Page 31 of My Grumpy Boss
I make quick work of answering the questions. Then I can’t stand it anymore. I grab Hazel, and settle her in my lap.
She tenses again, and I wonder at her reaction.
She must really hate hospitals.
“It will be okay,” I promise her. “I won’t let anything bad happen to you.” I soothe her by rubbing circles on her back. “I’ve got you, Hazel. I should have taken you earlier. I wish you would have said something this morning. We could have skipped work today. We could have already been home and resting now.”
“I could be doing that right now,” she says, but there’s no heat behind her words.
“Soon. We’ll be home soon.”
I kiss her forehead, nuzzle her neck, do whatever I can to distract her.
She clears her throat. “I’m thirsty.”
“I’ll find a vending machine. Sit tight. I’ll be right back.”
She nods, and I set her down, making sure she’s okay before I turn to find my girl some water.
If I weren’t so worried about Hazel, I would have noticed it. I would have caught that guilty look in her eyes that she gets whenever she lies.
If I’d seen it, I never would have left her alone.
EIGHT
Hazel
I haveno idea what to do. All I do know is I can’t tell the doctors I’m sick because of a broken heart. I can’t waste their time.
That leaves me only one option.
As soon as Hudson rounds the corner, looking for the vending machine, I leap to my feet and approach the front desk with my forms.
“I’m feeling much better. I don’t need to be seen,” I tell the nurse.
She opens her mouth, I’m sure to convince me to stay, but I turn and rush toward the door before she can get a word out.
I make it out and breathe a sigh of relief as I speed walk back to my apartment. I know I don’t have much time before Hudson returns and notices I’m gone. Hopefully, he’ll think I went to the bathroom or got called to be seen by the doctor. That will buy me a bit of time to get home and lock myself away in my apartment.
Then I hear heavy footsteps on the sidewalk behind me.
“No!” I shout when I see Hudson’s murderous face as he chases after me.
I run, zig-zagging off the sidewalk to cut through a park.
But it’s no use. His much longer legs allow him to catch up to me in seconds.
“You’re being seen by the doctor, you stubborn little angel,” he growls into my ear, banding his arms around me and lifting me off my feet.
“I’m fine!” I yell, embarrassed when I realize I’m crying.
I hang my head, trying to block his view of my face, but he must be able to hear it in my voice.
Hudson sets me down gently, never releasing his grip on me. He turns me in his arms, and I bury my face in his chest. I can’t let him see me cry.
“My stomach is fine. I’m fine,” I mumble against his shirt.
His hands rub soothing circles on my back, and he takes a deep breath. “I need to be sure, Hazel.”
