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Doctor Benson gives Carter a sympathetic look, eyes darting over to his left before he speaks again. That annoys me.
“Miss Bassouni, unfortunately, the combination of you having the flu and suffering from a concussion is not ideal. You won’t be able to take anything but acetaminophen for the pain. You’re going to need someone to help and watch over you. If you develop a fever, your situation could get a little precarious.”
“And I can’t stay here for observation?”
The doctor’s eyes again go to Carter, which pisses me off. I know he’s another body in the room, but he doesn’t need to keep looking over. I make the decisions here. I may be a little roughed up and bruised, but I’m not incompetent.
“No,” he draws out the word. “You’re not in any immediate danger or critical condition. An overnight stay isn’t permitted.”
I see Carter shift from the corner of my eye. He’s not saying anything, eyes steady on me.
“Fine. I’ll stay with my family,” I grate out, forcing a smile. My head is pounding, my nose is so clogged I don’t recognize my own voice when I wheeze-speak. If I weren’t so shocked and a little bit mad with this doctor, I would be embarrassed that Carter is seeing me this way. He’s seen me in worse situations, but I’ve never allowed him to witness my vulnerable side. I’m about to lose my beautiful mystic.
I may have one arm in a temporary sling due to a sprain, but I’m still able to take care of myself. I don’t see why I can’t monitor myself over the next few days. On top of that, I don’t want to put Noah and Gretchen out. Not this close to Christmas.
I am the opposite of graceful and composed, the way I prefer Carter to see me. Instead, he gets a hot mess hellion who won’t even be able to sign her discharge papers because her good hand is now out of order.
If I could melt into a black hole right now, that’d be great.
“Penny,” Carter begins gently, “your parents are in Florida for the rest of the winter. I can call them, but they won’t make it here within that time frame.”
“I know that,” I snap, feeling my energy draining and my patience thinning. “I meant I’ll stay with Noah.”Maybe, I say in my head. I’ll say anything right now to get out of this hospital and end all conversation. I just wanted to go to sleep and pretend this day never happened.
With a calm and soothing voice, Carter tells me why I can’t go to Noah’s. My throat clogs with embarrassment. Shit, I’m being a petty little brat. Of course, my brother has to look out for his child and wife. It’s rude of me to just assume I can go there. I’m out of options.
“Is there anyone else close by who could help?” the doctor asks, making his way to the door.
Carter pauses for a moment. “There’s my sister. Or one of your Jingle Lady friends?” It doesn’t feel right to hurl myself on them, even in a moment of need. “You can also stay with me,” Carter finishes when I don’t comment on the previous options.
My gaze flicks back to his, and the urge to cry gets even stronger. He’s being nice to me. Too nice. It’s tempting, his offer. I can’t do that to him, though—can I?
I open my mouth, about to thank him but turn him down, when he cuts me off.
“You know what? Forget it.” My heart plummets. I was going to decline, but him rescinding the offer hurts. “I’m not asking you to stay with me. I’m telling you. You’re coming home with me, and I’ll take care of you.”
I’m left speechless. Taking my silence as acceptance, the doctor nods and goes on to tell me about what to watch out for and that a nurse will be along soon.
When he leaves with too much of a pep in his step for my liking, I continue to stare at the empty doorway. I need another second to prepare for what I’m going to start calling the Carter Effect. I know with one glance at him, my heart rate will increase, shortness of breath will ensue, and my palms will get all sweaty. It’s a small mercy that I’m not hooked up to a monitor, or I’d be in big trouble.
When the silence has gone on long enough, I slowly turn my head towards where he’s sitting. The shit-eating grin he’s giving me has the Carter Effect going into overdrive but also confuses the hell out of me.
“Done ignoring me, pumpkin?”
“I—” my voice squeaks. “I wasn’t ignoring you. Simply giving myself a moment to think.”
He hums, not believing me but enjoying my torture.
“How are you here?” I stupidly blurt out.
“Well, you see, Pen, when a man and a woman love each other—”
“I don’t mean in existence, Carter. I mean, why are youhere? With me in the hospital?”
“That’s a lot of questions. Good thing you’re coming home with me. We’ll have plenty of time to catch up. But I’m with you now because I saw you get hit and rushed to help. I couldn’t just leave you. For as much as we banter, Pen, you are one of my best friends.”
All of the air leaves my lungs. My heart misses a beat. My entire body heats up, turning to lava, and then plummets into sub-zero. And I’m sure my mouth is gaping open. What did he…no, that can’t be right.
Yet there’s a warmth that instantly spreads through my chest at his words. Warming all the parts of me that have been in hibernation to stay safe. Out of harm's way.
