Page 29 of Don't Bite the Boy Next Door
“I’d be the huntsman then,” he shrugs.
“You haven’t tried to rip out my heart and put it in a box,” I smile.
‘But I’ve wanted to rip out yours – if only you knew. I guess I’m really the Wicked Witch – and actually, it feels like you do have my heart.’
“If you’re the huntsman, I’m the witch,” I add, for once voicing my thoughts.
“Tess,” he shakes his head, “if it makes you happy, and you stay Snow, I’ll be a dwarf.”
I smirk. “Which one? Bashful?”
“Grumpy.”
The nurse enters the room to top up his water and check his vitals, and I look away as she takes his blood pressure, not wanting to intrude on anything too personal.
She reminds me visiting hours are almost over.
When she goes, he leans back in his pillows and considers me.
I suddenly feel uncomfortable in my work pants and jacket and wish I’d taken the time to drive home and change before coming over. But hospital visitor hours are short at night, and I wanted as much time with him as I could get. I nervously touch my hair, as I’d done a thousand times before leaving the car, and hope I don’t look too drab. It crosses my mind that even in the pale blue hospital gown they have him in, he looks amazing.
‘What are you thinking? Of course, he does. Even covered in mud and dead he looked more beautiful than anyone you have ever seen.’
“Did you just come from work?” he asks, bringing me back to the now.
“Yes, I’ve been doing front counter work as well as my own because Shelly is missing.”
“Shelly? The blonde at reception?”
“She’s a brunette now,” I shake my head, “or at least I think she is, she changes her hair so regularly I can hardly keep up.”
“When you say missing?”
“No one has seen her since last week. She called in to say she felt unwell, but that is the last anyone has heard from her. The police are looking into it.”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” he shakes his head, “but she seemed like the kind of party girl who might take off for a weekend in Vegas.”
“Yes,” I laugh heart-heartedly, “she seems that way, but she’s actually a bit of a home-body.”
“It’s too soon to worry,” he says gently, “I can see you are.”
“No,” I shake my head and paste on a smile, “I’m just tired. Is there anything you need? Anything I can get you.”
“No.”
“So, uh, I guess I’ll go.”
“Have a nice evening, Tess, and give my regards to your friend.”
“My friend?”
“Your houseguest. I’m sure the last thing he wants is you rushing around after work each night looking after your neighbour.”
“Lars?”
He nods.
“No, ugh, he’s gone out of town for a few days.”
