Page 63 of Captivated

After sitting in the waiting room of the ER for about an hour, a different perspective than working behind the scenes for sure, Birdie is set up in a room and we’re allowed to visit. Samuel rushes to her side, reaching for her hand and kissing the top of it, lingering with his lips pressed against her skin. The move is so genuine and underrated, because as I watch him worship her with just the kiss of her hand, I realize I’ve never felt that way about anyone—a person that you’re so afraid of losing, your fear swallows you whole—until Cash.

“Your vitals look good, Birdie. The doctor should be in shortly to go over everything with you. Dr. Turner is awesome, so if you have any questions, make sure to ask her.” I reach over and brush her hair from her face, keeping it from the stickiness of the bandage on her forehead covering the fresh sutures closing her wound. This woman has become someone I care about deeply in my new life here and seeing her hurt brings a familiar pang of worry that generates when you care about someone that much.

“Christ, Birdie? What the hell happened?” The panic-stricken voice behind me has me turning in a heartbeat, taking in a frantic Cash in his uniform with a fear in his eyes I’ve never seen.

“I’m fine, Cash. Just a little fall,” she says wearily, her eyes attempting to close.

“Oh, no you don’t,” Samuel shakes her easily, trying to keep her awake. “She has a concussion.”

“Fuck. How did you hit your head?” He barks, moving further into the room without even acknowledging me, giving me enough to conclude that he’s not just been busy, but something happened to shift his reaction to me. Either that or he’s so fixated on Birdie right now, that his focus is nowhere else. But the tension between us is palpable, a feeling that makes my heart race and my stomach twist, a far cry from the passion I felt just weeks ago.

“I slipped and fell on some ice on the sidewalk going back to my room. I’ll be okay. I’m a tough old bird, you know that,” she teases him as he closes in on her bed, completely immersed in her presence.

And in that moment, I realize that maybe I should leave, let the three of them have their space as a family and hope Cash will come to me soon so we can talk. I don’t know what happened, but my gut is telling me he knows more than he should.

“I’m going to go, you guys—let you have your time together. I’ll check in soon,” I say softly, retreating from the room backwards.

“Thank you, Piper, for all of your help.”

“Of course.” Twisting on my feet, I exit her room and make my way down the hall, noticing how fast my pulse is racing as I increase the distance between Cash and myself. I feel like my heart is about to break through my ribcage, the fear over losing what we just started has me speed walking away from the turmoil I felt in that room. I never should have let him in. I never should have allowed myself to fall for him.

With the doors leading outside only a few feet away, the sound of Cash’s words stop me cold.

“Where are you going,Pfeiffer?”

His voice makes me freeze—not only from the commanding tone, but from his use of my real name.Shit, I knew it.

“We need to talk, and I think you know just what we need to talk about.”

Chapter 24

Cash

When Samuel called and told me Birdie was on her way to the hospital from a fall, I instantly felt like I was about to murder someone. Anger mixed with fear swirled in my body, causing me to freak out in a way I didn’t know I could. Birdie is the closest thing I have to a parent, replacing the space in my heart I should have for my real mom and dad, because she has cared for me in a way they never managed. My number one goal in that moment was to get to her, but I was following a call on a suspected drunk driver, so I had to finish my job before I could leave. Luckily, the retrieval was quick and Luke came by to finish processing and arresting the man so I could rush to the hospital.

I sprinted through the doors like a person does in the movies for dramatic effect—head twisting from side to side, breathing heavy, panic clearly visible on my face. As I asked the receptionist where Birdie was, the idea of running into Piper here never crossed my mind. We haven’t seen each other in days because I’ve been avoiding her and picking up extra shifts to keep my mind off how I want to address her lies and give me a valid excuse as to why I couldn’t see her. It’s also prevented me from acting like an asshole and ruining what we have—if there still is an us after my discovery.

But when I make my way to Birdie’s room and peak inside, I’m granted with the image of Piper leaning over Birdie in her bed, brushing her hair from her face covered in a bandage, and smiling down at her like Birdie means something to her too. Her long blonde hair falls over her shoulder that she has it draped over, her long lashes stand out against her porcelain skin, and the care I see on her face even from the side tells me her heart is the most beautiful thing about her.

And in that moment, I know I’m fucked—because Iloveher.

That word has meant nothing to me until right now. Watching this woman that has altered my existence show admiration and care for the most important person in my life makes me realize that she is a part of my life now too. I’ve denied myself love because of the marriage my parents portrayed to me, making me fearful that I could treat someone else like that someday. And even though I’ve never claimed this emotion before, I know without a doubt that this is what I’m feeling. It’s inherent, cemented in the fact that although I don’t have a clue about who this woman truly is, what her life was like before I met her, and what has led her to the point where she had to change her name—I know that I love her and can’t ever imagine my life without her in it.

But as this overpowering emotion hits my body, it is quickly accompanied by frustration and irritation again. Because although I know I love her, she lied to me, has been lying to me from the start and I can’t understand why. I know I just need to ask, but that requires getting a handle on my emotions, which has never been my strong suit. In my job, I’m tough as nails and nothing can penetrate the brick walls I erect to keep the tough shit from getting to me. But in my personal life, I tend to react to things like a tornado—fast, furious, and unpredictable. It has taken everything in my power not to race to her apartment, bang on her door, and demand answers. And if it weren’t for Cooper convincing me to give myself some time, I would have already been there.

But what the fuck is she doing here at the hospital with Birdie and Samuel? She’s not in her scrubs, so she obviously isn’t working. And then I see the paint on her fingers, which answers my questions instantly. Tonight was the paint night at the center, and Piper must have been there when everything happened. I thank my lucky stars that she was, because who knows what could have happened if she wasn’t trained in handling situations just like that which happened to Birdie.

However, I can’t focus on that right now. I can deal with her later. Right now, the only thing that matters is that Birdie is going to be alright. That’s my number one priority and always has been.

“Christ, Birdie? What the hell happened?” I march into the room, pushing away the drama with Piper and demanding some answers. Just as I speak, Piper twists to face me, but I avoid her eyes.

“I’m fine, Cash. Just a little fall,” she says wearily, her eyes attempting to close. She looks weak and tired, providing just a small reminder that Birdie is not getting any younger and her injury has rattled her.

“Oh, no you don’t,” Samuel shakes her easily, trying to keep her awake. “She has a concussion.”

“Fuck. How did you hit your head?” I say a little too loudly, moving further into the room, still avoiding Piper. I know she can sense the tension I’m giving off because she slowly cowers away from the bed, hanging her head low and moving towards the door. I just continue to fixate on Birdie, assessing her injuries and thinking about how I can alter my schedule to help her recover.

“I slipped and fell on some ice on the sidewalk going back to my room. I’ll be okay. I’m a tough old bird, you know that,” she teases me as I close in on her bed, reaching for her hand which finally helps calm me down, being able to physically touch her and realize she’s still breathing and alive.

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