tucking my phone in my coat pocket. "You know how Asher gets at the store."
Asher gets like every seven month-old: needy and clingy and hungry. All at the same time.
"I'll be back in 30 minutes."
I grab the Tylenol at Target and even find myself leafing through the lingerie rack. Not exactly designer, but it is in my budget. I grab a lacy bra, still semi-mortified that Dane saw me in a nursing bra yesterday. Thankfully I don't think he noticed. I thought it was smart of me to flip off the lights before he saw my stretch marks.
Though with the way he touched me and caressed me and made love to me, I honestly don't think he would mind any scarring on my body at all.
When he touched me, I felt beautiful.
By the time I'm back in my car, only eighteen minutes have passed. Super mom, right here folks. I exhale knowing that I can get through this day.
As I pull out of the parking lot, my phone starts ringing and I see a number from Westbrook Incorporated.
My heart sinks as I answer the call on speakerphone.
"Dottie? It's Carla, Dane's secretary. There's been an emergency. He's at the hospital, right now and—"
She doesn't need to say more.
"Manhattan General?" I ask.
"Yes. He's on the fourth floor."
"I'll be right there," I tell her. I end the call, my hands shaking, tears already running down my face.
I drive. I drive without thinking. I drive right toward the hospital knowing I have to see him. I have to see him now.
As I drive I remember Asher. And Lexi. Tylenol. I'm in her car. How could I be so irresponsible?
That's when I remember I never even called in sick today. I am all over the place, such an uncharacteristic fucking mess. How did my life go from being so normal to being so out of control so quickly?
It doesn't matter right now. Right now, I just need to get to that hospital and see Dane and make sure he's okay.
"Lexi?" I say, calling her on speakerphone.
"Something must be wrong," she says immediately. "You never call me. Texting only."
"I know, and something is wrong. Really, really wrong."
"Okay, what is it?"
Before I can answer, a car runs a stop sign and slams into the hood of Lexi’s car. My eyes close, I scream as the car spins, as glass shatters.
This is it. I'm going to die.
And then as if the universe has given me this tiny slice of a miracle, my eyes open. The car stops moving.
I'm alive.
The car did not explode and I did not perish. I'm alive.
It seems like mere seconds pass before first responders open the car door and help me out. The other car, the car that came out of nowhere and hit me, is totaled. An ambulance is here, a man is on a stretcher.
"Is he okay?" I ask. "Is he alright?" I ask, pointing toward the man being carried into the ambulance.
The officer shakes his head, wrapping a blanket around my shoulders.
I shake my head as he leads me to an ambulance. "I need to get to the hospital."
"That's right, that's where we're headed, to make sure you're okay."
I try to explain that I need to get to the hospital for Dane, not for me, but they don't listen.
They put me in an ambulance and take me to Manhattan General.
I guess the universe knew where I needed to end up after all.
"I need to call my friend," I tell the emergency room nurse.
"Of course, dear. Just fill out this medical form and I'll get you a phone."
"I can't fill out anything right now." Lexi must be worried sick. Thank goodness, I was in the car alone. If I'd brought Asher with me...
I squeeze my eyes shut, the thought making me ill. I blink back the tears, how this is my life, I don't know. The doctor has already cleared me, I was questioned by a police officer, and I just need to get to the fourth floor.
"Fine," I say, knowing arguing with this woman is not going to get me where I need to go. "Just give me the paperwork."
Twenty minutes later I am given access to a phone—my purse and phone still in Lexi's totaled car.
I explain everything to Lexi, who's been freaking out all morning.
"I'm so glad you're okay, Dottie. I was so scared."
"I know, it's awful. I'm just so glad I'm alive... the other guy though... he is in bad shape."
"He lived though?"
"Yes, thank God. I don't want