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Max
I pull open the big red door to the Pediatric Oncology ward, the smell of antiseptic making me damn near choke. At least the place is clean. The harsh scent that burns my nostrils is a sharp contrast to the warm and fuzzy feeling you get from walking through a hallway decorated with big, colorful flowers and bright rainbows surrounding a gaggle of smiling animals.
Anything to keep the kids happy.
I flex my fingers as I walk. I’ve never been the type to appreciate kids. Lily, Nico’s little sister, doesn’t count since I’ve known her from birth. She doesn’t annoy me. But the rest of the kiddie universe? Let’s just say I steer clear of the mall food court at lunchtime during the week. It’s a fucking zoo with all of the babies and toddlers in northern Jersey screaming, laughing, and crying while their moms sit around and bullshit over Starbucks.
But today, I’m putting all of that aside. I’m here to do something good, to be the guy Sloane needs…the one she thinks I am.
I’m not so sure she’s right, but I want to find out for myself.
I catch a glimpse of myself in a clear glass window as I head toward the nurses’ station. Leather jacket, of course. Black Air Jordans, black jeans, black t-shirt…Jesus, I need to add some color to my goddamn wardrobe.
A group of kids gallop toward me on broomstick horses, neighing as they slow to a stop. “Who are you?” A little blonde girl narrows her eyes at me.
“I’m, um, a friend of Eli’s,” I respond. With any luck, I can make that a reality.
She folds her arms over her chest. “Eli doesn’t have any friends. He’s mean.”
“Sandra, that’s not very nice.” A pretty, dark-haired girl in scrubs comes over and puts an arm around Sandra’s shoulders. “You know he’s having a hard time, sweetie.”
Sandra sighs and nods. “You’re right. I’m sorry, Nurse Jules.” She looks up at me. “Hey, you wanna play with us? You can be Black Beauty!”
I let out a chuckle. “Maybe later. I’ve got to see my pal. But thanks for the invite.”
She shrugs and flashes a bright smile at me before leading the rest of her crew in the direction of some makeshift stable in the open-air playroom.
The girl, Nurse Jules, straightens up and grins at me. “So, Black Beauty, huh?”
I shrug. “If I said I was color-blind, would that make it better?”
Her eyes rake over me, finally landing on mine with a pretty fucking blatant offer. “I don’t really think it could possibly be any bit better.”
Okay, all I want is to find this kid’s room…
I clear my throat. “I’m looking for a room.”
“I can find you a room.” She inches closer, and I swallow a groan. Yeah, she’s hot, but I’m on a mission. And this is hitting way too close to home since this is Sloane’s hospital. And her program. Besides, there are kids swarming the place, for Christ’s sake. What if one of them needs something? I lift an eyebrow. Doesn’t seem like the first time she’s made that kind of offer, I’m just saying.
“I’m actually looking for a friend of mine who’s here. Maybe you can point me in the right direction. His name is Eli.”
She places a hand on my arm. “Eli’s room is this way. I’ll walk you down there.”
“Thanks, but I can find it myself if you just give me the number.” The last thing I need is to roll in with Nurse Jules on my arm, claiming to be friends with a kid I’ve never laid eyes on. I can just picture it. Kid goes nuts, and hospital security will have my ass in a sling faster than Jules would strip off her scrubs if I gave her the word.
A look of disappointment shadows her face, but she flashes another blinding white smile. “It’s Room 20. Third door on the right.”
I nod and return the smile. “Thanks.” I hurry past the nurses’ station before any of them can stop me, and I take a right down the hallway. I quickly glance over my shoulder before rounding the corner and they’re all still staring after me. Jules has joined them, and damn, am I sore from the eye raping I just got.
I read the numbers on the door and stop outside of Room 20. I have a bag hoisted over my shoulder, which I shift so I can knock. Once, twice, three times, and nothing.
Fuck, what if he’s not even in here? I look up and down the hallway, and luckily the nurses aren’t lurking. I knock one more time, a little harder. “Fuck,” I grumble. I do shit like this all the time—acting before I think things through. What if he’s sleeping? What if he’s in there with a doctor? What if he’s sick from a treatment? What if—?
“What?” A sullen, male voice calls out.
“Hey, Eli,” I say, trying to keep my voice as peppy as possible. “I, uh, just wanted to stop by to say hi.” Perfectly innocent. I could be anyone on the hospital staff.
“Fuck off. I don’t want company.”
