Worlds Apart (Worlds Apart Vampire Romance, Book One)

by Emily Knight

Peter parted company with his friend and walked to the hospital. Rich had been moved from the ICU into a private room. He knocked on the door.

  "Enter," a soft voice called out.

  Peter opened the door and peeked inside. Val sat in a chair beside the white-sheeted bed. Her upper half was slumped over the foot and her eyes were closed. She breathed in and out at a steady pace.

  Rich was seated in bed. He put his finger to his lips before he pointed at Val. Peter nodded and slipped into the room. He moved to stand close to the head of the bed.

  "You just missed my folks," Rich whispered to him.

  Peter nodded at Val. "Has she been here all night?"

  Rich's gaze settled on her and his eyes softened. A small smile curled onto his lips before he nodded. "Yeah. She even missed all her labs this morning just to be here."

  Peter grinned. "I don't know what she sees you in."

  "She's a smart girl," Rich argued.

  "You bet," Val spoke up. She raised her head and smiled at him. "And this smart girl needs to go get some food. Either of you two want anything?"

  Peter winced and held up his hand as he shook his head. "No thanks. Marcus took me out to breakfast."

  Rich snorted. "And you survived?"

  Val stood and walked toward the door. "I don't think I want to know. I'll just pick something up at the corner store."

  "Anything but jello!" Rich called after her. She waved over her shoulder without looking back. A dark look crossed over Rich's face. "She's going to get jello, I just know it." Peter took Val's seat and looked over his friend. Rich leaned back and frowned. "What?"

  Peter sighed. "How are you feeling?"

  Rich waved off his words. "Don't look at me like that. I know what you're thinking, and it's not your fault. Just because you left the gate open doesn't mean that was a clear invitation for somebody to come inside and suck me dry."

  Peter winced. "That doesn't make me feel any better."

  Rich grinned. "Good. I wanna make sure you close that gate from now on." He lifted his arms and looked down at himself in the nightgown. "Speaking of the house, mind getting me a few things while you're there?"

  Peter shrugged. "That depends on if the police still have it cordoned off. I couldn't get in last night and had to stay with Marcus."

  Rich snorted. "I've been there for a couple of drinks. How'd you like his old 'girls?'"

  Peter stood and smiled. "A little too young for me, but what were you wanting from the house?"

  "Some clothes would be great, and I could really use a beer," Rich told him.

  Peter walked backward away from him and shrugged. "I can't make any promises on the beer, but I'll try."

  Rich furrowed his brow at the sheets that covered his feet. "Pete?"

  Peter paused in the doorway and half-turned to him. "Yeah?"

  Rich pursed his lips and shook his head. "I don't know. I just feel kind of restless. You know, like I need to go somewhere."

  Peter smiled. "Don't go anywhere without Val's permission or she might finish the job somebody else started. I'll be back with some stuff from the house." He waved to his invalid friend and walked out the door.

  "And no jello!" he heard Rich call out.