*
“JoJo.”
Joanne was finishing up the paperwork on a patient when she heard him say her name. She closed her eyes and took a deep, calming breath. I’m not ever going to get rid of him, am I? She turned to face Stan, crossing her arms across her chest.
Stan stood holding a bouquet of flowers, but Joanne ignored them. She was not going to accept gifts from him. Why couldn’t he have brought me flowers when we were together? He had always been kind and attentive, but never romantic. Honestly, it hadn’t bothered her then. But now, somehow it seemed a sign that their relationship hadn’t been as strong as she’d thought.
Her gaze traveled over her ex-fiancé, noting the clothing that was slightly askew, a streak of dirt on his hand, and the wide eyes. She’d never seem him like this, and she wondered what had gotten him upset.
“What do you want, Stan?”
“JoJo, I’m sorry I said those things this morning. I was drunk. I know that’s not an excuse, but I promise it won’t happen again.” He thrust the flowers toward her.
Joanne took a step back. “I don’t want your flowers or your apologies.”
Stan closed the distance between them until Joanne’s skin crawled. She couldn’t place the sensation, didn’t understand why she now felt this way around him.
“What do you want, then?” he pleaded.
Joanne stepped to the side, trying to get more distance between them. “I want you to leave me alone. Stan, how many times do I have to tell you—we are done. For good. Please. Just go away and let me live my life.”
Stan stood there, silent. Joanne glanced around, finally noticing a few of the other nurses pretending to do anything other than listen to their conversation. She knew she wouldn’t hear the end of the questions once Stan left. As much as she didn’t want to talk about it, she wanted Stan here even less. She had to get him to leave. Just as she was about to make another excuse, the emergency radio went off announcing the fire department was bringing in a patient.
Joanne jerked a thumb towards the ambulance entrance. “I have work to do.” She didn’t wait for him to respond, she just got busy with her duties prepping for the incoming patient. She didn’t watch, but she knew the minute Stan turned and left. Letting out a relieved breath, she focused on the ambulance that was already pulling up.
As the gurney came off ambulance, Joanne noticed the head of curly dark blond hair. Her gaze fell to the man’s face and recognition shot through her. Heart pounding in fear, she ran outside to meet the paramedics.
“Nate! What happened?” she questioned him while she checked him out for herself, making sure nothing was seriously wrong. She’d heard the radio report, but when she realized he was the patient, she had to see with her own eyes that he was okay.
He took her hand and squeezed, which reassured her a little bit. “I’m fine. Just a misunderstanding.”
“Misunderstanding?” she echoed, incredulous. Her eyebrows rose as he shifted on the gurney and grimaced in pain.
“Yeah. The other guy wanted to argue and I didn’t. A misunderstanding.” Nate had already decided he was not going to tell Joanne what had happened. He had no fight with Stan, and there was no need to make him look even worse in Joanne’s eyes. He hadn’t expected to show up at her hospital though. He’d just have to tell her as little as possible.
Joanne pointed the EMS team to the prepped room and helped Nate off of the gurney and onto the hospital bed. “I’ll be back in a second,” she told him before following the paramedics out to the hallway.
“Do you know what happened?” she asked one of the paramedics as another nurse signed off on the patient transfer.
“Some guy hit him with a tire iron and kicked him when he went down. It sounded personal to me. You know him?” The paramedic nodded his head toward the room where Nate lay.
“Yeah. I do.”
“Know who would want to hurt him?”
Joanne thought for only a moment before she made the connection. Sighing, she replied, “Yeah, probably.” She looked around the emergency department, noting that Stan had indeed left. The flowers he’d tried to give her lay in disarray on the desk, forgotten in the rush of an incoming patient. He’d been standing in front of her like everything was normal, yet he must have just come from the fight with Nate. What had he been hoping to accomplish? Had his intention been to simply scare Nate away, or had he meant to kill him? Joanne shuddered at the thought of what he could have done.
“Then you might want to talk to the police ’cause your friend won’t,” the paramedic continued.
