Page 6 of Blame It On the Secret Santa

“I would feel a lot better if you did. That was a nasty fall you had. The company will pay for everything if that’s what you’re worried about. I’ll also pay both of you for the rest of the day so you don’t miss any hours.”

“That’s not the issue. I’m fine. Really. I just want to go back inside and finish my shift.”

“Let’s see you walk then,” I challenged, folding my arms over my chest. I knew this would only further irritate and piss her off, but I wasn’t going to back down. She needed to go to the hospital to make sure she didn’t break anything when she fell, and I wasn’t going to stop until that happened. Cassidy was stubborn, but that was one of the things I had always loved about her. Until now.

Her eyes narrowed further at me as Bruce waited.

Cassidy pulled her shoulders back and went to take a step before hissing and freezing in pain.

“Exactly what I thought. Now you can either get in the car on your own, or I’ll gladly help you inside,” I said firmly, ignoring the smirk begging to cross Bruce’s face. He knew our history the same as everyone else in Sugarplum Falls, so it wasn’t like it was a big surprise to him how much she despised me.

“You’re such a pain in my ass,” Cassidy said through gritted teeth.

“No, I think the pain in your ass is from hitting the ice so hard. But thankfully, we’re heading to a hospital with well-trained doctors who can confirm and prescribe some painkillers.”

Cassidy allowed Bruce to help her in the backseat of my car and then continued to give me dirty looks all the way to the hospital.

Five

Cassidy

“Can you go somewhereelse?” I practically snarled, hating that the nurse in the ER had allowed Sean to come back with me. There were long curtains that separated each of the beds, but he was sitting in the chair right beside me. If I had enough strength left in me, I’d find a way to make it wherehewas in one of the other beds instead.

“Sorry. No can do. The nurse said for me to sit here, so that’s what I’m doing.”

“She didn’t say youhaveto sit there. She said youcould. There’s a big difference.”

“Yeah, and I took her invite.”

“But nowI’muninviting you.”

Before we could continue with our bickering, the curtain pulled back, and an older man with wiry gray hair appeared wearing a white coat and a stethoscope around his neck. I had already been taken back for X-rays and was told they would give me medicine for the pain as soon as the doctor okayed it.

“Good news is there aren’t any breaks or fractures,” the doctor said, pushing his glasses up his nose. “The bad news is that you’ll likely have some pain and swelling for a few days, so you’ll need to take it easy and ice the area often to reduce the swelling.”

A nurse came in and stood beside me as she handed me a pill and a cup of water.

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