Page 23 of Factory Reset

I raised my hand like I was in elementary school. “I’m Cassie.”

“He’s been asking for you non-stop ever since he came to. He seemed agitated that you weren’t here,” the doctor explained. “You might want to go in first so he will settle down.”

I sent Josie a questioning look, hoping that the doctor’s words hadn’t upset her. To my surprise, she seemed happy that her brother had asked for me instead of her. I sighed in relief. I wanted to see George right now. No, I needed to see George right now. I needed to see with my own two eyes that he was okay.

“You go on ahead Cassandra, and I’ll go see him after you’re done.”

“Thank you, Josie. I appreciate it.”

I followed the doctor through the security door to a room at the end of the hall. George lay on a gurney with his eyes closed, his large frame taking up most of the space. He had a huge bandage on his forehead and his left wrist was wrapped in tape. Rushing to his side, I did something I hadn’t done in years. I burst into tears.

George

I heard a loud gasp and when I opened my eyes there she was. My Cassie, tears streaming down her face. I frowned, then groaned when the movement pulled on the stitches on my forehead.

“Hey,” I greeted her. “What’s wrong, baby? Why are you crying?”

She gave me a look like maybe I had a head injury, which now that I thought about it, I did. Things were still a little fuzzy.

“Why am I crying?” Her voice pitched a little higher than I’d ever heard it, filled with emotion. “I’m crying because the man I love almost got killed today.”

“No, I just got nailed in the head with a sheet of metal and fell over. It’s no biggie.”

“No biggie?” she whisper shrieked, clearly mindful that there were other patients nearby. “You got stitches and a concussion! You’re covered in bruises and your wrist’s all taped up!”

I resisted sharing that all of that had hurt like hell, not wanting to worry her any more than I already had. Then I replayed her earlier words in my head.

“Wait. Did you call me the man you love? Did I hear you correctly?”

She sniffed loudly. “Yeah, I love you, okay? I know it’s too soon and I know I don’t even live here, but I feel how I feel, and I can’t help it. But don’t worry, I won’t be a clinger.”

“What if I want you to be a clinger?” I asked.

“What?”

“What if I want you to be a clinger? What if I tell you that I love you too?”

“You don’t have to say you love me just because I did it to you. It’s fine if you don’t feel the same way about me right now.”

Her words said it was fine, but her tone clearly conveyed that it would be devastating to her if I didn’t return her feelings. Fortunately, I was not going to disappoint her. Not today anyway.

“I’m not saying it to make you feel better, Cassie. I’m saying it because it’s true.”

Her eyes lit up, her tears suddenly forgotten.

“Well then, you’d better mean that because I’m pretty sure I just got a job in Houston and it’s going to be awkward if I run into you while I’m on a date with some other guy.”

I felt a stab of jealousy at the idea of her out on a date with some imaginary guy. Then once again I replayed her words. My head hurt like a bitch, and I wasn’t processing things as quickly as I normally did.

“Wait, what did you say about Houston?”

“I had an important job interview in Houston today and they all but said they were going to offer me the job,” she explained. “And it’s a good job too, paying more than I make now with much less travel.”

I popped up to seated and immediately regretted it. My hand flew to my forehead, and I groaned in pain.

“You’re movin’ to Texas? Really?”

“Lay down you idiot,” Cassie admonished, pressing gently against my chest until I leaned back down against the pillows. I sighed as the pain in my head receded a bit.