Page 49 of Forever Your Touch

“At least you have someone here. I’ll come check on you in a bit. My shift’s almost over, but let me get your phone number. We’ll hook up for lunch when you’re feeling better.”

“Sure.” Jo scribbled her number down in the little notebook the nurse carried, along with her name.

“The doc will be in shortly,” Mason announced, coming back into the room. “Fuckers. I told them to get their asses in gear. There is no excuse for letting you sit here in pain.”

Beth’s eyes went round when she finally saw Mason. They glazed over a little too. It was something Jo was used to. She couldn’t not be and spend any time around Mason. He wasn’t merely cute or handsome. He was gorgeous, but more than that, his personality drew people to him like flies.

It always amazed her he enjoyed spending time with her at all. Jo was a very boring person. She knew this. Hell, she could go hours without saying a single word. She’d rather stay in and read than go to a party. Sure, she had a lot of fun playing video games and interacting with her subscribers, but deep down, she was pretty bland. Mason was as far from bland as you could get. Maybe that was why they balanced each other out so well. He pulled her into fun things, and she reminded him not to go so overboard he got into trouble.

“You know what’s wrong with your leg yet?”

“No.” She nodded to Beth. “This is Beth. She goes to NYU too.”

Mason’s eyes flickered to Beth, and he jutted his chin out in greeting. “Hey.”

“Hi,” she squeaked and then blushed. “I have to go.”

He rolled his eyes when she scampered out of the room. He didn’t care what kind of effect he had on women. He seemed to be more and more irritated by it these days.

Mason pulled a chair over to her bed and sat, taking her hand. “How ya doin’,moye dragotsennyy?”

“Not so good. I’m woozy and in a lot of pain.”

He rubbed his eyes with his free hand. “Don’t ever scare me like that again, Josephine. I don’t think my heart can take it. Plus, Keith will beat me black and blue if anything happens to you.”

“He said he was coming.”

“Yeah. He’ll be here in a couple hours. I already got one of the brothers at the frat locked down to go pick him up when his flight gets in.”

“Can I see your phone?” He wasn’t going to like this, but…

“Why?” His eyes narrowed.

“I need to call Ray and tell him what happened.”

“Are you fucking kidding me?” he exploded, and she flinched. “That fucker is why you’re here right now!”

“No, he’s not. I’m here right now becauseIchose to try to cut the yard, knowing it could turn out badly.”

Mason’s mouth opened and closed several times. Jo saw the war in his eyes. He didn’t want her to call Ray. He blamed him for what happened, and sure, it was partly his fault for agreeing it was okay for her to cut the grass. But not all of it.

“I hate that fucker.” He handed over his phone then stalked out of the hospital room, his back ramrod straight and his fists clenched tightly.

She texted Ray to tell him she’d be calling from Mason’s phone. It took him five minutes to text her back. She was lucky he did. He hardly ever looked at his phone while fishing.

He picked up on the first ring. “What is it?”

She gritted her teeth at his irritated tone.

“Did your mom call and tell you I’m in the hospital?”

“What?” Something rattled and bounced. His fishing rod, maybe. “What’s wrong? Are you okay?”

“I’m at the hospital, Ray, so no, I’m not all right. I was cutting the grass and tripped. The lawnmower ran over my leg.”

“Shit, Jo. How bad is it?”

“I don’t know. Doctor hasn’t come in yet to tell me. It hurts like hell, though. Mason is raising hell trying to make them bring me some pain meds. Nurses can’t until the doctor comes in or orders it.”

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