Page 97 of Just Not That Into Billionaires

Why? He’d resolved to call him and tell him the bad news—not meet him in person. Did he call Aaron and tell him he’s nixing the sale? Did Aaron convince him to meet somehow? And then...

Am I being paranoid?

Benny’s main nurse comes back in.

“You have to let me stay with my husband,” I say. “I feel like he could be in danger.”

“He’s being monitored closely,” she says. “If anything happens to him, he’s got the best care in the world.”

Not what I mean.

“I need to stay,” I announce. “I’m not leaving.”

“I’m sorry, you don’t have a choice.” She’s checking the machines, hitting buttons on her handheld device. “They’ll get security.”

“They let Aaron in and he’s not even family. So obviously the rules are not that ironclad.”

“Your husband is in good hands,” she says. “He’s safe.”

I grab Benny’s hand. One of his favorite Spoon songs is playing. “I need you to wake up,” I say to him. “I need you to wake up, Benny!”

The nurse gives me a wan smile and leaves.

At five minutes after seven, they still haven’t kicked me out, though they’ve certainly made plenty of announcements about visiting hours being over. Maybe they’re giving me a little extra time.

When the door opens next, I’m sure it’s them coming to drag me out, but instead it’s Aaron.

“Visiting hours are over,” I say to him. “And you’re not family, anyway.”

“If visiting hours are over, what are you doing here?” he asks.

“Staying.” I squeeze Benny’s hand. I turn up the music. Lou Reed. Another of his favorites. “Come on, baby.”

Nothing.

I look up and glare at Aaron.

The nurse comes in.

I point at Aaron. “This man is his soon-to-be ex-business partner and shouldn’t be allowed in,” I say to her.

Aaron looks surprised. “Ex-business partner? What are you talking about? I’m his current business partner. We were about to negotiate a big sale.”

Right here I know he’s lying. Benny was going to call him and tell him the sale was off. Benny does what he says he’ll do. “Benny doesn’t want to sell,” I say. “But I think you know that.”

“I think you might be overwrought,” Aaron says. “Because I know of no such thing.”

“He’s not selling,” I say.

“It’s already in motion. It has been for weeks.”

“You’re both supposed to be out of here,” the nurse says.

“Come on, then.” Aaron holds out a hand. “We’d best get out of here.”

My pulse is racing. “No,” I say. “If you won’t let me stay, I’m signing him out.”

“You can’t sign a vegetative patient out of the hospital,” Aaron says.

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