Page 7 of Love and Memories

Travis looked up at the digital clock on the wall and stood. “Sorry, man. I hope Anna wises up and Hadley doesn’t have to worry about her anymore.”

“Thanks. Where are you headed? You don’t usually leave for the ranch this early.”

Shoot. Sneaking around was a lot tougher when his roommate actually paid attention. How did Gage keep up with Travis’s schedules for multiple jobs when he had more than one himself?

“Just got some things to do before work.”

“All right. I guess I’ll see you at the house later.”

When Gage didn’t press the issue, Travis headed for the showers. Why was there a tugging in his chest? He’d been fighting it for the last two days, and the more he tried to forget it, the more the nagging in the back of his mind told him to go with his gut.

Fifteen minutes later, he settled into his truck and closed the door. Crossing his arms on the wheel and resting his head on them, he closed his eyes and waited for his breathing to slow.

“God, what am I doing? She’s probably fine. I can’t do anything else to help her. Why am I wrestling over going back to the hospital?”

No answer came, but the urge to go check on her welled up inside him again.

Travis lifted his head and started the truck. The diesel engine roared to life like his resolve. “Fine. I’ll go see her. I’ll ask her how she’s doing, offer to help her if she needs anything, and leave.”

Every muscle in Travis’s body stayed taut on the long drive to the hospital, but a steady string of “What if” questions rolled through his head.

He parked in front of the hospital and killed the engine. The building wasn’t that impressive, and while he knew the emergency department like the back of his hand, the rest of the hospital had remained a welcome mystery to him.

Why was he going in now? Why was he walking into a situation that couldn’t have a good outcome?

“Find out how she’s doing, and go home,” he said aloud in the quiet cab. Letting out an exasperated huff, he opened the door. “This is crazy.”

Once he was in motion, Travis made his way into the hospital on autopilot. He stopped at the information desk and gave the sour-faced nurse as much of a grin as he could muster.

“Good morning. I’m here to see…”

Shoot. Whowashe here to see? He didn’t know her name.

The elevator behind him dinged, and he turned just as one of the nurses he knew stepped out.

“Kennedy.”

Kennedy looked up from digging in her purse and gave him a bright smile. Her long black hair was pulled up into a high ponytail, and her intricate tattoos snaked their way up her arms and under the short sleeves of her blue scrubs.

“Hey, Trav. Are you working?” Her gaze traveled from his head to his toes and back, taking in his jeans and T-shirt. She stretched an arm out to the side to give him a quick hug.

Kennedy had given him plenty of hints that she was interested in him, but he’d never made a move. She was a few years younger than him, and there’d never been a spark of anything other than friendship, at least on Travis’s end.

“Actually, I just came to check in on the woman we brought in a couple of days ago. Do you know if she’s still here? She didn’t have a name.”

Kennedy’s eyes widened. “Oh, Jane Doe.”

“I guess that means shestilldoesn’t have a name.”

“Last I heard. I haven’t seen her, but I heard about her during a shift change yesterday. I don’t think she’s awake yet.”

Travis followed Kennedy down the hallway. What was he even doing here? The nurses wouldn’t be able to tell him anything, and she was basically in a coma.

Kennedy stopped outside of a room and quietly knocked. “Oops. I guess she isn’t going to respond.” She rolled her eyes and smiled, making light of her own mistake.

“Thanks,” Travis said, pausing at the door.

“You’re welcome. I hope she wakes up soon, or at least someone comes to see her.”

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