Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 72822 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 364(@200wpm)___ 291(@250wpm)___ 243(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72822 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 364(@200wpm)___ 291(@250wpm)___ 243(@300wpm)
The second time he woke me, it was close to six in the morning and I had a lot more going for me. I not only knew my name, but also where I was and who was in the room with me right away.
Then he told me he was leaving, and I smiled and thanked him for all the help.
Only now that I was fully awake and more with the program, I realized that earlier when I thought I'd known where I was, I was mistaken. I wasn't in my bedroom. I was in a bedroom that looked kind of like mine, but it wasn't actually mine at all. For starters, the door was in the wrong place, and I'd never seen the comforter that was covering me before in my life.
Painfully, I made my way to a semi-seated position—and I only made it to the semi-upright position because I couldn't lift myself up all the way without shooting pains stabbing me in the chest.
Settling for this partially hunched position, I started to make an attempt at standing but paused when I heard footsteps.
I stopped mid-stand and took a seat on the bed, waiting with anticipation for the door to open.
It did open, but the person on the other side wasn’t anyone I’d ever seen before.
“Oh!” the very cute blonde woman exclaimed. “I didn't know you'd be awake yet! Dante said you'd probably sleep for another few hours. I was just bringing you your phone and a bell.”
I must've looked confused because she grinned.
“My name is Hannah.” She waved, smiling brightly. “My husband is Dante’s brother.”
“Hi,” I croaked.
Hannah grinned at me. “I'm a nurse. Or I used to be. Well, I guess that I always will be. My license is still up to date, but I mainly work with my husband as well as Dante now that he's back. I’m so glad he’s back, by the way. When Travis called me this morning to ask me if I’d help, I jumped at the chance. He’s the only brother out of all of them who literally has nothing to do with anyone. It’s sad.”
I blinked at that information overload.
“I'm a nurse, too,” was the only thing I could think of to say.
Hannah laughed. “Sweet! We’re going to get along famously, I just know it!”
Then she walked forward, rubbing her hands together, almost as if she was getting ready to start in on a discussion that would take hours.
I had to stop her.
The urge that woke me in the first place made itself known again, and suddenly I was very glad that Hannah was here and not Dante.
“Not to be rude, but can you point me in the direction of the restroom?”
“The potty is down the hall,” she pointed, then blushed. “I have three young kids. Potty seems to be my go-to word. Sorry.”
I huffed a small laugh and stood, this time all the way up, and started to shuffle forward.
“I'm a fall risk,” I told Hannah. “But I'd like to go to the bathroom by myself if you don't mind.”
Hannah stayed at my side but didn't try to grab hold of me, and I was thankful. Dante helping me felt a lot different than some stranger. And, frankly, I wanted to do it myself. I wanted to feel like myself again.
Yesterday when I'd left, the nurse that gave me my discharge paperwork had told me to keep on top of my pain meds and try to walk as much as I could tolerate.
And thanks to Dante, I'd done very little walking. Not that I was complaining, but I wouldn't have him there forever.
Eventually, I'd have to do these things on my own, and it would probably be sooner rather than later.
Dante didn't strike me as the type who would tolerate me being in his space for too long. He might have been nice to me out of obligation yesterday, but I wouldn't take advantage of his kindness. That just wasn't me.
And I'd survived a lot of stuff on my own. I could do this, too.
Plus, I was fairly sure that his wife wouldn’t appreciate me being here.
Which made me wonder, where was here? And would she be showing up anytime soon?
“This is the bathroom,” Hannah pointed. “Those two doors are locked. I think they're the kids' bedrooms, but I'm not certain. Dante's bedroom is at the end of the hall. That one is Mary's.”
As she pointed out the rooms, I tried to memorize what she was telling me, but I realized rather quickly that I didn't really need to know what rooms were where. As soon as I could get my next dose of pain meds, I was going back home. I couldn't be here. I couldn't be indebted to anyone.
Not even the sweet, sexy man, Dante.
This was my cross to bear, and I'd do it on my own. That much I knew for sure.