Page 12 of Derek
“Not since she was in the break room yesterday. She mentioned something about getting a hotel.” Fucking hell, I’m going to have to start skipping breakfast if this heartburn doesn’t let up.
Janie reaches into the pocket of her dress and pulls out her phone. She taps the screen and puts the device to her ear. I watch as her frown deepens with each passing second. She looks at her phone and taps it again, turning it on speaker this time. After two rings, Ash’s fiancé, Sunday, answers.
“Hey, Babe,” Her voice is quiet.
“Sunday, I’m sorry to bother you, but have you heard from Indy? She’s not answering her phone, and she went to stay at a hotel because of the steps at Stevie’s.” Sunday groans, and there is shuffling and muttering before a frantic Ash gets on the phone.
“Janie,” He breathes. “Where are the guys?”
“Fox and Derek are right here, you’re on speaker.” Janie barely manages to get out the sentence before Ash starts talking.
“I need you guys to go to Sky Point Hotel. It’s about five minutes away. That’s where I booked her the hotel room. It’s room 109. If she doesn’t answer, break the fucking door down, and I need to know exactly what’s happening as soon as you do.”
I get up and grab my keys, as Fox follows me out to my vehicle, and we drive off.
* * *
The annoyanceI feel at this hotel is overwhelming when we walk inside. It’s not a by-the-hour hotel, but also, no one even bothers to stop two massive tattooed men as we storm down the hall to find room 109.
“Here it is,” Fox says before knocking on the door.
“Indy?” He calls. “Come on girl. I need you to answer me, or this door is coming down.” There is no response, and I’m done waiting. I move Fox out of the way as I kick the door once, hearing the frame cracking before taking my shoulder and driving into it, breaking the locks and the chain. I’m mildly aware of someone yelling at us from down the hall, but I can’t focus.
My heart drops as I look in the bathroom, and everything suddenly feels surreal. “Oh my god.” I breathe in shock. “C-call an ambulance!” I yell as everything begins working in my head again, and I run to the small unconscious body on the bathroom floor. Indy’s only covered by a cold, damp towel and the shower curtain she must’ve taken down when she fell.
“Fuck!” Fox growls as he walks into the bathroom. I gently place my hand on her neck and find she has a pulse, and I’m amazed at how much I relax with that small little thud against my fingers.
“I don’t think I should move her, but we can’t let them take her out like this.” I stare up at Fox, who nods and walks away before returning with a robe.
“We could put it over her front.” We both look at each other as if wondering who is going to do it. I snatch the robe from him because he’s making zero moves to do it.
“You get to call Ash.” I mutter as I begin removing the shower curtain and towel while refusing to look anywhere but her face. As I toss the towel to the side, Indy whimpers, and her little heart-shaped face scrunches. She opens a hazy eye and blinks.
“Derek?” She manages out, and the amount of relief I feel hearing her voice causes a lump to form in my throat.
“Hey Darlin’,” I try to sound light even though it isn’t something I am known for, even on a good day.
“Oh nooo,” she groans weakly. “If you’re being nice, I must be dying.” I can’t help the surprised laugh that comes out of me. It startles not only Indy but myself. “Yep, definitely dying.” She moans.
“Probably going to wish you were dead,” I mumble as I finish slipping the white robe over her shivering body. “Your brother is kirking out, and I’m sure he is dying to turn his frustration on you.”
“Kirk-ing?” She winces when she tries to move. I hold her still while giving her a strong look.
“Girl, you’ve been unconscious for god only knows how long. You ain’t moving.” Did she just stick her tongue out at me? “Real mature,” I mutter as the muscle at the corner of my mouth twitches. Weird.
The paramedics finally arrive and lift Indy onto a stretcher. As they are about to wheel her away, her small hand reaches out until it finds mine.
“My stuff,” she whispers. “There’s a purple bag. Please don’t let anything happen to it, please Derek.” I nod and squeeze her hand as they wheel her out of the room, leaving Fox and me to find her belongings.
“Ash is pissed off.” Fox sighs while pulling his long hair back into a bun. “I don’t know what he’s going to do.”
“Nothing he can do,” I mutter, looking around for the purple bag. “She’s an adult.”
“An adult that can’t live by herself. Atlas and Ash’s homes aren’t set up for her. There are steps going up to the house and steps to get to the bedrooms. I could have her stay with me, I guess. The guest room is small but functional. There wouldn’t be a lot of privacy, but it’s better than this.”
“You have stairs too,” I state as I find the bag halfway under the bed. “Got it.” I say, holding it up.
“Yeah, but I can take her up and down the steps when I’m home. Though then she’s stuck waiting on me, fuck. I don’t know; maybe Ash will find her an apartment since there is evidently no other option.”
