Page 25 of Searching for Bristol
“I know you don’t like to hear it, but I have to say thank you again,” Bristol said. “Seriously, you being here is keeping me from freaking out. And knowing I have somewhere to go—and a way to get there, since I don’t have my car—makes me feel much better.”
“You’re welcome to stay with me as long as it takes for you to heal, Punky,” Rocky said. “There are no strings with my offer. If you get uncomfortable and want to stay somewhere else, that’s okay. I’m not going to get pissed if you want a change of pace. Again, my apartment’s not terribly fancy, and I spend most of my time when I’m not working chilling in front of the TV or hanging out with my friends.”
“Sounds a lot like what I do,” she told him honestly. “Minus the friends part.”
He smiled at her, and his thumb brushed the back of her hand once more, making the hair on the back of her neck stand up. Rocky opened his mouth to say something, but was interrupted by the door opening and a nurse coming into the room.
“Good morning!” she said cheerily. “It’s good to see you awake. How do you feel?”
Rocky let go of her hand and stood, giving the nurse room to approach the side of the bed. Bristol felt a little resentful that they were interrupted, but smiled at the woman anyway.
Rocky folded up the cot he’d slept on, then stepped out of the room, giving her privacy as the nurse gave her a sponge bath. Bristol would give anything to be able to wash her hair and take a real shower, but when the nurse moved her leg, the pain made Bristol break out in a cold sweat, despite the painkillers. It was obvious it would be a while before she could shower on her own. The thought should’ve been depressing, but because she didn’t have to worry about being alone as she recovered, she was surprisingly all right with everything.
The doctor came into the room shortly after her bath, Rocky on his heels. He asked the doctor what seemed like hundreds of questions, but they were mostly things Bristol would’ve forgotten or not known to ask herself, so she was relieved he was there. The doctor wasn’t ready to commit to a time when she could leave, but as the nurse had told Rocky, he suspected she’d be good to go in a day or so…but only because she wasn’t going to be on her own, and because he knew Fallport’s doctor personally.
Translation: without Rocky’s offer to stay with him, she’d likely have to remain in the hospital longer, since she was single and lived by herself.
After the doctor left, the nurse reminded her about how the pain meds worked in her IV, that she should push the button when she got too uncomfortable. Then she headed out to see other patients around the time breakfast was delivered.
Bristol realized she was starving, but after only finishing half the meal on the tray, she found it almost impossible to keep her eyes open.
“I’m gonna go and call my brother,” Rocky told her.
Bristol nodded, blinking to stay awake.
“Sleep, Punky. Stop fighting it.”
“I shouldn’t be so tired,” she complained.
Rocky rolled his eyes, and Bristol couldn’t help but laugh at the sight of the muscular man making such a ridiculous facial expression.
“Cut yourself some slack. You’ve had a hard few days,” he told her. “Anything you want the guys to get for you at the store, food-wise?” he asked.
Bristol shook her head. “I’m not that picky. I’ll eat whatever you do.”
“Okay. You want me to put the rest of your breakfast to the side so you can eat it later?”
Bristol’s eyes shut, and she forced them open again. “No, I’m good.”
In response, Rocky wheeled the tray out of the way of her bed and pushed the button to lower the mattress so she was lying semi-flat instead of sitting up. Then he surprised her by leaning over and kissing her forehead gently. His beard tickled her skin, and she smiled a bit even as her eyes slid shut once more.
“I’ll be back later,” he said quietly.
For some reason, panic suddenly struck. Her eyes flew open and her hand reached for him. She grabbed hold of his forearm and held on tight, but no words came out.
“Bristol?” he asked, concern lacing the word.
“You promise you’ll be back?”
His face relaxed, and he covered her hand with his. “Yes. I’m not leaving.”
Bristol took a deep breath. “Right, okay. Sorry…just had a mini panic attack for a second.”
Rocky leaned in, resting his weight on his hands, flat on the mattress next to her. She didn’t let go of his arm and felt the muscles shifting under her palm. “I’m just going to go call Ethan. I need to go to the parking lot and get my overnight bag, so I can change. I’ll probably stop by the cafeteria and grab some breakfast too. I’m one hundred percent not leaving you, Punky. When you wake up, I’ll be sitting right here, catching up on work, seeing which projects I want to accept and which I can push off for a while. Okay?”
“Okay,” she said immediately. “I just…being out in the woods by myself…it wasn’t great. And for a second I was scared of being alone. But that’s stupid because I’mnotalone. I can push the call button anytime I need to. I’m sorry. Go. Do your thing. I’ll just be here…sleeping.”
“Don’t discount your feelings. You were in a very scary situation. But I promise that I’m not going anywhere.”
