Page 121 of Anything To Be With You

"I’ll drive," he says, climbing off the bed and starts to dress.

"No. You…you stay here."

"I’m not letting you go alone." He argues.

"I can do this on my own." I hop around on one foot, trying to pull up my pants.

"Dani, you don’t need to do this on your own. I’m here." Luke says softly.

"He is my son, Luke. Mine! I don’t need you to help me!" I snap.

We stare at each other for a moment, hurt flashes in Luke’s eyes, and I know I’m going to feel guilty tomorrow but right now, I’m too fucking scared to care.

Luke nods, sitting back on the bed. "Go."

"I’ll call you." I run down the stairs and out the door.

Yanking my car door open, I get behind the wheel and pray to whoever is listening for my car to start. After a few choice words that would make a trucker blush, it fires up and I tear out of there like a bat outta hell.

I run through the emergency room and towards the triage window, banging on it until it opens.

"Take a number and have a seat." The grumpy looking nurse slides the window closed. I bang on it again.

She throws open the window. "Listen lady—"

I slam my fists down on the ledge, the track of the window digging into my skin. "Mason Carter. Where is he?"

Her eyes narrow. "You his mother?"

"No, I’m here to sell him some girl scout cookies. Yes, I’m his mother."

She sighs and grabs a piece of paper, jotting something down and shoving it into my hand.

I lean through the window. "I understand that you’re stressed working in the ER. I also understand that you have to deal with idiots daily, but you need to check your attitude because the next mother you deal with might not be as nice as me."

She snorts. "Whatever."

I grab the front of her scrubs and haul her halfway through the window. People are watching, but I don’t care. I am a mother scared out of her ever-loving mind, with enough adrenaline running through my body that I could bench press a horse.

"Compassion goes a long way," I hiss and release her scrubs. She slams the window shut.

I check the paper she gave me before heading towards the elevators. He’s on the second floor, in the surgery wing. I call Erin as I wait for the elevator. My hands shaking as I dial her number.

"Hey girl."

A sob breaks free. "Mason…accident…surgery." Is all I manage to get out.

"Toronto Gen?" Erin asks calmly.

"Yeah." I sniffle.

"On my way." Erin hangs up.

The elevator doors open and I step inside. Mason’s room is past the nurse’s station, on the right. Walking inside, I find the room empty, and smelling like antiseptic and death.

"Ms. Carter?"

I turn to find a short, caramel skinned woman in scrubs. "I’m Nisha. Mason is just finishing up in surgery. They will be bringing him out shortly."

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