Two for Joy - Louise Collins Page 0,74

it had been beeping at when Romeo had first walked in. He let go of Chad’s hand, not wanting to push his luck, and left the room.

He hurried away, thinking he’d got away with it, but he heard footsteps behind him, trying to catch him.

“Hey!”

Romeo cursed under his breath. He ignored the shout, rushed away even faster, but the man called out again.

“Slow down.”

He had two options, to slow down and let the man following catch him, hope to defuse the situation, or run, drawing more attention to himself in the already edgy hospital. The door wasn’t too far ahead, five meters or so, he could go through, then run. Gareth pushed through the corridor doors, eyes on his phone. He started to lift his head, check where he was going. Romeo stopped, and whirled around to face the man coming after him.

“I saw you earlier outside the outpatients.”

Romeo flicked his gaze up to the man, the doctor he realized when he looked at his scrubs. He didn’t look fearful, or angry, only concerned.

The doctor tapped his own cheek. “What happened here then?”

Gareth walked by, pocketing his phone. He flashed a look at the doctor and Romeo, but quickly looked away again.

“Some drunk threw a punch at me.”

“I can have a look.”

“Thanks, but it’s all right.”

He went to move on, but the doctor held onto his arm, stopping him. “It must hurt.”

“I don’t want no needles, or X-rays—

“How about I look at you, and you have a proper bed for the night, warm food.”

Romeo hesitated. It was tempting, awfully tempting.

“I’ll be fine outside.”

The doctor sighed, then reached into his pocket. “I thought you say that. Take these.”

Romeo took the box of painkillers from him.

“They’re only over the counter painkillers, not the good stuff I could prescribe if you actually let me look at you…”

“Thank you.” Romeo said, lifting the box. “I really appreciate it.”

“If the pain gets worse, or you have any problems eating, let me know.”

“I will.”

He nodded his head in thanks, then disappeared through the doors. Chad wanted him to wait, and that was exactly what he was going to do.

****

Romeo sat outside the hospital for three weeks. He’d only been inside to see him once, not wanting to risk being caught. He gritted his teeth when he saw others freely visiting him, Kate, Zac, Gareth, The DI, a detective he didn’t recognize, even Neil made an appearance, but he was in and out faster than Romeo could blink. The friendly doctor tried to convince him to get his face looked at, but he declined, until the doctor came to him in the bus stop. He let the doctor look at him, the whole time waiting for the moment he realized who he was, but it didn’t happen. He gave Romeo some stronger painkillers, and something for the swelling, and Romeo thanked him. He was tempted to ask the doctor about Chad, but bit his tongue not to. That would’ve ignited the good doctor’s suspicions.

Then one day, when Romeo was considering breaking in through Chad’s ceiling panels to check on him, Chad stepped out of the front doors and Romeo’s heart stopped in his chest.

Still ghostly pale, scruffy hair, and prickly jaw, but he was standing straight, no longer swaying with weakness, but looking across the road. He turned, and rather than ignoring Romeo’s presence like everyone else, Chad looked straight at him. Their eyes met, and a soft smile lifted Chad’s lips. Romeo felt the giddiness in his chest again, the odd, indescribable, immeasurable feeling he always had when Chad visited him in the prison. The one that made him laugh softly, avert his gaze, and blush, embarrassed by his strange reaction.

Chad walked towards him, smile growing, eyes growing glassier, then he came to a sudden halt. Zac had come out of the hospital and gripped onto Chad’s arm.

“Where the hell are you going?”

“I needed some air.”

Zac let go of Chad, then looked about. His gaze raked over Romeo, but he didn’t react, there was no recognition in his expression, but Chad blocked him from taking another look just in case.

“Tell me though, yeah? I was worried.”

“You don’t need to worry about me.”

“Easier said than done. We’ve only just got you back … again.”

“I don’t mean to be rude, but I’m sick of the sight of you and Gareth.”

Zac laughed, leaning against the wall. Chad followed him, making sure he was between Zac and Romeo a few meters away on the ground.

“We’re worried about you.”

“There’s no need.