Drawn from her own thoughts, Joanne couldn’t follow the conversation she’d been having. “Wait, what do you mean?”
“Mr. Whitmore refused to tell the police who attacked him. If you want anything done, you’ll need to give the police a suspect,” the paramedic explained.
“Thanks for the advice.” The other nurse handed the tablet computer back to him, and Joanne headed back to check on Nate.
The doctor was just finishing his examination when she entered the room. “I don’t think anything’s broken, but let’s get x-rays to make sure.” The doctor wrote down his orders and handed them to another nurse to get the x-rays scheduled as he left.
Joanne approached Nate slowly. Why didn’t he tell me Stan had attacked him? Why didn’t he tell the police? Would he even want to be around me after this? I’ve caused him so much trouble already. Surely this will be the last straw. But he smiled at her before he spoke, and the tension in Joanne’s chest eased.
“You know, I thought about running over here just to see you today. I didn’t expect to be hauled over in an ambulance.”
Joanne smiled at his attempt at humor, but she didn’t laugh. She was still concerned about Stan and any threat he might pose. “You wanna tell me what happened now?” she asked him gently.
Nate glanced into her serious eyes before dropping his gaze to his filthy clothes. He couldn’t look in her eyes and lie to her. Not that he planned on lying. But even a half-truth felt wrong with her. “I told you,” he said. “I was dispatched out to help a driver. I got there and the guy wanted to argue. I started to walk away and he attacked me.”
Joanne stood in silence for a few seconds. When Nate refused to say anything more, she put a hand on his leg. “Nate. I know who it was. Why didn’t you tell me? Why didn’t you tell the police?” Hurt seeped through her voice until it cracked.
Nate’s eyes rose to find hers. How did she find out? he wondered. It couldn’t have been from Stan, or she wouldn’t have been so shocked to see him come in. He watched as she blinked back tears. Is she crying for me or for Stan?
“Nate?” Her voice was barely a whisper and trembled on that single word.
Nate rubbed the hand of his uninjured arm over his eyes. What could he tell her? There was no good that could come out of this. “It wasn’t worth it. It would be his word against mine, and he’s a damn doctor. And I didn’t want to drag you in the middle of something that might get messy.”
“I’m already in the middle of it!” Joanne protested.
“I didn’t ask to be brought to your hospital,” Nate erupted.
Joanne took a step away from the bed in shock. She’d never heard Nate get angry before. Granted, she’d only known him a few days. It just seemed so against his character. Maybe it’s the pain he’s in, she rationalized. Chin trembling, she lifted her head in defiance. “I was in the middle of it anyway. This is because of me, isn’t it?” Nate opened his mouth, but before he could get a sound out, Joanne interrupted him. “Don’t even tell me it’s not. I may be blonde, but I’m not stupid, Nate Whitmore.”
Nate grinned at the image Joanne made, standing there with her hands clenched in fists at her side, her eyes sparking, and foot stamping as she emphasized her points. “Have I told you how cute you are when you’re angry?”
“This is not funny. You could have been seriously hurt.”
Nate dropped his grin and held out his arm, ge
sturing for her to come closer. As she did, he wrapped his arm around her and pulled her into his body. Her warmth comforted him more than it should. His body relaxed, and he breathed in the scent of her hair. “I know. But I wasn’t. And that’s all that matters.”
“No, that’s not all that matters.” Her voice wavered, and Nate realized she was crying. He turned her face up to his.
“Hey. What’s wrong? I’m okay.”
“Nate, I didn’t know Stan was so dangerous. What if he goes after you again? I should never have gotten you involved in my problems.”
“You didn’t. I got involved all on my own.” Nate laughed lightly.
“What are you talking about?”
“That morning we met, you aren’t the one that called for a tow truck, were you?”
“No,” Joanne said slowly.
“You were asleep—”
“Passed out.”
“Fine, passed out. Anyway, I showed up to do my job. You didn’t have any control over that. When I found you, I could have let you drive off. I could have called the police if I really thought you were still too drunk to drive. I could have just towed your damn car like I was supposed to. Did I do any of those? No. Instead, I took you and your car home. See? I have a knack for finding my own trouble.”
