Page 7 of Lie for a Lie

I can feel his eyes linger on me a moment longer before he looks back towards Katherine.

A few moments later, I gave a brief report to the paramedic before they load Katherine onto the gurney.

Helping attach the monitors, Graham kisses Katherine’s head before they take her toward the ambulance. He then answers a few more questions for the crew transporting her.

I let a small sigh and start packing the few things I have taken out of my purse and work bag.

“I’m going to take your sister home,” Chris says beside me.

He was closer than I realized, which startled me slightly.

“Yeah, okay. I will follow the ambulance to the hospital and call Bre if anything comes up.”

I look towards Chris, and he studies me momentarily before pulling me into a hug.

“Thank you,” he says before kissing my temple.

I smile at the genuineness of the moment before turning to leave. I like this new boyfriend of Bre’s.

While heading to my car, I notice Graham on the phone beside what I assume is his truck. I let out a loud whistle, catching his attention. I motion toward my passenger seat and see the relief on his face, not hesitating to climb into my car.

Neither of us speaks, and I let the sounds of the alternative radio station fill the space between us. Letting every moment of the night play over and over in my head. Trying not to focus on the stench of vomit lingering in my car.

Chapter 4

Graham

This has been one of the strangest nights of my life. That’s saying a lot, considering I have worked in the medical field since I was sixteen.

Nothing in my life has blindsided me like this woman sitting beside me in this hospital waiting room. Paige is like no one I have ever met before. The attraction is instant, and I haven’t felt anything close to that ever in my life.

It is even more jarring because meeting her tonight has woken something I didn’t know I was missing. I know anyone could have walked into that bathroom and done the same thing, but it just speaks volumes about the type of woman Paige is. Not to mention everything her sister has told me about her. Bre is very proud of her and constantly talks about her being a nurse.

“Paige, you guys can come back,” a female calls.

Paige smiles, and we both stand, heading over to the door leading to the back. I try not to linger on her smile and am hit with a memory.

A little over a year ago, Kat had a similar situation. Some therapy and Alcoholics Anonymous accompanied it. She has been sober for about seven months and recently started drinking again. We fought about it tonight before we left our townhouse.

She hasn’t been home since last night when I got off work and has been pulling away from our relationship again. We broke up briefly before discussing our collective issues. It happened about three years ago.

Unfortunately, Katherine has decided to drown herself in a world of lust and sadness instead of dealing with her grief. Our relationship of six years feels like the last three have been a lie. The loss of a child will do that to a couple. No matter the circumstances around it, we both know deep down that is the root of many of our issues. Trapped in this idea of a broken family that never got a chance even to exist.

Now, I walk toward another gurney with Katherine dressed in a hospital gown, her hair still caked with vomit. Glancing towards the monitor, I notice everything seems normal. Paige stands at the doorway, allowing space between us.

She smiles sweetly at me, wrapping her arms around herself in the oversized work jacket she found to cover herself up in the car, and I finally speak for the first time since riding over here with her.

“Thank you.”

“Not a big deal.”

She smiles before nodding towards the busy emergency room.

“You ever work in the E.R.?”

“It was my second choice.”

Paige points towards Katherine’s room, and I walk towards the gurney, pulling up a chair beside Katherine’s unconscious body. Looking back towards the curtain, Paige’s emerald eyes linger on me. I feel like it’s hard to breathe, and I am fighting the urge to tuck that piece of hair that keeps falling into Paige’s gorgeous face behind her ear.

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