Dad doesn’t bother responding, which I expected given the fact that he said more than his share the second I opened the curtain. He’s never been the type to be overly talkative, unless it’s about hunting, then he’d probably have an earful of tracking stories and gear set-ups to tell you about.
“So,” my mom continues, tossing the remote to my father, “what are your intentions with my daughter? Is this some fun fling or do you plan to give me grandchildren?”
“Mom!” I laugh, a little shocked at how forward she is right now. Usually, she’s very sweet and really good at remembering boundaries. I gather it’s the drugs that have her so loose lipped.
“What, honey? I’m asking real questions. I don’t know how much time I have left. I’d like to know I have a grandbaby or two in my near future.”
I stagger in a heavy breath and squeeze Rhett’s hand. “You don’t have to answer that.”
“Oh, but I will,” he groans and glances toward my mother, his hand reaching out for hers. “If your daughter will let me, I’ll give her a house full of babies.”
“I’m sure you will,” my father grumbles under his breath.Oh, he does have something to say.“You going to let them draw all over themselves too?”
“Dad!” I snap. “Stop!”
“Yeah, Dave! Stop!” my mom laughs. “Don’t be such a prude. The tattoos work for him,” she narrows her brows, “though he’s a little old for you, peanut. I should talk to him alone for a second. Get a read on the man. Why don’t you go get Dad and I some food from the cafeteria. Your dad hasn’t eaten in an hour, so that’s probably why he’s so grumpy.”
I didn’t plan on leaving Rhett’s side and I don’t want to. “No, Mom. You’re—”
Rhett turns towards me, the rough calloused bumps on his fingertips like sandpaper on my face. “If you’re okay going down to the cafeteria alone, I wouldn’t mind talking to your mom.”
My chest is tightening at the thought of everything they could say to him in the twenty minutes I’m away. My mother is drugged out of her mind. She could say anything. She could tell him about my freshman year of college where I was so sweaty I ruined every shirt I owned. We still don’t know what that was about, but I tried every deodorant known to man and nothing was working! That’s not something I want the man I’m in love with knowing about!
Love.
My chest squeezes.
Oh God, the thought was so natural.
“Here,” Rhett says, tucking his cell phone into my hand, “in case you need it. Go straight there and back though, okay?” He kisses my forehead again. “If you’re not back in twenty, I’m going to come looking.”
I nod and my heart warms at how protective he is, how well he looks over me. Maybe it would be okay if my mom told him every embarrassing story I’ve ever had. I can’t imagine him liking me any less for any of it. In fact, it might be good all-around for him to sit with my parents for a minute alone. At least that’s what I tell myself because I have no actual choice.
“Be good, Mom!” I say, squeezing her hand before leaning in for a kiss. “You too, Dad.”
“I make no promises today,” Mom laughs. “This morphine is the best. I hope they give me some to take home.”
I smile, my hand brushing against Rhett’s as I slide past him.
“Twenty minutes, baby girl. Then I come looking for you.” He kisses my head as I step past the curtain and into the hush of the hospital.
I have no idea what time it is, but it’s a quiet evening with only a few nurses on staff, and one doctor by the looks of it. I’ve been up here plenty of times in the past and know my way around the hospital pretty well, including the long, dark hallway that leads down to the cafeteria from the emergency room. You’d think they’d brighten this space up or add some colorful paintings. People are depressed enough already in here without having to travel through the tunnel of depression for a cupcake.
I glance down at Rhett’s phone, trying to remember Nikki’s phone number. We haven’t talked since the wedding, and I owe her an update on my life, but I can’t remember her number for the life of me. I think it ends with a six and a seven, or a seven and a six. I try them both and she answers the second time around.
“Oh my God!Why haven’t you called me? The whole town is talking about your kidnapping. I had to call your mom for updates, and she said something about some bad boy.”
I laugh out loud as the tunnel of darkness approaches. “Yeah, it’s been a weird couple of days, but if it’s any consolation, I feel better than I ever have. I really like Rhett.”
“Rhett, the guy that kidnapped you? You like him? Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I’m great. Well, except for the fact that I’m in the hospital with Mom waiting on x-ray results. She broke her femur. They’re talking surgery, but we’re still waiting.”
“We…as in you and your parents, orweas in you, your parents, and the bad boy?”
“Y’all really like calling him a bad boy.”
“Your mom sent me a picture of him she screenshotted online. He’s hot… and he does look like a bad boy.”
