Page 51 of Last Chance Love

“This isnotexactlywhat I had in mind when it came to broadening horizons,” I heard a Mona say from my faint haze.

“It did nearly broaden him in the literal sense,” Reed said wryly. “From what I overheard, if Leon had been half a foot to the right, or if the ties on the wall had all given out, we wouldn’t be looking at a drugged-up dork but a casket full of jelly.”

“That is absolutely disgusting,” Mona said as I returned to reality, remembering where I was and what had happened. “And I’m honestly more appalled that the imagery is probably accurate and will stick with me.”

“Sorry, a little bit of the gallows humor you pick up working in an ER,” Reed said, but still confused and trying to make sense of what was happening, I could tell he wasn’t sorry. “And it’s bad taste to talk about a patient as if they’re not there, even if they’re unconscious.”

“I’m really glad to hear you’re happy I’m not a jelly pancake,” I said, finally opening my eyes. The room was brighter than before, which made the stabbing in my brain worse, but at least it wasn’t the wracking pain from before. Reed was leaning against one of the cabinets while Mona stood in the doorway, dressed in a blouse, tall boots, and dirt-stained jeans.

“Because sometimes they can still hear you,” Reed finished with a chuckle, looking me over. “How are you feeling?”

“Like I almost got crushed to death yesterday,” I said, sitting up slowly and wincing at the twinge in my back. “Well, that’s better than just having happened, so I’ve got that going for me, at least.”

“Ever the optimist, willing to seek out those silver linings,” Reed said with a smirk.

“Thanks,” I said with a roll of my eyes. “So, to what do I owe the honor of this visit?”

Mona eyed me for a moment before huffing. “Well, considering you were hurt during work, I am interested.”

“Funny, I don’t recall you visiting everyone when they get hurt.”

“I do when they get seriously injured. And being almost crushed to death counts as seriously injured, in case you didn’t know.”

I didn’t know enough about her comings and goings to argue, but I caught Reed's blank, sidelong glance, which only made me more suspicious. If anyone knew when Mona showed up, it was him, but his expression gave away nothing.

Even without that strangeness on his part, something still felt off about her words, which came off as genuine, if dismissive. But then again, that was nothing new with Mona, at least recently. Before I’d become a mentor, and even in the early months of my time as one, she had never given me that strange feeling. Now, it felt like she was holding something back and simultaneously watching me…evaluating, which was unnerving when I didn’t know why she needed to watch me so closely.

“That’s an intense expression,” Mona noted, raising a brow.

“He’s coming down from one hell of a day and no small amount of pain meds,” Reed chuckled. “He’s probably just groggy and trying to remember his name.”

“I remember my name, and I remember that you’re both a pain in my ass,” I said with a huff. “What’s going on?”

“I was called in,” Reed said with a shrug. “Dragged out of my bed to have a chat with Mona over your unconscious body.”

“That just sounds creepy,” I told them, wrinkling my nose.

“Would it make you feel better if I said I wept over your unmoving body? That I was moved to compose a poem in your honor?” Reed asked, arching one brow and smirking at me. It was hard to see under his amusement, but I thought I detected the slightest razor-sharp edge of irritation in him. I couldn’t tell if it was at me or the situation…but I thought it might actually be at Mona.

“No, that would be both creepy and awful,” I said, turning so I could dangle my legs off the bed after realizing I was no longer tangled in wires and tubes. “I remember your poetry in high school. It was worse than Dr. Seuss if he got drunk and high.”

“Charming,” Mona said, glancing at Reed.

I stared at Reed, trying to keep my expression as neutral as possible, and was quietly relieved when he shrugged, apparently done with the conversation.

“And to think you almost struck me as a poetic soul,” Mona said with a shrug. “Ah well, I can’t be right about everything.”

Which made me suspicious she thought that no matter what we said. Showing my suspicion was the best way to give up the game, so I just snorted. “Sorry to disappoint.”

“You haven’t yet,” she said mysteriously with an equally confusing chuckle. “How’s he doing, Reed?”

“Based on the conversation he managed to have without trailing off or getting lost, I’d say we’re not dealing with any serious damage,” Reed said with a shrug, stepping closer to me. “How are you? I’m asking as a doctor this time, not Reed.”

“Still hurts, obviously.”

“Mhmm,” he muttered, poking and prodding me. “Tell me.”

“Ow…still, ow…kinda…ow!” I snapped suddenly. “What the fuck was that?”

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