Page 100 of Tell Me Your Desires
“Get back into bed!”Zoe blocked Jaime’s path to the door, countering her with another move when Jaime tried to go around her.
“Fuck that! I’m going to find Anya.” Jaime thought about doing a bob and weave, but she immediately nixed that decision when the slightest bend nearly caused her to pass out.
What was she thinking? She was in no shape to be playing ‘dodge the nurse,’ let alone running out of the hospital on some mission to find the woman she loved before it was too late. But Jaime couldn’t lie in a hospital bed for a second longer while Anya was out there. She’d done nothing to help Taylor. She wouldn’t make that mistake again.
“You’re going to pop a stitch if you don’t stop,” Zoe warned.
“Well, if you’d get out of my way, I wouldn’t have to dance around like this!” Jaime glared at Zoe, summoning all the strength she had to show even a hint of intimidation. It usually worked in the interrogation room, but Zoe just looked annoyed at this point.
“I was a three-time national champion in women’s wrestling in college. Don’t think you’re getting past me when IpromisedDr. Grant I would watch you.”
Jaime narrowed her eyes. “You got a thing for my girl, Zoe?”
Zoe laughed. “Shockingly, I’m happily married to a man, but that doesn’t mean I don’t have a healthy amount of respect for ‘your girl.’ Are you aware of even half of the accomplishments she’s achieved in her career?”
The question admittedly caused Jaime to pause. Obviously, she’d run a background check on Anya when she’d ridiculously suspected Anya of murder. But, no, Jaime had never taken the time to actually do a deep dive into Anya’s life before…Lady A. She could say something stupid about how she wanted to hear it from Anya herself—which was partially true—but the real truth was that Jaime had a hard time reconciling the fact that the woman who rocked her world in that club and Dr. Grant were the same person.
That fact alone made Jaime more determined to get out of this hospital and find Anya. How could she make up for her stupidity if something happened to her?
“You’re just trying to distract me,” Jaime said as she intentionally relaxed her shoulders and feigned defeat. She waited a beat, observing Zoe’s body language. As soon as she saw Zoe’s stance relax, Jaime would make a run for it.
Zoe planted her hands on her hips and smirked at Jaime. “Don’t even think about it, Detective. I’ve been married to a cop for way too long not to recognize the signs of manipulation. You won’t make it to the door.”
“What would you do if it was your husband out there?” As soon as the words left her mouth, Jaime knew how ridiculous they were. Zoe’s snort reiterated that fact.
“I do that every damn day. And, yeah, it sucks big time, but you’re injured. Even if I let you go out of pity and you somehow found them, what good would you be doing? Dr. Grant would lose focus because she’d be more worried about you.”
Jaime hated that Zoe was right. She also hated that she still had a sick feeling in her stomach that was pushing her. Hopefully, Zoe and Anya would forgive her for what she was about to do.
“Yeah, you’re right,” Jaime grunted slightly at the sharp pain in her side. No doubt it was punishment for her idiocy. Still, as soon as Zoe turned her back, Jaime made a move for the door.
“I usually am,” Zoe said as she fluffed Jaime’s pillow. “Now, let’s get you back in bed before Dr. Grant gets back and—hey!”
Zoe didn’t have to move too fast or too far to get in front of Jaime.
Damn. All Jaime needed was ten more seconds and maybe about fifty percent less pain, and she would have been out of there before Nurse Zoe had a clue what was happening.
“Where are you going?”
Zoe and Jaime turned towards the door and stared at Anya for a moment before Jaime nearly collapsed with relief. She’d completely forgotten about her pain as she rushed to Anya and wrapped her up in her arms.
“Thank fuck!”
Anya nodded and smiled at Zoe, indicating she had the situation handled from here.
“Watch her,” Zoe warned with a raised brow. “She plays dirty.”
“Me?!” Jaime scoffed as she pointed at the nurse. “Shethreatened to pin me down like I was one of her wrestling matches!”
Anya chuckled. “Don’t worry. I’ll make sure she behaves. Thank you, Zoe.”
“Oh, sure. Take her side,” Jaime mumbled as Zoe left them alone.
“Youwere supposed to trust me.” Anya knew the adrenaline was helping Jaime stay standing, but that adrenaline would soonwane, and the pain would hit Jaime like a freight truck. She gently wrapped her arm around Jaime’s waist, hoping to share some of the weight.
“I did! Ido!” Jaime winced. She no longer had fear and anxiety to keep her mind occupied. Now that Anya was back, the pain was becoming more apparent. But she didn’t care. She’d stand here for the rest of her life holding onto Anya if she could. “Nothing you ever ask of me in the future will ever be as hard as what I did today. Not the trust stuff, that was easy. But watching you walk out that door, knowing you were walking straight into danger and I couldn’t do anything but lay here and worry my ass off…” Jaime shook her head. “Now I know how the other half feels. I think I understand some things a little better.”
“You mean how Taylor felt about your job?”
