Page 111 of Love Takes Home

Trish moves to the door and opens it. “Is everyone here?” I whisper.

“And then some,” he tells me.

Mom and Dad are the first two in the room followed by a doctor, a nurse, and Davis. He shuts the door behind him, and they all look at me like I’m a lab experiment.

“How are you feeling?” the doctor asks.

“Better, I guess?”

“Is everyone in here family?” he asks, eyeing Joker. “And do you want them to leave while we talk?”

“Everyone out there is family, too.” I look at him. “But I’m good with the people in here.”

Joker smirks at me and squeezes my hand, not moving from his perch on the bed.

“Do you remember what happened?” the doctor asks, obviously not bothered by my snark.

I nod, swallowing. “I was at the school and was attacked. I…I shot him.”

The doctor nods. “You might have a few hazy areas, but your memory seems to be intact.”

“I don’t remember being here at all.”

“That’s because you weren’t really awake.”

“Gin, you passed out at the school. You were out for a while and then woke up screaming,” Joker fills in for me.

“We gave you something to relax you. That’s why you’ve been here longer than you probably would have been if you’d just fainted.”

“When can I go home?” I ask.

“In the morning. I’d like to keep an eye on you overnight. I understand that you injured your face.” He nods my way.

I reach up and feel my cheek, wincing at the pain. “That doesn’t feel good.”

“We don’t think anything’s broken, but we’d like to watch for signs of a concussion or whiplash-type injuries. And medicate that cut on your lip.”

“Thank you, doctor,” my mom says.

“Sure,” he replies. “If you need anything, let us know, but we’re going to let you get some rest. I’ll be back in the morning and see if we can’t cut you loose extra early?”

“That would be great.” And right on cue, my stomach growls, and everyone looks at me. “It’s been a while since I ate anything.” I grimace.

“I think we can probably help with that problem. Also, it’s getting pretty late and visiting hours are going to end soon.”

“You think I have the ability to kick those men out there anywhere?”

“No, didn’t think that.” He grins. “But maybe let them all see how you are and tell them to see you tomorrow?”

“We can make that happen,” Joker answers for me. “But they weren’t leaving until we had some answers.”

“Surround yourself with good people, and you’ll never be alone. Overcrowded maybe, but never alone.”

The doctor and nurse leave after the nurse has checked my oxygen. She puts an oxygen nasal canula on my face and takes the full mask away. She also promises to bring me back something to eat.

Two at a time, everyone comes in to check on me. Lottie and Tiny, Elle and Ranger, the guys Joker works with. The last two are Sammy and the lady from Briar Mountain that I met at the diner. The therapist, Claire. They stay, while Mom and Dad tell me goodnight and leave.

“Where’s Aaron?” I ask Davis. “And where was Nat?”

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