“But I’m the one who called you when Stan messed with my car. He wouldn’t even have known about you if I hadn’t called.”
“And I didn’t have to go to your friend’s wedding and act like your date. I could have dropped the car off, just like I intended to in the first place.”
Joanne started to say something then paused. “Wait, you acted like my date?”
“Well, it was your friend who invited me, not you. I honestly didn’t know what you thought. I didn’t want to assume I was your date just because your friend said I was.”
Neither said anything for a few moments. It was Joanne that finally broke the silence. “What were we talking about anyway?”
Laughing, Nate brushed his hand over her hair. “Who cares? I’m glad to know I am such a good distraction.” He waggled his eyebrows in suggestion.
“You!” Joanne slapped at his shoulder. It just happened to be the bruised one that he had fallen on, and he shrugged away from her. “I’m sorry,” she cried. “Oh my God, you make me forget everything. You’re a horrible influence on me.”
Her fake sincerity made Nate let out a deep laugh. The sharp pain that clutched at his middle had him gasping and holding his side with his good arm.
“Oh, geez. I’m an awful person,” she cried. “I’m always hurting you. You should just stay away from me.”
Nate snuck an arm around her waist and tugged at her until she leaned against him. “I don’t think I can,” he whispered in her ear. “You make me laugh and bring something to my life I didn’t realize I was missing.”
Nate slid his tongue along her earlobe, and Joanne shivered and melted against him. When another nurse walked in the door pushing a wheelchair, Joanne jerked away, embarrassed that she had let herself almost lose control at work. In front of her colleagues. Nate really was a bad influence on her.
“Nathan, they’re ready for you in radiology,” the nurse said. She glanced between the two of them. Nate still had his arm at her waist, and Joanne stared down at the floor. “Can you stand, or do you need help?” she asked.
“I can stand,” Nate said. He let go of Joanne and used his good arm to lever himself over to the side of the cot and to his feet. He clutched his ribs as he took the few steps to the wheelchair where he sat down. “Will you be here when I get back?” he asked her. His eyes were still squinted in pain from his short walk.
Joanne’s anger at Stan returned full force. Why in the hell had he done such a thing? She didn’t understand. It was so unlike the Stan she knew and used to love. “I’m going to find Stan. I need to confront him about this. But I’ll be back before you’re released.” She glanced at her watch. “I still have a couple of hours left. If you wanted to wait until I’m off, I could give you a ride.”
Nate reached out and clasped one of her hands. “Babe, don’t go looking for another fight.”
“He won’t hurt me.”
Nate shook his head. “Even if he doesn’t, he’s not worth it.”
“No, but you’re worth it.” The words were out before she even knew what she was saying, and she felt the heat flood her cheeks.
His thumb caressed the back of her hand. “You’re the sweetest woman I’ve ever met. Other than my mom of course,” he joked. “I would really rather you just let it be though. Please?”
Joanne shook her head. “I can’t, Nate. I need to understand.”
The other nurse cleared her throat, interrupting them. “We need to go if he wants to keep his slot for radiology.”
“Go ahead,” Joanne told her. To Nate she said, “I’ll probably be back before you are. See you soon.”
Nate squeezed her hand once more before letting go. The nurse swiveled the wheelchair and pushed it down the hall. Joanne squared her shoulders and stalked in the other direction. This late in the afternoon, Stan should be doing his rounds. If he even showed up for work today, she thought. She would find him and demand to know his reasons. He had to have one. He never did anything without planning and thought. He wasn’t a spontaneous guy. In fact, Joanne realized, in that regard he was exactly opposite from Nate. Is that why I was attracted to Nate in the first place? Is he just a fling, something I’ll get over, get out of my system, and then go back to wanting steady and dependable? Her steps slowed as she approached the elevators, and she grappled with her thoughts.
