are Callie and Landon here, both drunk as skunks, but so are August and Jackie. Callie must have called her mother to bring them to the hospital when August and I rushed out of the house in a mad frenzy with Lauren. Apparently, according to overhearing Jackie talk to Callie, my dad went to Landon’s house to make sure everyone went home.
“Sit,” August orders. “Walking around in circles is doing nothing but putting everyone on edge.”
Everyone but Callie and Landon.
They’re practically making out in the waiting room while we find out what’s wrong with Lauren. I love my best friend, but right now, I really wish she’d sober the fuck up.
Once I sit down, August settles his palm on my thigh to keep me from bouncing my leg up and down. His calm reassurance settles me some. That is, until I lock eyes with my nemesis.
Jackie’s icy stare sears into me. Her nostrils flare when she glances down at where August grips my thigh.
“Whore,” she mouths to me.
I freeze and August snaps his head up to look at her.
“Got a problem, Jackie?” he growls.
She sneers. “Just one problem. Seems you have the same problem, though.”
Landon tickles Callie and she laughs loudly.
“Callie,” August barks. “That’s enough.” Then, to Jackie he says, “Take our daughter home. I’ll keep an eye on Landon.”
Jackie hates being told what to do. With her and Dad, she likes to wear the pants. I know it infuriates her that her ex-husband still calls the shots.
Callie giggles again and it’s enough to have Jackie huffing in resignation. She has to all but pry Callie from Landon’s grip and then drag her away. When they’re gone, Landon pouts.
“I’ll go grab him some coffee,” August rumbles. “Keep an eye on him.”
As soon as August leaves, a doctor with messy, dark brown hair comes striding into the waiting area. He’s tall and ridiculously good-looking. I’d guess him to be around August’s age—mid-forties or so. His green eyes burn into mine.
“Are you Lauren Englewood’s family?” he asks, searching the room probably for an actual adult, and not two barely legal teenagers, half of whom are drunk as hell.
“I’m her sister and this is our drunk brother.” I stand and walk over to shake his hand. “What’s wrong with her?”
He eyes me skeptically, but one look at Landon and he surely realizes I’m the only one he can talk to. “We have her stable. She’s doing okay. Talking with me and the nurses.” He frowns. “Her blood pressure was really high. I want to run some other tests on her, but she seems adamant about getting out of here now that she’s feeling a little better. Can you convince her to stay and let me run some tests?”
I nod and yank her goofy ass brother out of the chair. “We’ll talk to her.”
Landon rambles about how Callie and him are going to get married this summer. I ignore him as I try to keep him upright. We follow Dr. Goddamn He’s Hot down a corridor and into the emergency area. Behind curtain three, we find Lauren looking much better than an hour ago.
“Winter?” she asks.
“Is that any way to greet your sister?” I tease as I abandon Landon to go hug her. “How are you feeling?”
“Fine, but this guy is persistent,” she grumbles. “I just want to go home and rest.”
Dr. Goddamn He’s Hot implores me with his glowing green eyes.
“Eh, sure, virgin girl. How about you take some tests real quick?”
Her nose scrunches and she shakes her head. “I don’t need tests.” She flashes me a knowing smirk. “It’s period stuff. Oh, the cramps are horrible. And the clotting…”
Landon gags and stumbles out from behind the curtain. I hear him retching somewhere close.
“Mean sister,” I chide.
She shrugs, unaffected.
“You’re not on your cycle,” Dr. Goddamn He’s Hot mutters. “According to what you told the nurse.”
I roll my eyes at her that the clotting excuse clearly doesn’t work on ER doctors. “Stay for the tests.”
“I’m fine,” she practically growls. “Can you take this IV out of me before I take it out myself?”
He lets out a heavy sigh. “I’ll let you go because I can’t keep you.” He pauses and shakes his head. “Promise me you’ll follow up with your primary care physician.”
She gives him the fakest damn smile ever. “Promise, Doc.”
Everyone in the room, including Lauren, knows she’s a big liar holding onto a dangerous secret. I just hope she confides in someone before it’s too late.
August
“We’re going to die,” Callie teases as