Page 52 of Always Salty

I made it to the kitchen and was just reaching for the cupboard above the sink to pull the coffee can down when I felt two hands go to my hips.

I twisted, raised an elbow, and reared it backward so hard that I heard and felt the air leaving a man’s lungs.

When that man stepped back and gave me space, mostly because he was hunched over and trying to breathe, I whirled around and palmed the closest thing I could use as a weapon. A can of baked beans.

“What are you doing?” I barked.

The patient, Cornelius Stone, said, “Sorry for startling you.”

I narrowed my eyes. “Startling me would be clearing your throat from the other side of the room. What you did was assault.”

His brows rose. “That’s a bit excessive, isn’t it?”

“No,” I snarled. “What’s excessive is thinking you can go up to a woman and put your hands on her hips while she’s pressed against a counter and think it’s all right.”

He grinned at me, and I wanted to smash the can of beans into his face.

“What’s going on here?” Dr. Adams asked as he came into the room.

“Just a misunderstanding,” the patient lied.

“Why are you out of the bed?” Dr. Adams asked.

“Because I was thirsty,” Stone lied.

“You went through the water we provided you already?” he asked.

“Yes?” Stone lied yet again.

“I’ll bring you more,” Dr. Adams said. “Please return to your room, and the next time you wish to leave, you need to use the intercom system and inform us. Also, the staff break room is off limits.”

I clenched my hand on the can of beans while I watched them walk away.

When I was finally able to control my heart, I placed the beans on the counter, then leaned my butt against it as I tried to breathe through my anger.

The text that came through moments after that didn’t surprise me at all.

Unknown:

I trusted you when you said you’d be safe.

Me:

I am. Now.

I resaved the number into my phone, then memorized it for good measure.

Me:

I was about to bash him upside the head with some baked beans.

Me:

I wish I would have.

Me:

I was only going to make coffee. Also, this guy creeped me out all night. Cornelius Stone. That’s his name. Luckily, he’s not my patient.

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