by Lexie Davis
Pat hugged her. “Give me his room number and I’ll go get us something to eat. Mom and I haven’t eaten yet, and I know you haven’t. We can have dinner tonight together and visit with Ryker.”
Ella got the number from the nurse and Pat left her and Maggie at the hospital. They went upstairs to his room and Ella glanced over at him lying in the bed.
“I brought your favorite person to see you.” Ella smiled at him as she entered the room.
Maggie went over to him and hugged him. “Hey, sweetie.”
Ryker smiled. “I need a big pot of chicken noodle soup.”
Ella chuckled. They talked for a little while before Pat arrived. Ryker faded in and out of consciousness. They shared their dinner together and Ella wondered how she’d get any sleep. Ryker seemed to be oblivious to her, but she promised him she wouldn’t leave.
“I’ll stay with him,” Maggie commented. “If you want Daddy to take you home.”
“No.” Ella shook her head. “He wanted me to stay with him and I am. I’m fine, really.”
“If you’re sure.” Maggie glanced between the two of them. “That chair doesn’t look very comfortable.”
“I know.” Ella smiled. “I’m fine.”
She hugged both of her parents. “Thanks for coming. I love you both.”
“We love you.” Pat kissed her forehead. “Let us know how dickhead’s doing.”
Maggie glared at him. “Pat, really.”
Once they were gone, Ella walked over to the chair and tried to make herself comfortable. It didn’t work. She slept for a few hours before her head fell off the back of the chair nearly, giving her whiplash as she caught herself. She groaned and shifted.
No position made her comfortable. She struggled, but when daylight finally shined through the window, she groaned.
“Come here.”
Ella glanced up and saw Ryker staring at her. “How do you feel?”
“Better.” He motioned her toward him. “Lay next to me.”
“Honey, there isn’t enough room.”
“I’ll make room.” He pat the bed beside him. “Besides, you look uncomfortable in that chair.”
Ella got up and walked over to him. She slid in next to him, laying her head on his uninjured shoulder. It was extremely uncomfortable, but she didn’t care. Her body liked laying nearly flat and he’d angled his bed enough to fix that.
“I love you.” Ella closed her eyes and breathed him in.
He tightened his hold on her. “I know.”
Chapter Nine
“I don’t think you really need to go.”
Ryker stared at Ella while he pulled on his t-shirt. She fought for him, finally getting him out of the hospital and back to Atlanta before he even thought about how much his arm hurt. After healing for a week, he still hurt, but he wasn’t missing the trip with Pat to get the Shelby and the Knucklehead.
“I’ll be fine.”
“Oh, like you were fine in Mississippi?”
“I’ll be with your dad.”
“My point exactly. He owns a gun and knows how to use it. His bullet won’t be in the shoulder but somewhere a little more lethal.”
“I’ll be fine.” He didn’t dare show any signs of pain in front of her. She was like a hawk watching him, picking up any and all cues that he could potentially be hurting. And if he was, she turned bossy.
“I’m not coming to Maine to get you.”
“I’ll give Pat permission to do whatever the hell he wants.”
“He’ll pull the plug.”
“Then so be it.” Ryker gripped the bag he’d packed and walked toward the door.
Ella followed behind him, locking up the apartment before she got in the passenger’s seat of her car. Ryker hadn’t had a cigarette all day and paused for five seconds to light one. He was fairly sure it was something else she’d nag him about, but he didn’t care at the moment. Cocaine was a no-go. He didn’t have any fucking pain meds, though he knew she’d call him in something if he really wanted her to. Leaning against the hood of the car, he puffed on the cigarette and let the sweet nicotine calm his nerves. She meant well, but he could take care of his fucking self.
“I know you’re avoiding me.” Ella stared at him from her side of the car. “Why can’t you just let me take care of you?”
“Because that’s not what you’re doing.” He glanced over his good shoulder at her. “Taking care of me is what you did in the hospital. Once we get home, it’s nag, nag, nag. You were the same way when I stabbed myself.”
