Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 72892 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 364(@200wpm)___ 292(@250wpm)___ 243(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72892 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 364(@200wpm)___ 292(@250wpm)___ 243(@300wpm)
I wasn’t going to do that but the restaurant’s manager had shoved the bag into my hand as I was leaving Atlas 22. I assumed that Philip would accompany me to the hospital after he heard me offer to tagalong with Penny, but Philip’s phone rang and, as usual, his boss lured him back to his Wall Street office with the promise of a possible future promotion.
Either way, our dinner would have been interrupted.
“How are you doing?” I lightly touch Penny’s wrist.
She has my hand firmly gripped in hers before I realize what’s happening. “I’m okay, Eloise.”
I smile slightly when I hear her say my name.
“I’ve never seen anyone fall over like that before,” she goes on, tucking a lock of her red hair behind her ear. “It felt life changing to me.”
I know it was definitely life changing for Daxton.
I’m not sure if he would be alive if Dr. Morgan hadn’t been at the restaurant.
“I should check with that woman at the desk again.” Penny points toward the reception desk that we bolted to when our Uber dropped us off at the doors to the emergency department.
I tug my hand from hers because I’m reasonably sure my fingers are turning blue from lack of blood flow. Penny’s death grip is a solid ten out of ten.
Shaking my head, I adjust the takeout bag in my lap. “She said she’d let Dr. Morgan know that we’re here. Did you get ahold of the friend who fixed you up with Daxton? Were they able to reach out to his family to let them know what’s happening?”
She looks to where her phone is poking out from the clutch purse in her right hand. “No response yet.”
“I’m sure they’ve tracked down someone from the ID in his wallet,” I say. “I think we’ll hear something soon.”
Nodding, she glances at me. “Is that guy you were with at the restaurant your boyfriend?”
I haven’t stuck a label on what exactly is happening between Philip and I, so I shrug. “Not really. It was our third date.”
“Do you want there to be a fourth date?”
I study her face, drawn to the small flecks of gold in her green eyes. “I don’t think there’s a spark there.”
“I get that.” She nods. “This is going to sound silly, but there was a spark between Daxton and I. In that split second before he keeled over, I felt something. I felt it here.”
I watch as she slowly taps the center of her chest over the dark green blouse she’s wearing.
“How old are you?” she asks before I can respond to her last admission.
“Twenty three. My birthday was last month,” I say. “You?”
“Same, but mine was seven months ago.” She smiles for the first time since we met. “Dating in Manhattan is something, isn’t it?”
I laugh. “It’s a whole thing.”
“Don’t I know it?” She lets out a long-winded sigh. “If you want to take off, I can give Dr. Morgan his food. I’m going to hang around until I can see Daxton. I don’t want him to wake up and be all alone.”
For some reason, I don’t want that for her either, so I reach for her hand again, even though I know she’ll probably put mine back in a death grip. “I’ll stay. We’re in this together.”
Surprisingly, she squeezes my hand briefly before holding it gently. “Thanks for staying.”
I open my mouth to tell her it’s not a problem, but I slam it shut as soon as I catch a glimpse of who is headed straight toward us.
Now dressed in dark blue scrubs under a white coat that easily identifies him as a member of the medical staff of this hospital, Dr. Morgan has his eyes trained on me.
I manage a small smile as I hold up the takeout bag but his gaze never leaves my face. His stoic expression makes my stomach drop like a lead balloon.
“No, “ I whisper, bracing myself for bad news. “Please no.”
“What?” Penny glances at me. “What’s wrong?”
I push to my feet as Dr. Morgan closes the distance between us with measured steps.
Penny follows my lead, searching for my hand with hers. I take it.
I should have insisted she call someone to sit with her. I barely know her. I’m not equipped to hold her up if she emotionally collapses.
“Please let him be all right,” she whispers as he slows to a stop.
He scans the waiting area. It’s bustling but I sense that it almost always is.
“I was told by reception that you two are waiting to see me.” His gaze runs over my face. “Daxton gave me permission to share an update with his date.”
“That’s me,” Penny says, patting her hand in the center of her chest. “She was on a date with someone else. I’m the one who was on a date with Daxton. I’m Penny.”