Page 98 of Just Not That Into Billionaires

“He’s not vegetative,” I snap. I turn to the nurse. “As Benny’s wife, I demand this man be removed.”

“If you both don’t leave, I’m going to have to get security,” the nurse says.

“Get them,” I say. I’m looking around for something to tie myself to the bed with, or chain myself into the room somehow.

Aaron gives me a smile that curdles my stomach. “You’ll be able to visit to him tomorrow.”

The air whooshes out of my stomach. “Get out.”

He gives me this innocent look. “It’s okay. I understand that you’re distraught.”

Another song, another favorite, comes on my Benny playlist. If only he’d wake up!

And then I get an idea. I grab my phone and take it off of airplane mode. I’m searching a music app.

The nurse has had enough. I hear her voice, “I need security in room 354.”

I find the one thing that I know will rouse Benny out of that bed.

I hit play and crank the volume up. It’s “Alligator Pie,” a Dave Matthews Band song.

Aaron frowns. “What are you doing?”

A different nurse bursts in the door with a goatee and a grim look. “Turn that off!” he says. “It’s absolutely forbidden to be playing music at a volume like this! Visiting hours are over.”

I stay right there, clutching my phone. They’ll have to carry me out.

My heart sinks when I look down at Benny. He’s unresponsive.

It’s not working

“She’s just distraught,” Aaron says.

“I’m not leaving,” I announce over the drone of the song.

When I next look over at Benny, I think I see his lip twitch. I perk up. “Did you guys see that?” I ask.

“You need to turn that off,” Aaron says.

“Benny! Listen! Oh my god, what is playing? Can you even?”

Aaron sighs, like I’m so ridiculous. I glare at him. He has his smug smile, but then he looks down at Benny and the smile is gone. His skin goes chalk white.

I look down at Benny and my heart leaps. Benny’s eyes are still closed, but his entire face is scrunched up, as if he’s in excruciating pain. I’ve never seen such a beautiful sight!

I put the phone nearer to his ear. “What is this, Benny?”

This seems to annoy Benny even more.

“He’s trying to move his arms!” the nurse suddenly exclaims. “He’s in some kind of distress!” She calls for a doctor. She tells me to turn off the music.

Aaron is white as a sheet. “Turn it off,” he barks.

“Screw off,” I say.

Benny’s groaning. “No…no…”

A new nurse comes in pushing a cart. Then two men come in who don’t look like medical staff at all—obviously security. One of them is huge.

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