The Magnolia Sisters (Magnolia Sisters #1) - Michelle Major Page 0,64
the bandage that covered the skin above his left eye. “Do you remember?”
“Yeah.” He closed his eyes for a brief moment. “The first floor gave way and my mask got dislodged in the fall. The basement was filled with smoke, and I was wedged under a heavy floorboard. Couldn’t breathe. Why are you here, Avery?” His gaze zeroed in on her again.
“I saw your mom and Violet at the house. Your daughter told me you’d been in an accident.”
“That doesn’t answer the question.”
“We’re friends.”
“Huh.” She wasn’t sure whether that one syllable conveyed agreement or disbelief. In truth, she shouldn’t be here. She’d spent the past few days maintaining her distance, trying to convince herself she didn’t care as much as she did. But the thought of Gray injured impacted her at a deep level. She’d needed to see him—to see for herself that he was okay. How many kinds of a fool did that make her?
He sat up straighter, wincing when he tried to pull in a deep breath. “What do you know about my injuries?”
She swallowed. “Should I get the doctor or nurse?” When she would have taken a step back, he encircled her wrist with his big hand. God, he had the best hands.
“Tell me.”
“You were brought in with thermal burns to your airway and possible chemical damage to your trachea. They did a brain scan and chest X-ray. No other traumatic injuries were found. Carbon monoxide poisoning was a concern but they ruled it out.”
“The timing is terrible.”
“I guess the timing’s never good for almost dying.”
He rolled his eyes. “I didn’t almost die. But I had planned to serve Stacy with papers filing for sole custody.”
“Oh, Gray.” Avery turned her hand so she could link their fingers together. As much as she wished she could remain immune to this man, she couldn’t stop her feelings. “I know how badly you want that. This doesn’t have to stop you.”
“I’m a firefighter. My work is inherently dangerous. At any moment, I could be injured or worse. Today was a routine call to a structural fire that got out of hand. No judge is going to grant me sole custody.”
“You can’t give up. Talk to your attorney. Talk to Stacy.”
He shrugged, sinking back against the pillows. “I need to go home.”
“Then let’s get you out of here,” she said, squeezing his fingers.
“I want to go now.”
“That’s clear.” She released him and took a step back. “But we’re going to do this the right way. Yes, your job is dangerous but otherwise you live above reproach.” She pointed a finger at him. “Don’t start making stupid decisions now.”
“Get me out of here,” he whispered, suddenly sounding exhausted. “Please.”
The please undid her. She’d only known him a short time but in every situation, he’d been totally capable. Even when he’d claimed otherwise. Right now she could see the weight of his responsibilities and the pressure of single parenting, like they were a millstone around his neck.
She hurried out of the room, bypassing the nurses’ station to push through the door of the doctors’ lounge. She ignored the calls of protest she heard behind her.
Three men sat around a table, each of them hunched over individual laptops.
“Which one of you is Grayson Atwell’s doctor?”
A man with sandy-blond hair and friendly brown eyes raised his hand as if a teacher had called on him. He looked like he should be catching waves on a Southern Californian beach instead of in a community hospital. She wasn’t sure whether that should put her at ease or make her more anxious.
“He needs discharge papers.” She gave the doctor her best commanding stare. “Right now.”
The other two looked at Gray’s doctor, vaguely amused expressions on both their faces.
The man flipped closed his laptop and straightened from the table. “I’m Brodie Jepsen,” he said as he approached her. “What’s your relationship with Grayson?”
“W-we’re friends,” she stammered, refusing to take a step back despite the man looming over her. She was on a