Page 40 of Jenny
Jenny’s heart seized in her chest. She struggled to draw air into her lungs. Maybe he was in the bathroom.
“Dare?”
No answer. Of course not. It was clear the room was empty.
Memories of her dad and mom hit with the force of a train, crashing into her with horrifying clarity. Her dad had passed first. She’d come into his hospital room after being with her mom in the ICU, and he was gone. Her mom had never regained consciousness and died two days later.
But that had happened years ago. She wasn’t here for her parents but for Dare.
Where was he? Was his room being cleaned? Were more images being taken? Was he at physical therapy?
A hundred questions boomeranged through her brain. The room shifted, as if tilting. She reached out to grab something but found only air. She stumbled.
Her heartbeat accelerated.
Her feet felt unsteady. Her legs, too.
Oh, no. She knew what was happening.
Don’t panic. Dare was fine when you left last night. He’s fine now. If not, his mom would have called.
Logically, Jenny knew those things, but fear continued to grow…to take over.
Pressure grew in her chest. Her heart seemed to be doing its own thing—palpitations.
Her throat closed as if something were choking her. She trembled, not only her hands—now clammy—but her entire body.
Nightmares of walking into empty hospital rooms had plagued her for months after her parents died. The dreams returned after Rob’s death, even though he’d never made it to a hospital before he died.
But here…now…it felt like she was living a dream. One that struck straight to her core.
Dare.
Her eyes burned.
Relax. Breathe. Get back in control.
A door opened.
“Jenny?”
Dare’s voice.
She jerked her gaze toward him.
A nurse was pushing him into the room.
Jenny ran to him.
“You’re okay.” She hugged him and then touched his face as if to prove he wasn’t a dream. “You’re here.”
“I was visiting Carlos. We had a good talk. I needed to stay with him.” Dare’s gaze narrowed. He reached up to cup her face. “You’re so pale. You’re shaking.”
The nurse came around the wheelchair to Jenny. “Let’s have you sit.”
“Okay.” As she was led to a chair, she kept her gaze on Dare and focused on her breathing.
“Has this happened before?” the nurse asked.