“I care about you. Why is that nagging?”
“I’m thirty goddamn years old. I know how to shower without you telling me not to get my wound wet. I know if I need pain pills. I know if I’m hungry and that I should eat with my medicine or it will make me sick. I fucking know, Ella. You don’t have to be a doctor to know those things.”
“Okay. You know.” She shook her head. “I won’t say another word.”
He scoffed. “I doubt that.”
She glanced away. “I told you this before when you got stabbed, but do you not get what it’s like for me? I was filling out a mortgage application when the doctor calls me from Mississippi. Is this Ella Dennison? I’m so-and-so from the hospital ER. Your husband has a gun shot wound to the chest…”
She stared at him. “I, of course, start playing worst-case scenario because I deal with this shit all the time. Is he alive? Is he stabilized? Did the bullet nick an artery? Did it puncture an organ? Is there an exit wound? Does he need surgery? All of that went through my head before she even got out that you refused care.”
Licking her lips, she pushed away from the car. “Then there was the ordeal post-op. You had a bad reaction to the anesthesia. They used a narcotic on you and it made you go into withdrawal. I tried my best to find the perfect solution and advocated for something that you were allergic to. You went into anaphylactic shock and I had to intubate you before your life became in danger. In the back of my mind, I really thought I’d have to perform and emergency cricothyrotomy. I wasn’t even sure they had the kit on the floor so I’d have to wait for someone to get it for me, which meant you’d be dead right now.”
He saw the concern she had for him on her face.
“But excuse me for nagging. I guess next time I should just assume you know what the hell you’re doing since you’re a grown-assed man. Why’d you even call me?”
She got back in the car and slammed the door. Ryker finished his cigarette, knowing that nothing he could say or do would fix the situation. So he didn’t bother trying. He stamped out the last of the cancer stick and got in the driver’s seat. They rode in silence to her father’s house and changed vehicles since Pat’s SUV was bigger for all three of them.
“What’s wrong with you?” Pat asked Ella as he put Ryker’s bag in the back. She didn’t say anything and he looked at Ryker. “What are you two fighting about now?”
“We’re not fighting.” Ryker went around the vehicle and got in the passenger’s seat. Ella got in the back and slammed the door.
“You two are like petulant children. If you’re getting along, then everything is great. The sun is freaking shining and nothing can bring anyone down. If you’re mad at each other, you hate the fucking world.” He started the vehicle. “Very mature.”
Ryker didn’t say anything as they drove to the airport. Ella kept to herself, staring out the back window. Pat surprisingly sang along with the radio. After a while, he looked over at Ryker.
“Is this what I have to look forward to all week? You being sulky because you’re not getting along with my daughter?”
“No.”
“Ella, what’s wrong?”
“I nag him apparently. I told him I wouldn’t say another word.”
Pat sighed. “All wives nag. It’s part of the female DNA.”
Ella sniffled and Ryker turned to look at her. Silent tears rolled down her face as she did her best to hide them.
“Why are you crying?�
�
She shook her head.
Ryker felt the pounding in his head increase. Taking a deep breath, he turned so that his body was sideways in the seat.
“Look at me.”
She didn’t.
“Ella, fucking look at me.”
She narrowed her gaze at him. “What?”
“I’m sorry.”
She wiped her nose with the back of her hand. “For what?”
“Everything.” He swallowed hard. “You kept me alive. I love you for always being there for me when I literally need it the most. There is nobody else I’d want and I mean it. But you picking fights with me because you’re scared or worried something else is going to happen is not fair.”
Ryker turned to face the front again. She always grew attached to him when something bad happened. She did it with the stabbing and she was doing it now. Like if she didn’t tell him the next thing to do that he was going to die on the spot. Part of it was her personality. She cared about him and he knew that. It didn’t make things better that she was a doctor and he was the worst patient on earth. He loved her for how much she did take care of him, but she needed to cut the clinginess.
