Page 72 of More Than Falling in Love

I dreamed she was in the room with me.I’m sure I even said Flutter a time or two.Seeing that she was actually there, I was embarrassed and hurt all over again.

She wants things to be like they were before, but I don’t know how to do that.

The nurse cocks her head.“Someone is coming to x-ray your hand.Think you can stay in that bed?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

She pats my shoulder.“Sweet girl.She sat in here by your bed all night.”

I’m doing the mental math.There’s no way she could have known soon enough to get here last night.“Are you sure?”

“I’m sure.”She picks up an earring off the floor.“And I bet she lost this when she was cuddling against you.Where should I put it?”

I hold out my hand.“I’ll make sure she gets it.”

“You do that.But maybe without making her cry.”She winks.“I’m teasing.”

“I guess I deserve that.”

“You do.For making more paperwork.You fell on my shift.It ends in twenty minutes, but you just couldn’t wait, could you?”

“I am sorry.”

Her gaze softens.“I’m not the only one who needs to hear that.”

“When I see her, I’ll apologize.”I don’t want to have this conversation over the phone, and Poppy is probably at the ranch.I’ll plead my case when I see her there.

After textingParker to come get me, I sign all the necessary papers to be sent home.The doctor rattled off a whole list of things I can’t do, and my broken hand is in a brace, so basically, I can’t do my job.

Life isn’t going to be fun for the next couple of weeks.

I’m impatiently waiting when Mad Dog walks into the room.

“Heard they’re letting you out of here.”He stops just inside the door.

“Yes, sir.Parker is headed this way.”Seeing him makes me feel worse.Does he know I made his daughter cry?He probably hates me.

“Actually, that’s why I’m here.I overheard Parker on the phone.Told him I’d come get you.”

I nod, wondering what kind of grilling I’ll get on the way back to the ranch.

He gathers my things.“What happened to your hand?”

“Hairline fracture on one of the bones.I tried to get out of bed in a hurry.”

A girl in a striped uniform pushes my wheelchair toward the elevator, and everyone is quiet on the ride down.

By the time I’m buckled into my seat, I’m sweating.Not sure if that’s because of pain or nerves.

Mad Dog pulls away from the hospital, and for the first few miles, he doesn’t say a word.

But it’s coming.

I’d prefer being peppered with questions to this silent judgment.

“Sir, I want—”

“Call me Mad Dog, and you don’t have to tell me anything.Poppy hasn’t.It’s obvious that something happened, but y’all are adults, and I respect that.”He shifts his grip on the wheel.“I just wanted you to know that she flew home after leaving the hospital.She’s not at the ranch.”

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