Page 43 of Protect

Wrong. My obsession just gets even worse when, for the next two nights, Violette comes to my room on her breaks, always checking on me first, asking me questions like how my dressings feel, or how my pain is, but every time I somehow manage to keep her, and we talk more. About Hollie, her parents, my work, even a little more about Jacob. On her last night, when I know she’ll be off for a few days, she tells me she’s officially divorced as of today.

“The odd thing is, I don’t even think I’m sad. How messed up is that?” she asks, popping her last bite of salad from the cafeteria into her mouth. “I almost feel relieved.”

She’s wearing baby pink scrubs today and the color just makes her look like a real life version of hot Nurse Barbie.

“I don’t think it’s fucked. If you aren’t with the right person, if it’s a struggle, then I would imagine there would be relief. You should never have to pretend.” I offer.

“You seem like you’re speaking from experience,” Violette says, taking a sip of her sparkling water.

I laugh and scrub my face with my hand. “Fuck, I have no experience.”

“None?”

“Well…” I feel my throat heat as I try to answer…fuck, am I blushing? “I haveexperience, I just…no one’s ever, I’ve never—fuck, I don’t think I’ve ever liked anyone enough to make it past a few weeks?—”

Violette’s laughing cuts me off, but it’s more of a snorting kind of laughter.

“I was just fucking with you, Kingsley, I don’t need the gritty details of your sexcapades,” she says as she stands and throws her container in the garbage in the corner of my room.

Excellent,now she thinks I’m a manwhore.Smooth.

“Gotta get some work done, see you in a bit,” she says before I can defend myself or say anything even remotely witty.

I fish my phone out and check the time. Only two hours left until she heads out for a couple days, and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t gonna miss her.

I pull up my contacts and take matters into my own hands, planning ahead. Because even though she won’t physically be here, I’m not about to let that stop me. Not when she’s finally starting to come out of her shell and I’m finally starting to see a glimpse of the old us.

Unknown

My new nurse doesn’t like to play cards, in fact she looks downright angry.

I’m a little afraid for my safety.

Maybe it’s the drugs they’ve got me on.

They’re making me paranoid. Fuck. Maybe that’s the point?

I roll over and rest my phone on my bedside table with a smile as I shove my face back into my pillow knowing my early morning unknown messages are from Rowan.

I should be keeping my distance from him but I just can’t. I grab my phone and start to text.

Who is this?

Unknown

Your patient. Frankly I’m heartbroken you’d forget me that quickly.

Hospital records are private. You shouldn’t have my number.

This is stalkerish behavior.

Unknown

She’s coming back, I can hear her footsteps. If this is the last time we talk remember the only reason you beat me was because you play dirty.

I laugh in the dark of my bedroom. I know Tilly is his nurse tonight. She’s a veteran nurse of almost sixty. She is gruff and handsy. Imagining her shooting down Rowan as he tries to win her over actually gives me pleasure.

Just do what she says, don’t make any sudden movements and you’ll get out alive. I’ll be back on Wednesday.

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