Page 47 of Heartbreak & Cupcakes
SADIE
I tuggedthe strings attached to the balloon bouquet down so that they would clear the frame of the sliding doors as I entered the hospital. I’d got a message this morning from Mrs. Garrett thanking me and letting me know that she’d been moved out of ICU. After listening to her message, I replayed the message Lexi’s father had left me for the tenth time, but still hadn’t been able to make out his name.
His voice was sexy, though. And had a familiar quality to it that I just couldn’t quite put my finger on.Thatwas the excuse I’d given myself for why I’d listened to it so many times. It hadnothingto do with the flutters or tingles that spread through me every time I had pushed play.
I was mid-daydream about said flutter and tingle-inducing voice when my shoulder jerked backwards. I turned and saw that one of the balloons was still on the other side of the glass doors that were now closed. I moved toward the automatic doors in an attempt to trip the sensor, to no avail. After doing the cha-cha the doors finally opened and freed the yellow, smiley-face, helium-filled sphere.
No balloon left behind.
I felt ridiculous lugging these around. My first instinct had of course been to bake something, but since I wasn’t sure what Mrs. Garrett’s diet was, I nixed that idea. My second thought had been flowers, but when I mentioned to Charli that I was going to bring some by she said that more and more hospitals were adopting no flower policies due to the pollen and also some patients feeling like they are at a funeral surrounded by flowers.
So, I’d gone with a balloon bouquet. Honestly, I felt like these were more appropriate for a graduation or a kid’s party not a hospital visit.
When I finally wrestled the helium arrangement inside, I walked up to the information desk. The stunning young lady seated behind it barely even acknowledged I was there, only quickly glancing up from her phone which was playing TikTok videos. I was struck by two things.
First, she appeared downright angelic. With long, flowing blonde hair, porcelain skin, and piercing blue eyes. If she’d sprouted wings, I wouldn’t have been the least bit surprised.
And second, she didn’t look old enough to drive, much less have a job at a major city hospital. I knew better than most that looks could be deceiving. I’d come to terms with the fact that I’d be getting carded well into my forties. I blamed my father for giving me my round face, it really skewed young.
“Hi, I’m here to see Joanna Garrett.”
Without responding Miss Teen USA set her phone down, typed something into the computer at the desk and stared at the screen. “I.D.”
“Excuse me?”
Her eyes cut to meet my gaze. “If you want a visitor’s pass, you have to give me an I.D.”
“Oh, right.” I dug into my purse and had a mild panic attack when I didn’t feel my wallet. As a serial loser of all things, I immediately began to mentally backtrack where it could be.
Had I forgotten it at home? No, I bought the balloons.
Had I left it at the party supply store where I’d gotten the balloons?
Had it fallen out in my car?
When my fingertips grazed the leather-bound money holder, I did an internal happy dance as I pulled it out and slid my I.D. from the case.
“Here you go.” I proudly handed the girl my driver’s license.
The fact that I was proud of myself for not losing my wallet said a lot more about me than I wanted to deal with at the moment.
She handed back my I.D. with a pass and a map showing me where to go.
After a few wrong turns in the maze that was San Francisco General’s first floor, I finally found the elevator and arrived on the fourth floor. The soles of my shoes squeaked on the freshly mopped tile floor and the sides of the balloons bounced off the walls.
When I made it to 416 I glanced down and double checked that I had the correct room number. Yep. This was the place. The door was open, but I still knocked lightly as I entered.
There was a single source of light coming from behind the curtain casting the rest of the space in a shadow. My eyes were adjusting when I heard my name.
“Sadie!” A tiny voice shouted, and I looked in the corner and saw Lexi running toward me.
“Hey.” I crouched down as she threw her arms around me. At the same time, I lifted my head and saw that the sole bed in the room was unoccupied.
That’s when I heard a noise coming from the same corner that Lexi had run from. I turned my head and saw a man. Not just any man.
Mr. Smolder aka San Francisco’s Most Eligible Bachelor.
“What are you...?” My voice trailed off as pieces of a giant puzzle began to click together to form quite the picture in my mind.
