a day. It’s the first time I’ve gotten a real good look at him, and he might just be the most handsome man I’ve ever seen.
Even through my disarray, his voluminous eyelashes framing his hazel eyes have a calming effect settling in me. My sights fall to his chest, and I watch it rise and fall, the faded vintage Duran Duran shirt stretching to accommodate the muscle.
“—You’re going to be okay.” He looks to the right just as something sticks me in my arm.
I jump and crane my neck up to see a familiar face. The doctor, I think. He seems nice. He always has a smile on his face and kind eyes. He has long hair, like Fabio from those romance novels. I giggle.
“There we go,” he says, helping me to lie back down. He checks the monitor as the beeping slows, then gives me a genuine smile. “That’s where I like to see your heartrate. You feel better?”
I nod, feeling loopy and lightheaded like I’m floating.
“How many times are you going to have to drug her? Every time she wakes up?” the guy that visits me every day asks Fabio.
I move my eyes to the romance model and wait for him to answer.
“If she wakes up with anxiety like that, then yes. She needs to relax. She’s been through a lot. Hell, her body temperature is finally stable after beating hypothermia. She deserves the damn drugs.”
“Will she always have anxiety?”
The question has me darting my eyes back over to the handsome stranger.
“It’s possible, Kansas.”
I slide my eyes back over to Fabio.
“How are her sisters?”
I’m getting dizzy looking at each man, but I want to know if my sisters are okay, so I focus on my new friend.
“They are resting. They woke up in a fit of nightmares too. Health wise, they are better than our Jane Doe here.”
But then I can’t help it, I have to look away from Fabio as he speaks.
“You ever going to tell us your name, Springs?”
I jump over to the stranger that’s been watching over me like a biker guardian angel. Well, he didn’t do that great of a job. Helloooo, where was he on the boat? I’m going to have to ask to speak to his guardian angel manager. I’d like to make a complaint.
“You’re cute. Boop.” I hit the tip of his nose with my finger. He blinks at me for a second, stunned, and I do it again. “Boop.” I tap him again. His nose crinkles, and Fabio laughs at him.
“Don’t laugh at him, Fabio.”
“Fabio! Oh man,” the biker savior chuckles, slapping his knee as he falls into a fit of laughter. “I can’t wait for the guys to hear that.”
“Fifty bucks, it stays in this room, Kansas.”
“A hundred, Fabio.”
“Deal.”
“You don’t look like Kansas. Kansas is really… state-shaped,” I mutter, and he smiles brightly, showing all of his straight white teeth. “If I had to pick a state, I’d say Texas.”
He scoots a little closer to me and tugs on one of my curls. “Why’s that, Springs?”
“I don’t know. It’s big.” I spread my arms wide and smack Fabio in the stomach. “Oh, sorry.”
“You’re forgiven,” Fabio inserts another needle in my IV, playfully grinning. “I love how people think when they are all dopey.”
I ignore him and focus on Kansas. “You’re big. This big.” I keep my arms spread until an itch on the tip of my nose has me reaching my finger to my nose and scratching it.
“Well, that’s impressive. Thank you for thinking so,” he says.
“You’re welcome,” I slur again, as if I’ve had a few too many to drink. “I don’t want to sleep.”
“You need to, Springs.”
I know the drugs they give me will win. I’m feeling heavier by the minute. I fight to keep my eyes open, but I’m only fighting the inevitable. “Don’t want to see them,” I mumble, then turn to my side facing the man who thinks he is a state. I’ll never understand that.
“Who?” he asks, tucking a piece of hair behind my ear.
“My parents.” A tear flows down my cheek, but the heart rate monitor stays the same. “They died on the boat. I see them when I sleep.” I yawn. “I don’t want to sleep.”
Kansas scoots closer to me and takes my hand. His palms are warm against my cold fingertips, and I sigh in relief when he slides his other one over the top. “I’m sorry to hear that, Springs.”
“Me too, state man. Me too.” He goes to pull