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“What?”
“My shift is over and I’m off for the next four days. You can stay with me until you’re okay on your own.”
“No.”
I huffed out a laugh at his petulant tone. “No?”
“Why?” His forehead furrowed as he studied me, distrust and suspicion shining in his dark eyes, even as he winced in pain and shifted so he was half sitting on the bed. “Why would you bother helping me?”
“Because I’m a good person with a bleeding heart. And because my mother will never let me live it down if you drop dead after I let you leave here.”
“Your mother doesn’t give a shit about me.”
“Maybe not, but I’m sure your dad would have something to say. She’d have to hear it, which means I’d have to hear it.”
He laughed, the sound tired and sad. “You really think my dad would care if anything happened to me?”
“If it was my fault, yeah. I already take enough shit from him. I’m not adding being blamed for your untimely death to the list.”
“Aren’t nurses supposed to be nurturing? You keep talking about me dropping dead like you want it to happen.”
“I’m off the clock. I’ll be nurturing again when my next shift starts. And I don’t want you to drop dead. I just don’t want to be blamed if it happens.”
“I don’t need your help.”
“Yeah, you do.” I aimed his file at the bed. “Now stop being a dick and sit your ass down properly while I get you discharged.”
He grumbled something under his breath but settled on the bed.
“And don’t bother trying to sneak out,” I said as I turned. “You’ll fall on your face, end up back in triage, and have to spend even more time here.”
“What, you can’t stitch me up while you’re off shift?” Graham taunted.
“Nurses don’t do sutures. But the idea of repeatedly stabbing you with a needle is highly cathartic.”
“Probably about as cathartic as when I picture wiping that smirk off your face.”
“You think this is a smirk? Honey, this is still my customer service face. Just wait until I’m outside the hospital. Then you’ll see a real smirk.”
He gave me an unimpressed look. “Yeah, nurse man is soooo scary.”
“Go ahead. Underestimate me because I’m a nurse. I dare you.” I stepped closer to him and dropped my arms.
He stared up at me, his eyes wide, face as slack as the bundle of clothes he still loosely held between his splinted arm and his lap.
“That’s what I thought. Now keep your ass on that bed until I come back.”
Not waiting for a reply, I strode out into the hall.
Today had gotten weird, fast. First the strawberry moon, then seeing Graham of all people at work. As if that hadn’t been enough, I’d volunteered to take his ass home and make sure he didn’t croak.
This was going to be a long few days off.
3
GRAY
I leanedback in my seat as Caleb drove us through a maze of residential streets.
