After she got me tucked back into the bed and the IV reattached, she promised to get me some water and asked if I wanted anything to eat. I really didn’t want anything.
I’d have to see a doctor, but she would be with me for that. When she brought up the police again, I just wanted to pull the blankets over my head, but I nodded. I’d talk to them.
“When can I go home? I have to look after my cats.”
“You might need to stay here overnight. I want to get the urine test done, and we want to monitor you for any adverse reactions to the drugs and medications. Plus…you really shouldn’t be alone yet.”
I didn’t want to stay in the hospital. I’d ask the doctor. “Thank you.”
“Frankie.” The firm note pulled my gaze up to her. “This isn’t your fault. Nothing that happened was your fault. You are going to be all right. You will have support. I’m going to be here for you, and I’m going to help you find someone you can talk to.”
That sounded great, but… “Thanks,” I said again. “I’m just tired. Sorry.”
“Do you want to see your friends? Or should I send them home?”
They weren’t going to leave just because she told them. They’d been here all night. All night.
I still couldn’t wrap my head around that.
“In my stuff there was a bracelet…”
“After we process everything, I’ll make sure you get it back.”
At the moment, I didn’t care about the rest of it, but the bracelet was important.
“Frankie, what can I get you?”
“The guys…can they all come in?”
She nodded. “As long as they keep it calm in here, yes. They’ll have to go out again when the doctor comes. Okay?”
“Okay.”
I hoped I didn’t look as bad as I felt, but the looks on their faces when Denitra let them back into the room dashed my chances of covering up my tears.
“I’m going to take this down, I’ll be back in a few. You three will behave while I’m gone.” Denitra gave each of them a stern look. “She needs calm and rest.”
“We got this,” Coop told her, but he was already across the room and carefully taking my left hand. When the door closed behind her leaving the four of us alone, I leaned my head against the pillows and stared at them.
“Who?”
“Baby girl, you don’t need to worry about…”
“Who?” I asked again. “Someone from school? A stranger? Who?”
Archie raked a hand through his hair, and the three of them looked at each other. Finally, Coop said, “It was Mitch.”
I closed my eyes. I barely knew Mitch. “Is Cheryl all right?”
“She’s fine,” Archie said. “Nothing happened to her.” The harshness in his tone worried me. He still looked rough.
“They were dating,” I told him. “That water…”
“It was hers,” Jake said, almost like he had to ground it out between his teeth. “We know.”
I glanced at each of them. “Cheryl didn’t do this.”
“No one is saying she did,” Coop said gently. “Pretty sure Mitch gave her the water, and then she ended up giving it to you.”