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13
Penny
As soon as the lady at the front desk sees us, she leads me to a private room in the back. I’m not sure if it’s Ryder or me she didn’t want in the waiting room. Probably a combination of us both. My face looks like I just did ten rounds with a heavyweight. Ryder is dressed like his usual self in boots, jeans, a dark shirt showing off all his tattoos, and a vest with patches telling everybody he is the VP of a biker club.
I’m pretty sure the only reason no one has called the cops is that Ryder doesn’t have bruised knuckles. Which makes me actually glad he didn’t hit Thomas.
We have been alone in a small room for what seems like an eternity. I’m lying on the narrow hospital bed while Ryder is in the room’s corner in a chair that looks too small for his large frame. He also looks extremely pissed and annoyed to be here.
The silence between us stretches on like the endless tiny white tiles that make up the ceiling. I started counting them a while back, and I’ve already had to start over twice because I forgot what number I was on.
The door finally opens, and a woman in scrubs enters the room. She looks to be my age, which is a stark reminder of the future I could have had instead of where I am now.
“Hi, I’m Amy. I’ll be your nurse for today,” she says.
“Hi,” I say so quietly, I don’t think that she heard me at all.
“We’re going to start an IV and get you some pain meds. Then the doctor will come and see you as soon as she gets a chance,” the nurse says, giving me a tight-lipped smile. “But first, we need you to give us a urine sample.”
“Okay…” I push myself off the bed, ignoring the sharp pain in my side.
“I’ll help you get to the bathroom,” the nurse announces, which has Ryder sighing in obvious annoyance. The nurse either didn’t hear or doesn’t care. She continues to help me up and walks me out of the room. I have the urge to glance at Ryder on my way out, to assure him I’m not going to say anything, but I don’t because I can’t stand to see the hatred and disappointment in his eyes anymore.
The moment the bathroom door shuts behind us, the nurse grabs my shoulders and pulls me closer.
“You can tell me what’s going on. Don’t be scared. We can have the police here in no time. I can get you out of here right now–”
“It wasn’t him,” I interrupt her. “He didn’t beat me up, and neither did any of his friends if that’s what you’re thinking.”
“Someone did, though. You didn’t fall down the stairs. No one here is going to believe you.”
“They need to because that’s the only story they’re getting from me.”
The nurse sighs deeply, shaking her head. “The only way I’m letting this go is if you swear that you are safe with this guy.”
“Yes.” I don’t need to think about the answer because I know that I am and always will be safe with him. “He would never hurt me.”
“Are you sure?”
“Positive. He was the one who got me out and brought me here, even though I didn’t want to come.”
“Well, I’m glad he brought you. We’ll take good care of you here.” She gives me a genuine smile, and for the first time in a long time, I smile too. I haven’t smiled in such a long time that the notion feels foreign to me.
She helps me use the bathroom, and even though I know it is her job to care for people, I get the feeling she would do this even if it wasn’t. It’s in the way she gently holds me, making sure I don’t feel pain as I move. Her touch is so soothing and kind, the sincerity of it overwhelms me, and I hold back tears. Her caring nature and honest concern for me, a person she doesn’t know, has my heart swelling with unexpected joy.
When we are done, she helps me back into the room and onto the bed. I sneak a peek at Ryder, who gives me a stern look.
“I need you to get undressed and put this sexy number on,” she tells me, handing me a white and green striped hospital gown. “Do you need help to get changed?”
“No, thanks. I can do it.” She’s already done enough, and I’m sure she has better things to do.
“Okay. I’m going to take this to the lab. They’re just going to run a pregnancy test. Standard procedure, before getting x-rays.”
At the workpregnancy, the air whooshes from my lungs, and my throat tightens. We had unprotected sex more than once, and I only took the plan-b pill that first time.
Amy must notice my concern written all over my face. “Do you think you might be pregnant?” she asks.
“I-I don’t know,” I admit, not daring to look over at Ryder.
“Well, that’s what the test is for.” She places her hand over mine and gives it a light squeeze before turning around to leave. She exits the room, leaving Ryder and me to dwell in our painful silence and dreadful tension once more.
