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Bella gritted her teeth as she listened to the nurse having a personal conversation, and even though only seconds passed, her patience fled.
She leaned over the counter, grabbed the phone from the woman, then slammed it on the receiver. The nurse jerked her head up and scowled. “Excuse me?"
"Where's Kole Walsh?” At the nurse's silence and continuing frown, Bella smacked her hand on the desk with a loud bang. “Where is he?"
Marley snickered. “Oh look, Bella's back."
The nurse pursed her lips, then glanced over a chart. Her sneer returned to Bella. “Room one hundred and twelve."
Without a thank-you, because the nurse didn't deserve one, Bella with Reed and Marley in tow dashed down the hall. Bella scanned the numbers on the doors until she reached Kole's. She took one step into the room, then froze.
Kole was lying on the bed, bare chested, one knee up and an ice pack on his forehead. Her breath whooshed from her lungs. The memory of their time together flooded her mind. Her body awakened, as if his presence ignited a spark in her that made her fully aware of him.
Brushing past her, Reed strode into the room, his voice deep and curt. “What happened?"
Kole turned his head to the side, and his gaze landed on Bella. He didn't look disappointed like he had earlier tonight. Fire burned in the depths of his eyes, but as he glanced at Reed, that rage faded.
Is he angry at me?
"Got mugged,” he replied.
"Seriously?” Marley asked, stepping up next to the bed.
"Stupid junkie wanted money and pulled a gun on me."
Bella's heart skipped a beat. “Gun?"
Kole didn't even look at her. He completely disregarded her as if she hadn't said anything. As if she wasn't standing there worrying about him. Her own irritation flared to life.
What did I do to him?
Kole continued, “He knocked me in the head with his gun. Idiot was too high to realize shooting me would have done the trick."
Reed took a seat in the chair beside the bed. “Did you subdue him?"
"Thought about it.” His fingers clenched and jaw tightened. “But I had other things to deal with."
"What happened after he hit you?” She asked, proud her voice sounded strong.
Once again, he didn't even acknowledge her, and her muscles tensed. She took a further step into the room and glared at him. “Stop ignoring me."
Reed glanced over his shoulder at her, frowning. Marley jerked her head to Bella and shook her head slowly, as if warning her. But she didn't deserve to be treated in this manner. She'd done nothing wrong and held her ground.
Kole rose up on his elbow, lowered the ice pack to display a good five stitches over his eyebrow, and pinned her with his stare. His voice flowed through the room, sounding smooth like velvet, but stern. “Bella. Take a seat. Stay quiet."
A wave of emotion washed over her, compelling her to listen. Normally if a man spoke to her in that manner, she'd curse at him and probably flip him off. But she found her legs moving her toward the chair and was shocked at herself when she sat down.
He finally removed his steely gaze from her and looked at Reed. “Came here thinking they'd stitch me up and send me on my way. Only to find out they had to report it to the cops, and I spent an hour answering questions. Then, the doc thought I should stay until the morning just to be sure I didn't have a concussion."
Bella clasped her hands in her lap, looking down, and a swell of emotion bubbled up. Pissed might have been an understatement. And his unhappiness with her now was worse than his disappointment.
"You should've called us, dipshit,” Reed chastised.
Kole snorted. “It was late. I thought you'd all be asleep, and I wasn't in serious condition, so why bother?"
She peeked up at him under her lashes. His gaze was on Reed, and she'd never felt so ignored. She yearned for him to look at her, offer a glance of the appreciation that she'd seen tonight, and his refusal made her throat tight.
"All right.” Reed stood. “Marley will drive your car home. Then I'll come back in the morning to get you."
