Page 139 of Just This Once

I was pretty sure her purse had been down at the table, hanging from the back of a chair. That’s where I’d find hermedications. I wasn’t sure how I was going to snag it without anyone noticing or asking questions, but I’d worry about that when I got down there.

“Stay here. I’ll be right back.”

She nodded and mumbled, “Okay.”

I propped her against the wall, then hurried to the door, yanking it open, only to lurch back unexpectedly when I saw someone I knew standing there, waiting on us.

“Waverly?”

She wasn’t wearing her usual drab, library colors but a whiteCowpoke’s Bar and Grill on the BayT-shirt and jean shorts, while her dark hair was pulled up into a high ponytail, and a half-apron was wrapped around her slip of a waist. “What the hell are you doing here?”

“My dad just bought the place,” she explained. “I’ve been helping out every couple of weekends.” Peering past me to try to see into the bathroom, she asked, “Is she okay?”

Dammit. If Waverly had seen Hope hurry off, looking sickly and frail, then who else had?

Behind me, I heard Hope start vomiting again.

Closing my eyes briefly, I muttered, “Shit,” and then I sent Waverly a grimace. “Can you do me a huge favor?”

She nodded immediately. “Of course.”

I swallowed, hating to use her but out of options.

“Did you happen to see where we were sitting?” When she nodded again, I exhaled, a little relieved. “Good. Do you think you could go down to our table and find her pursewithoutany of my friends noticing? It’s a two-toned beige and gray piece with a long cross-body strap and two fringy things hanging from the front. It should be on the back of one of the chairs.”

Waverly nodded and started away immediately. “Got it. I’ll be right back.”

I watched her hurry away, then turned back to Hope. She’d finished the second round already and propped herself against the wall. I grabbed some paper towels this time before going to her and kneeling in front of her to wipe her face.

“Just hang in there another minute,” I assured. “And we’ll get you out of here. Okay?”

Her eyes were closed, and she was grimacing in pain, but she nodded to let me know she’d heard.

I stroked her hair. “I’ll get you to the hospital and then?—”

“Hospital?” She opened her eyes with a frown and rolled her head along the wall to shake it. “No. I’ll be okay.”

“Dammit, Hope. Something is wrong. So yeah, we’re going to the fucking hospital.”

“No.” Her face was red and covered with perspiration while tears drizzled down her cheeks. “They’ll try to keep me. I can’t go now. Not yet.”

“What?”

What the hell was she talking about;not yet?

“They won’t let me leave,” she slurred, sounding delirious. “They’ll make me stay for the rest of my life, and I’m not ready.”

“Hope,” I assured gently, petting her hair and testing her brow for a fever. “You’re not making any sense. They won’tkeepyou. We’re just going to get you checked out and then?—”

“Just give it a few hours,” she pleaded, breaking in as she took a handful of my shirt and peered into my eyes with a begging expression. “I’ll take my pills, they’ll kick in, and I’ll be fine again. Just…wait. Please.Parker.” Burrowing against me, she curled close and nestled her head on my shoulder. “Not yet.”

I ground my teeth, wanting to argue with her. She looked awful. But I couldn’t tell her no. Not while she was looking at me like that and fucking begging.

Before I could answer, a knock came at the door, and Waverly slipped inside, shutting it again behind her.

“I brought some water too,” she told me, holding up a cool, sweating bottle as she handed over Hope’s purse.

“Great,” I told her, taking both. “Did anyone see you?”

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