Page 11 of The Heat Between Us

"She's going to be okay, though, right?" I press.

Gladys studies me for a moment, then pats my arm. "She's young and healthy. That counts for a lot. Now, have you eaten anything since this morning?"

The question makes me realize I'm starving. "No, I haven't."

"That's what I thought." She reaches into her pocket and pulls out a granola bar. "This will tide you over until the cafeteria opens for dinner. And don't argue—you need to keep your strength up."

I take the granola bar with a grateful smile. "Thanks, Gladys."

She waves off my thanks and heads back toward the nurses' station, leaving me alone with my thoughts again.

The granola bar does little to satisfy my hunger, but it helps clear my head. As evening approaches, the visitors' lounge gradually empties, until I'm the only one left. A different nurse comes into tell me visiting hours are over, but when I explain who I'm waiting for, her expression softens.

"I'll let you know if there's any news," she promises before heading back to her station.

I must doze off at some point because I wake with a start to find Ollis sitting in the chair across from me, still in his uniform but cleaner than when I last saw him.

"Hey," he says quietly. "Any news?"

I shake my head, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. "Nothing yet. What time is it?"

"Almost nine," he says. "Fire's completely out. Building's a total loss, but we saved the neighboring structures."

"Good," I say automatically, though my mind is still with Chloe.

Ollis watches me for a moment, then leans forward. "You really don't know her at all? The woman from the fire?"

"We talked," I say simply. "While we were trapped. She's... she's something special, Ollis."

My brother raises an eyebrow. "Special enough to make you sit in this uncomfortable chair for hours?"

"Yeah," I admit. "I think maybe she is."

Before Ollis can respond, a doctor I haven't seen before appears in the doorway. "Is one of you waiting for news about Chloe Bennett?"

I'm on my feet instantly. "I am. How is she?"

"She's stable," the doctor says. "We've moved her to a regular room. She's sleeping now, but her prognosis is good. No serious damage to her lungs, though she'll need to take it easy for a few days."

Relief washes over me so intensely that I have to sit back down. "Can I see her?"

The doctor hesitates. "Visiting hours are over, but..." She glances at my brother's firefighter uniform, then back to me. "Given the circumstances, I suppose we can make an exception. Just for a few minutes."

"Thank you," I say, already standing again. "What room?"

"314," she says. "But remember, she needs rest. Don't wake her if she's sleeping."

I assure her I won't, then turn to Ollis. "You don't have to wait. I’ll walk home later."

He nods, "Call if you need anything."

With that, I follow the doctor through the corridors to Chloe's room. Outside the door, she gives me one more reminder about letting Chloe rest, then leaves me alone.

I take a deep breath before entering, suddenly nervous in a way I wasn't even when surrounded by flames. What if she doesn't remember me? What if our connection was just a product of the extreme circumstances?

The room is dim, lit only by a small lamp beside the bed. Chloe lies still, her dark hair spread across the pillow, her face peaceful in sleep. The soot has been cleaned away, revealing skin pale against the white hospital sheets. An IV runs to her arm, and a nasal cannula delivers oxygen, but otherwise, she looks like she could be simply taking a nap.

I move quietly to the chair beside her bed and sit down, careful not to disturb her. Up close, I can see the gentle rise and fall of her chest, each breath reassuring me that she's really okay.

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