"Hey, you can't park here," a nurse said as I threw open my door.
"My friend is having an allergic reaction," I hurled at her as I raced around the vehicle to open his door.
The nurse took one look at Nathan slumped over in the passenger seat before hollering out instructions to the other staff as the double doors to the ER slid open. The next few minutes passed in a blur as medical staff descended on Nathan's car. Before I knew it, they were wheeling him into the ER on a gurney. I stood in the now-empty ambulance bay, completely at a loss for what I should be doing. A kind security guard took pity on me and pointed me in the direction of where I could park. I got back behind the wheel and drove the vehicle to the proper location. Moving in a haze, I tried to focus on anything but my aversion to hospitals as I made my way to the admittance desk.
"Can I help you?" the receptionist asked without looking up.
"Um, yeah, I'm looking for my friend," I said, figuring bike-riding partner wouldn't be much of an explanation.
"Name," she asked, looking bored.
"Nathan," I said, tapping my foot impatiently.
"I don't see a patient by that name. Are you sure this is the right hospital?" she asked, resuming her typing.
"Considering the fact that I drove him here five minutes ago and watched members of your staff wheel him through those double doors, I would say yeah, I'm sure I have the right hospital," I answered sarcastically.
"What is his injury?" she asked, not responding in the slightest to my sarcasm.
"Allergic reaction," I said, working to keep my voice even while I fought the urge to grab her Snoopy-covered hospital scrubs and shake the hell out of her.
"Curtain five," she said, pointing to the other side of the room that was partitioned by curtains hanging from the ceiling.
"Thanks," I muttered, hurrying off.
Sweeping into the curtained-off area, I was unprepared for the sight that greeted me.
An elderly doctor was intently listening to Nathan's lungs with a stethoscope, but it was the actual sight of a shirtless Nathan that stopped me in my tracks.
Chapter 10: A night in the hospital
Nathan
I would have been amused by Ashton's expression when she entered my not so-private room if not for the fact that I felt like a complete bonehead. A bonehead with lips the size of watermelon slices and cheeks that felt numb from the rapid swelling they had endured. I felt the pain was justified for being a complete ass. First, by not checking my salad more thoroughly, and second, for forgetting to throw a spare EpiPen in the glove compartment.
"Your lungs sound clear, which is a good sign. Don't worry about the swelling. It will dissipate soon. You will have to spend the night with us so we can pump fluids into you," the doctor said, pointing to my IV.
"Do you really think that's necessary?" I rasped out.
"It's not even debatable," he said on his way out. "A nurse should be in here shortly so we can take you to your room," he threw over his shoulder.
"How are you doing?" Ashton asked, approaching hesitantly.
"Truth or macho guy answer?" I asked.
"Why don't we go with the truth since truthfully you look like shit," she said, sliding the only chair in the small cubicle toward my bed.
"Don't try to spare my feelings," I tried to joke through a harsh cough.
"Wouldn't dream of it, but seriously, if you didn't want to go on a bike ride, all you had to do was just say so," she teased, lacing her fingers through mine.
"Well, I did promise it would be a ride you wouldn't easily forget," I replied ruefully.
"Well, you pulled that off."
"Told you," I said, bringing her hand up to my lips so I could place a kiss on her knuckles. "You don't need to wait around here. You can take my car home and I can catch a cab in the morning when they release me."
"Don't be silly. I have nowhere to go. I'll keep you company until they move you to a room, and I'll be here in the morning to pick you up. Don't even think of arguing," she said before I could speak again.