Evers & Afters (Dare With Me #2) - J.H. Croix Page 0,1

“Elias?” she prompted.

Oh, right. I was too busy staring at her mouth. I brought my eyes back to hers and cleared my throat, my answer coming out rough. “Definitely better. Thank you.”

Cammi sat back down. “I’ll bring you coffee tomorrow too. Actually, are you getting out before tomorrow?”

I reached for the cup of coffee again, this time able to reach it easily on the table beside my bed. I needed another sip of Cammi’s fine elixir. After a long swallow, I lowered the cup and let out a sigh. “I don’t know.”

“Well, you don’t want to get out before they think you’re ready,” she said matter-of-factly.

“I’m ready,” I insisted.

Her lips twitched, and I felt my own laugh bubbling up. I didn’t want to admit it, but I knew she was right. When I finally did let a laugh loose, I followed it with a shuddering breath because it made my side hurt.

“Oh!” She pressed her hand to her heart. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you laugh.”

She looked so genuinely worried that I felt pressed to reassure her. “You didn’t make me laugh. I’m laughing at myself. I’m just impatient to get out of here. Rumor has it I might get discharged tomorrow afternoon.”

“Then, I’ll definitely bring you coffee in the morning. It’ll cheer you up before it’s time to go.” Worry suddenly crossed her features, a crease forming between her brows. “Wait a sec, are you even supposed to drink coffee? The nurse knew I had it, but maybe she thought it was mine.”

Cammi started to stand from her chair, and I thought she was actually going to call the freaking nurse to my room.

“I’m allowed to have coffee,” I said. “Please sit down.”

She sat down quickly. “Are you sure?”

“Sure about what?”

Right then, the doctor, who looked young enough to be straight out of college, came through the door, his eyes flicking between Cammi and me. “Glad to see you’re having visitors,” he commented as he walked in.

I felt the scowl form on my face. I’d been perpetually annoyed ever since I’d landed here after the accident. I’d had a minor plane crash with my friend a few days before. He’d skated out with fewer injuries then me. I had a nasty ankle break and a doozy of a gash in one side from a piece of metal. I still thought they should’ve discharged me once surgery was over.

Cammi, of course, smiled. She was nicer than me. “Hi there. How is Elias doing?”

“We should be able to clear him for discharge tomorrow, assuming the checkup we do tomorrow looks good.” The doctor gave me a critical look. He stopped at the foot of my bed, tapping on the small computer tablet that seemed to be permanently in his hands.

When I glanced toward Cammi again—because I couldn’t freaking help it—I got that usual sweet shot when my eyes collided with hers. It seemed there was nothing I could do about that.

She smiled encouragingly. “That’s great. Is he taking enough medication for his pain? Because he doesn’t seem very comfortable.”

I practically growled at her. “I’m fine. I do not need anything else for my pain.”

Cammi didn’t need to know that I’d once come way too close to getting hooked on painkillers. I’d faced what felt like an endless desert of pain after the accident that killed a friend and landed me facing the end of my career as a pilot in the Air Force. Unrelenting with no end in sight, opiate painkillers had felt like manna from heaven, a relief from the pain and an escape from the thoughts chasing in circles in my mind.

Although the doctor here drove me kind of nuts, he seemed to understand my resistance to medication and didn’t push it.

“He’s hanging in there. Maybe he’s a little cranky,” the doctor said with a quick grin in my direction, “but not many people love the hospital. It’s nice to know he’s got a girlfriend who cares about him.”

I almost choked. Cammi’s pretty blue eyes widened slightly with a wash of pink cresting on her cheeks. She opened her mouth to reply right as his pager buzzed in the room. “I’ll be back to check in later.”

Just like that, he was gone. “I’ll make sure to clarify you’re not my girlfriend,” I muttered.

Cammi shrugged lightly, her eyes coasting over my face. I hated feeling weak, I hated being in pain, and I hated that all of that was obvious to anyone who saw me. Even worse, Cammi