Page 123 of Imperfect Player

What I’m not certain of is why the woman is refusing to let me see Ethan when I damn well know that he’s allowed to have visitors today.

“What do you mean I can’t visit him? You said yourself that he’s allowed to have visitors.”

“Yes, but . . . ” She clears her throat. “You’re not on the list.”

“What do you mean I’m not on the list?” I ask. “I am the list.”

I’m all he has. Clearly, there’s been a mistake.

“I want to speak with Dr. Monroe.”

She doesn’t move, she doesn’t speak, she just stands her ground.

Well, honey, so do I.

“Now,” I demand.

With a roll of her eyes, she calls Dr. Monroe. “He’ll be right with you.”

A few moments later, Dr. Monroe appears from behind a doorway. The exact one that I should be headed through to see Ethan.

“Good morning, Ms. Mann,” Dr. Monroe greets me.

I’m in no mood for pleasantries at this point. “Why can’t I see Ethan?”

“He asked not to see you.”

“What?”

“I’m sorry, Ms. Mann, but he doesn’t want to see you.”

“What about my letters? Have you given them to him?”

Surely if he’s read them, he’d know that I’m not going anywhere. He’d know that I love him—broken pieces and all. He’d want to see me.

“No.”

“What do you mean no?”

“My first priority is his recovery. I’ll let him know about them if and when I feel he can handle it.”

“Tell him I’m here. Please. Just . . . just let him know that I’m here. I don’t want to mess up his recovery. That’s the last thing I want. I only want to see that he’s okay.”

The doctor doesn’t look thrilled with my suggestion, but he nods and heads back toward the area where the patient rooms are.

Minutes pass as I impatiently pace around the lobby area waiting for Dr. Monroe to return.

When he does, he gestures for me to follow him back.

As I walk past him and through the open door, I want to say “ha.” I want to tell him that it was just a mistake. An oversight.

When I step into Ethan’s room, he’s standing at the window, his back to me.

I can see the muscles on his back tense when he realizes I’m here.

“Hey,” I say, softly.

“As you can see, I’m fine. Satisfied?”

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