When they got to the airport, Pat parked in the unloading lane. Ella got out of the vehicle and hugged her dad before getting in the driver’s seat. Ryker walked around the car and undid the driver’s side door.
“Stop being mad.” He pulled her to him and kissed her. “I’ll call you when we land.”
“Have fun.”
She moved away from him and closed the door. After Pat closed the back, she drove off. He prided himself on solving a lot of problems with the club, but he sucked at fixing things with his wife. Following Pat in, they found the terminal and went through check-in. Maybe some time apart would do them some good.
****
On her first day of work, Ella got rammed by a car as she pulled on to I-75. Bumper-to-bumper traffic had the lane sitting still and one car thought he could pass everyone. Instead he hit a truck that hit the car in front of him, who consequently hit her. The airbags deployed, nearly knocking her in to the backseat and she struggled to catch her breath. Once the inflation went down, she found glass in her hair and blood on her fingers from something.
Someone came over to her and asked if she was all right. Damn her head hurt. An ambulance siren sounded in the silence and she did her best to undo her seatbelt and get out of the car.
“Ma’am, you’ve got a nasty gash on your forehead.”
“I know.” She cringed as she tried to stand.
An EMT ran over to her. “Dr. Hawkins?”
She glanced up. “Hey, Cheryl.”
“Yikes, that’s going to need stitches.” She pressed some gauze against the gash. “You okay? Anything else hurt? How’s your neck?”
“I’ve got a really bad headache, but I’m okay.” She pulled away from the woman, looking for her phone. “Shit. Will you radio the hospital and tell them I’m going to be late?”
Cheryl pulled the mouthpiece of her communication device and spoke to dispatch. Ella sat back in the seat and thought about how great of an impression she was making. Late on her first day of work. Possibly not even capable of working. She wanted a fucking break from life.
“The bleeding isn’t stopping. Let’s get you in the bus and to the hospital. They’re expecting you.”
“And my car?”
“Police are here. They’ll handle it.”
Ella grabbed her purse and phone which was in the floorboard. She walked with Cheryl to the ambulance and sat on the gurney. A police officer came over to her to get basic info and to view her ID. Once she confirmed she was the driver and owner of the car, they promised to take care of the rest. They took vitals and recorded her complaints.
Once they got to the hospital, she told them she’d walk in. Her new boss shook his head when he saw her.
“You just can’t stay out of trouble.”
She smiled as he pulled on gloves. “It wasn’t intentional.”
He sat her in one of the chairs at triage. “Nice gash. You want plastics to do stitches?”
“Sure.”
“Most of it is in your hairline. I don’t think you’ll have that big of a scar.” He pressed new gauze against her wound. “Jaime, get plastics over here.”
A resident that barely looked like he’d graduated high school came over to her. “Dr. St. John, are you beating up the new kids again?”
“Well, you know me.” He handed her off to the resident. “I’ve got to keep you kids in line.”
The resident smiled and undid his suture kit. “I’m Bryan. Dr. Jackson if you’re nasty.”
Ella laughed. She liked these people. He gave her a shot to numb the area and started suturing.
“I don’t think it’ll leave a scar, but you’re going to have some swelling. The skin is tight so you may have a headache with it.”
“I have the headache now.”
He nodded tying off the suture.
“I want a CT scan,” Dr. St. John announced. “Make sure they give me the results. The last two times, I had to ask. You know how I feel about asking.”
Dr. Jackson nodded. “Asking is a no-no. If you do a test, you give the results. Nobody has time to chase people down.”
Ella smiled. “I always have to chase people down for results. Lab work is the worst.”
“Our lab isn’t that bad. Psych is usually slow though. I think they’re punishing us, but don’t tell anyone I said that.” He wadded up his trash. “There’s only so many naked men you can wrestle in the middle of ER before you think you’re getting pranked.”
