Page 68 of Wild for You
“Oh shit, listen, Tatiana, I’m sorry about my attitude earlier, but if we could just talk about this—”
I hear Jack’s cocky voice pleading with the nurse behind a door, and I sit up a little taller as I scan the hallway, trying to figure out where it’s coming from.
“Ow! Ah!” Jack screams.
“Give me one second, dear.” My nurse pushes down on my wheelchair’s brakes. “I’m just going to grab you a new gown to change into after your shower.”
She’s parked me in front of the nurses’ station, and my eyes go wide with panic at the realization that Jack is on the other side of the door.
“Hold still and stop fighting me!” a muffled female voice calls.
“You said you’d be gentle, and I believed you!”
“Stop being a baby before I give you a second urethra!”
“Fuck! Ouch! You didn’t have to rip it that hard, and you know it!”
“Trust me, Mr. Manning, that was gentle. Now take your pain medicine. I’ll be back in an hour to check on you.” I grit my teeth and hunch my shoulders, wishing I could blend into the wall as a broad-chested nurse with a dark unibrow steps into the hallway. She’s grinning ear to ear.
I’m so close to him. I could get out of the wheelchair and push open that door, but I’m paralyzed by fear. Before I can make a decision, my nurse decides for me.
“Here we are.” She drops a warm gown on my lap, then pushes me in the opposite direction. My heart aches more and more with every step she takes, but I can’t make myself protest.
When we finally get back to my room, she helps me out of my gown and into the shower, where I wash away the final remnants of the island. Everything except one tiny little secret.
CHAPTERTHIRTY-TWO
Jack
“Jesus Christ,I definitely think my pee hole is bigger.” I adjust my wounded dick and tuck him delicately back against the side of my leg. Dropping the blankets, I find Sam staring at me with a look of bewilderment.
“You good?” He quirks a brow.
“I’ve been better,” I retort. “Is there something I can help you with, or did you just stop by to mock me, Samuel?”
He rolls his eyes and tosses me a cell phone. “Here. I grabbed you a new phone.” He scratches his head. “It’s a … it’s got Gwen’s new number programmed in it. And Benjamin’s, too.”
I clench the phone to my chest. “I take it this is a peace offering? Considering all you’ve put me through.”
He opens his mouth as if to argue but snaps it closed. “Yeah, something like that. We, uh … we just thought you should have something to keep in touch with Gwen.” He shoves his hands in his pockets and looks down at his feet.
Why the hell does he look so damn guilty? “What’s going on? What are you not telling me?”
His eyes meet mine, and there’s a mix of something like guilt and sympathy. “I heard from Maggie … She said Gwen’s being discharged from the hospital today.” He winces. “She’s … she’s going back to Chicago.” He sits on the chair next to my bed and lets out a long breath as I try to understand.
“She’s leaving?” I ask out loud, but it’s more to myself. “Does she know about mysituation?”
Sam shrugs. “Listen, dude, I think you should talk to her and figure things out. It’s not my place to get in the middle of your business.”
“You didn’t answer me.” I push my tangled hair away from my face and grit my teeth in frustration. “Does she know about my leg? Is that why she’s running away?”
Sam just shakes his head. “I don’t know if Maggie told her. All I know is she’s on a flight back to Chicago as we speak. Maybe she just needs some time to process everything, you know?” He stands and claps his hand on my shoulder. “Try not to freak out about it. You’ve still got a long road of recovery ahead of you.” He grabs his duffle bag tucked away in the corner, sliding the strap over his shoulder. “The good news is, I talked to your care team, and they’re letting you finish your antibiotics off-site. I’ve arranged for a home health team to come to one of my rental properties on the other side of town. We’ll be able to chill out and relax in the privacy of my home. I’ll load this in the car and pull it around.”
“Why would she just take off and leave me like this?”
“I don’t know, but I’m sure she has her reasons.” Sam points to the phone. “Why don’t you send her a message and ask her yourself?”
He turns to leave, and I’m left with a sinking feeling of betrayal. Surely she wouldn’t care that I was disfigured from the accident, would she? But I can’t think of any other explanation for her running off without saying goodbye. I toss the phone on my side table and stare at the white paneled ceiling.
