Page 52 of Fame & Chaos

The sliding hospital doors open automatically as I hurry inside.

The nurse at reception looks up instantly.

“Please help her,” I say quickly. “She’s had way too much to drink.”

The nurse eyes me suspiciously. “Isn’t she a little young to be drinking with you?”

I nearly choke. “No. God, no.” I shake my head rapidly. “She’s my cousin. It’s her birthday party. She got carried away.”

The nurse softens slightly. “Okay. Bring her through.”

I follow her into the emergency room while Annie groans dramatically in my arms.

“This is your fault,” I mutter down at her.

She hiccups.

Helpful.

The nurse leads us into a treatment bay and motions toward the bed. I lower Annie carefully onto it and step back when she makes a gagging noise.

Please don’t vomit again.

Thankfully, she rolls to the side and passes back out.

“Has she taken anything besides alcohol tonight?” The nurse asks while attaching monitors.

I shake my head. “I seriously doubt it.”

Though, with Annie, chaos follows her around, so who the hell knows anymore.

“Okay,” the nurse says. “We’ll monitor her for a bit.” Then she glances toward Annie’s dress. “I need to place some leads on her chest, so you’ll have to step outside for a few minutes.”

“Oh yeah. Of course.” I turn away. “Definitely don’t wanna see that.”

The nurse laughs quietly, and I head back out into the waiting area.

Then I start pacing.

Because now that the adrenaline’s fading, all I can think about is how badly Colt’s going to lose his mind over this. I drag both hands through my hair while walking in circles across the floor.

Annie better be okay.

Seriously.

Because explaining this to Colt while he’s in protective father mode sounds like an actual death sentence.

“Caleb?”

The voice hits me like a physical blow.

Soft.

Familiar.

Impossible.

I stop dead.