When she got to Stan’s floor, she didn’t have to search long before she saw him turn a corner and walk down the hall a few yards ahead of her. He hadn’t seen her, and he was walking fast. Before she could call his name, he pushed his way into the men’s restroom. Joanne paused in the middle of the hallway, wondering what she should do. Should she wait for him? She stepped to the side and leaned against the wall. Surely he wouldn’t be too long. He was a man, after all.
Within seconds, Joanne heard retching sounds coming from the restroom. She straightened. Was that Stan? She didn’t think anyone else was in there. The floor was quiet this afternoon, with very little traffic. Stan was the healthiest person she knew; he never got sick. Why would he be vomiting?
It was five minutes before Stan slowly pushed his way out of the restroom. His face was pale and clammy, and he wiped the back of his hand across his mouth.
“Stan?” she questioned. “Are you okay?” She didn’t want to be concerned, but it was in her nature, it was why she had become a nurse.
Stan grabbed her shoulders. “Oh, Joanne. I’ve done something horrible.”
He opened his mouth to speak, but Joanne cut him off. “Stan, I know. I know what you did. Nate is down in Emergency right now. Luckily, he’s not hurt too bad.” His mouth flapped open and closed, but no words came out. “Why, Stan?” Her voice was low and hurt.
Stan pulled her down a side hallway where the noise of the nurses’ station didn’t reach. She could see the moisture building in his eyes. Stan was crying, she realized.
“Joanne, I don’t know why. You…you just make me crazy sometimes. I’m crazy about you, and the thought of losing you for good made me lose my mind. I made a mistake. I made several mistakes. I know I’ve lost you.” He buried his head in Joanne’s shoulder, and Joanne realized he had been rambling.
She put her hands on his waist and gently pushed him away. Keeping her voice calm, she spoke soothingly. “Stan, why don’t you tell me what happened today.”
He ran his hands down his face, and Joanne noticed his hands were shaking. “After I sobered up from this morning, the anger hit. Before that, my mind was so muddled that I honestly didn’t know what I was doing. Somehow, I thought that if that guy wasn’t around maybe I could make everything up to you, that you would eventually forgive me given enough time. I was just intending to scare him away, I swear!�
�� He held out his hands, palms up. “But when he got there, he wouldn’t even listen to me. I wanted to argue with him—I needed a fight, and all he did was walk away. He’s a better man than me.” That last sentence was said as a quiet aside. “I just couldn’t let him leave like that. I thought I was just going to make him stay, but something else took over, something dark. Oh God, Joanne, it was awful. I’ve never hit someone in my life. I couldn’t stay after I did that. I had to get out of there before I got sick.”
“Is that what happened in there?” Joanne gestured to the restroom.
“Yes. I couldn’t stomach what I’d done any more. I really thought I’d done some damage. You said he’s not hurt that bad?” he questioned her.
Joanne shook her head. “No, just bruised I think. He’s getting x-rays now, but the doctor didn’t think anything was broken.”
“Oh, thank God. Joanne, I’m really sorry.”
Joanne cut him off. “It’s not me you need to apologize to. It’s him.”
“I can’t talk to him,” Stan exclaimed. “I’m sure he doesn’t want to see me.”
“Probably not,” Joanne admitted. “But can you live with yourself if you don’t make amends?”
Stan scrubbed his face with his hands. “You’re right. You always are. Okay, I’ll come down in a bit.”
“Don’t wait too long. He’ll probably be released after his x-rays are finished.”
Joanne left Stan standing there, his back against the wall, and made her way slowly back toward the Emergency Department. As upset as she had been with Stan for cheating on her, at this point she was glad she’d gotten out of a relationship with him when she had. She’d had no idea he was prone to violence. Of course, she realized anyone could be pushed to do something they normally wouldn’t given the right circumstances. But a friendship with another man—and that’s all it had been before this morning, in spite of their mutual attraction from the beginning—shouldn’t be enough to provoke someone who truly loved her. She did hope Stan was able to eventually find happiness, but she finally felt free of the hurt and the pain that he had caused her. This was for the best. For the first time in over two months, she felt her life was coming back together.
Blue Colla Make Ya Holla Page 46
