Page 3 of Old Money

“No, Mom,” I say, “you can’t miss your shifts. It’s okay. I’m okay.”

“I’m coming, Sawyer. You’re not being alone right now.” I want to fight her on it. I know how badly she needs every penny she works for. But right now, the only thing I want is a warm hug from my mom. “Where are you, baby?”

“I…uh… Mom, I think I’m in Julian Everett’s apartment.”

“What? Everett? LiketheEveretts?”

“I…don’t even know…I’m not even sure…” I start to say. Words aren’t coming to me. Nothing is making any sense.

“Sweetheart, I think you’re in shock. Who are you with? Let me talk to someone. Whose phone is this?”

As if he heard me, there’s a short tap on the door before he opens it again.

“Everything okay?” he whispers. I nod.

“She wants to talk to you,” I say. He nods, walking toward me.

“No problem,” he says. He takes the phone. “Hello, this is Julian. Yes, hi. Yes, it’s really me. Ma’am, I’m so sorry for the absolute terror you’ve probably been through over the last hour or so. Yes…well, yes. She saved me, actually. I was due for a speaking engagement on campus today, and she happened to be running as I was coming in. She stopped us…what’s that? Yes.”

As he’s talking to her, I hear the ding of the elevator chiming through the apartment. One of the tall men who I presume to be Julian’s security has poked his head into the room. Julian covers the speaker.

“Doc’s here,” he says. Julian nods toward me, and the security man waves me out, leading me down the hall and up a set of stairs. We walk down the hallway, and to my left and my right, there is a door on either side. He takes me to the left and opens one of the doors. Inside is a massive suite, and he walks me through it to the extra-large bathroom.

“Sawyer, this is Dr. Simon,” he says, holding his hand out to a young red-headed man who is opening a medical kit and setting things neatly on the massive bathroom vanity. “And I am Tyler, by the way. Other big guy downstairs is Russ. Holler if you need anything.” I nod.

“Thank you,” I say. I turn to Dr. Simon, who I would guess is fresh out of medical school. He doesn’t look much older than me, but there’s something really calming and commanding about his presence that puts me at ease.

“Sawyer, right?” he says. I nod, and he extends a hand to me. “It’s nice to meet you, but I’m so sorry that it’s under these circumstances. I’m so glad you’re safe physically, but I know there is a long road ahead.”

I nod.

The gunman hasn’t even been apprehended.

“Mind if I take a look?” he asks, pointing to my head. He pats the toilet lid, and I sit down, closing my eyes. “Do you know what happened?” he asks. I clear my throat.

“I got bumped into when a bunch of us were running,” I say, “and I also fell in the parking lot. I don’t remember hitting my head, so I’m not sure which it was.” He nods.

“Well, either way, we will get you cleaned up,” he says. There’s a knock on the door just as he’s reaching for some gauze and something to sterilize and clean the cut. Julian steps in.

“How’s she looking, Doc?” he asks.

“Hey, Julian,” he says without taking his eyes off what he’s doing. “She looks good, considering. Three, maybe four stitches and she should be good to go.”

Julian nods and then sits on the edge of the free-standing tub that’s in front of the toilet.

“So, I talked to your mom,” he says, “explained how you ended up here. There are some flight delays coming out of Seattle right now because of weather, but she will be on the next commercial one they can get out of there. Unfortunately, none of our jets are on the West Coast right now, so we can’t get her here any sooner than that. She’s on standby until my people can get her a ticket.”

“But…how…she can’t…” I start to ask, but when we make eye contact, I know why. He’s paying for it. “You don’t have to…that’s so nice of you.” He nods and keeps talking.

“We’ve ordered you a new phone that should be here shortly, and I have one of my guys working on downloading your contacts so you can start checking in with your friends.”

We make eye contact again, and I swallow as Dr. Simon jabs me with the needle of Novocaine. I wince, and I feel Julian’s hand on mine.

“No updates on the shooter as of now, but I do know that campus is locked down with no one allowed on or off until law enforcement catches him. I spoke with your mom, and I’m happy to put you up in a hotel, but you are also more than welcome to stay here tonight. You can have this suite. It locks completely from the inside, if that makes you feel any more comfortable. She wasn’t a fan of the idea of you being alone tonight, and I don’t think she’s wrong. Obviously, it’s up to you, but I wanted to let you know that you are more than welcome to stay put.”

I swallow as Dr. Simon prepares the stitches while the Novocaine sets in. I clear my throat.

“Thank you,” is all I can muster, my voice cracking. He squeezes my hand.

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