“I just bumped my head. It’s not a big deal, Drew,” I huff, crossing my arms. “Can I go home now? I don’t like being on the other side of this doctor-patient relationship.”
Drew barks a laugh. “I can see that.”
I shake my IV-laden wrist at him, about to rip the damn thing out, when the door bursts open once more. Our heads snap toward the door, and Drew’s confusion mirrors my own as Sandra whirls inside, weighed down by the drug tray in her arms.
Her mouth begins the motion of a smile, but as soon as she notices Drew at the side of my bed, she balks.
“What are you doing here, Sandra?” Drew asks, his voice low and menacing. I turn to him, about to ask who shit in his Froot Loops, when I notice his murderous expression. What the actual hell?
Sandra sniffs, shifting the heavy tray in her grip. “I came to give Ms. Hayes some medicine. Dr. Slater wants me to give her something to relax.”
Drew cocks his head and holds out his hand. “Great timing, I was just about to take out her IV.” When Sandra doesn’t move, he makes a come-hither motion with his fingers. “Give it to me. I’ll do it.”
She gives him a glare but says nothing. I look back and forth between the two of them, confusion muddling my already fuzzy thoughts.
“I’m perfectly capable of doing it, Sandra. Give me the medicine,” Drew demands, making that motion with his hand once more.
“I have orders from—”
“I said it’s not necessary, Sandra!” Drew hisses, effectively cutting her off. “Give it to me.”
She sniffs, turning to the side ever so slightly. Her movements are so quick that I nearly miss it, but I swear she switches out the bottle in her hand for another in the tray.
“Here.” She thrusts the small glass vial at Drew, and I don’t miss the way he double-checks the label.
“Thanks. I’ll see you later, Sandra.”
The two exchange a conspiratorial look that I can’t decipher, but I don’t have time to question her before she slips from the room.
“Drew?” I turn to him, but he doesn’t look up from the bottle. He holds it to the light, seeming to check for something. “Drew, what are you doing?”
“Nothing. I think she gave me an expired bottle.” He shakes his head with a chuckle, hastily tucking the bottle into his scrub pocket. “I can’t risk my favorite intern like that. Let’s get you out of here.” A smile that raises the hair on the back of my neck follows. “I’ll drive you home.”
Not a question but a demand. Suddenly, there’s not enough space between us or oxygen in the room.