“Oh, wow.”
“Yeah.” He tossed the trash. “I’m not doing anything so I can take you to CT. Save the nurses time.”
“Thanks.” Ella stood and followed him down the hall.
“I could push you on a gurney. Or at least a wheel chair.”
“I’m fine.”
He took her in the CT room and handed her over to the tech. She didn’t know he stood off to the side while they did the scan until it was over.
“Send those results to Dr. St. John.” He looked over at Ella. “So tell me something about you. What’s your name?”
“Ella. Hawkins, technically. Dennison officially. I just got married but I haven’t switched over all my license info.”
“Ah. Who’s the lucky guy … or girl?”
Ella smiled. “His name is Ryker.”
“Is he cute?”
“Very.”
“That’s always a good thing. What’s he do?”
“He’s President of a motorcycle club.”
“Ooh. A biker. A hot, leather-wearing tattooed biker?”
She nodded. “Yep.”
“Nice.” Bryan opened the door for her. “Well, I hope you have a good first day. I’ll be around here for the next two hours if you need plastics. I have to do some paperwork, then I get to go home.” He raised his fist in the air in excitement. “Home. I don’t really know what that is. But if they send you to your home, take some ibuprofen and put some ice on that bump if it starts swelling.”
Ella gave him a thumbs up and he left. Dr. St. John stood at a nearby computer screen. “Well, the good news is there is a brain inside your head.”
He turned the screen so she could see it. “We have proof.”
Ella smiled. “I may need that later.”
“The bad news is, there is no bad news. No swelling. No bleeding.” He clicked on a few things. “Just a bump and some stitches so I’m going to clear you for work. Take some ibuprofen and get some coffee. Welcome to the ER.”
It was safe to say Ella loved her new job. By noon, she finally had a fifteen-minute break and decided to text Ryker to let him know what had happened. Instead, her phone died and the screen had cracked. It was something else she needed to get fixed.
By the time the end of her shift rolled around, she was happy to go home. She ended up getting a ride with one of the techs and
was so glad that she kept her father’s SUV at her apartment. She didn’t have to worry about a vehicle for at least a little while. She also needed to find her car. No phone meant no phone calls. She wanted to say she was disappointed, but she wasn’t. The thought of what it would cost to replace her very expensive car had her cringing.
And then there was Ryker.
Chapter Ten
Ella hadn’t called him all week. He supposed that said all that needed to be said about her mood. He had a good visit with Pat and his father, Thomas. He’d only met the guy once at his wedding and even then, they really didn’t get to talk much. He gave him the Harley Knucklehead, which was basically in great condition. It was also mint green, but that was minor detail. He liked it.
The Shelby wasn’t bad either. Pat grinned when he started it up. The deep-purple car had a nice sound to it. Definitely something that would have cops chasing after you. They left Maine around Thursday and took their time going back home. The Knucklehead’s seat wasn’t as comfortable as Ryker’s and it hurt his ass after a few hours of riding. He had to admit that he liked it though. Liked everything about it. He needed a damn three-car garage for his new baby. Now those kinds of children he didn’t mind collecting.
The men made it home around Saturday after traveling for three days. Surprisingly, they got along. Nothing to argue about and they actually shared a laugh or two. It was almost nice. Definitely not something he expected from his father-in-law.
When they finally got to Atlanta, Ryker parted ways with Pat and went home. The first thing he spotted was the wrecked Mercedes in Ella’s normal parking spot. He parked the Knucklehead next to his bike and got off.
The car was totaled. Slammed in the back and the airbags deployed. He went upstairs and found her making dinner.
“What the hell happened to the car?”
She glanced up. “Oh. I was in an accident.” She lifted her hair to show him her wound. “It’s nothing major. Thanks for asking about me.”
He tossed his keys to the counter. “Are you okay?”
“I’m great.” She turned away from him.
“Ella.” He shook his head. “Fine.”
