What If It's Love: A Small Town Romance (Serendipity Series Book 2) Page 13

  “Noted.” And for the first time in his life, he wasn’t upset a woman was bothered by his actions. Her concern was a direct result of what he’d endured trying to save her father, his business, and the fact she couldn’t help. As she helped him onto the waiting gurney, he wondered if her father was right. Maybe she was better without him.

  Justice paced the waiting area of the emergency room. Sheriff Winters walked through the double doors with the doctor. “Doctor Jansen, this is Justice Morgan.”

  “Sorry to meet you under such circumstances.” The doctor shook her hand. “Your father suffered severe burns on his right arm and it will require some surgery. Once he comes out of surgery, we will keep him for about two weeks, to monitor that he is healing.”

  “Can I speak to him?”

  “You can. We are managing his pain while we prep for surgery.”

  “Thank you.”

  The Sherriff shook the doctor’s hand. “I’ll take her back.”

  The doctor nodded before disappearing through the double doors again. Justice looked at the Sheriff and immediately knew things were not good. “He’s in trouble again?”

  “Yes. Why don’t I take you back, let him tell you what happened.”

  “If you are still here, I can only imagine what he will have to say.” Justice followed him down the hall. When they reached her father’s room, the Sheriff stopped.

  “I’ll wait out here.”

  Justice nodded, then knocked lightly on the door as she walked in. “Hey, Dad.”

  “Why are you here?”

  “Wow. Nice to see you too.” Justice moved closer to the bed. “What happened?”

  “I burned down the gym.”

  “What?”

  “I burned it down. Tried to make it look like an accident to collect the insurance money.”

  “You realize how much trouble you’re in? If you needed money, why didn’t you ask for help?”

  “I don’t want your help.” He stared at the blank television screen. “I just wanted a way out.”

  “That building was half mine.”

  “Yeah, well, maybe you should be a little more selective about who you choose to invest with.”

  “You’re my father, why would I have ever given that a second thought?” Justice stared at him, realizing she really didn’t know her father at all. “Do you have any idea how much trouble you are in? There are two firemen in this hospital right now because of you.”

  “Don’t worry, lover boy will be just fine.”

  “You don’t get it, do you? Your actions have consequences. I can’t save you from this.”

  “I don’t want you to save me. I’ve never wanted you to save me.”

  “No just bail you out when it’s convenient for you.”

  “Don’t come back here, Justice. If you are half as smart as your mother was, you will know when it’s time to just walk away.” Her father grimaced as he tried to adjust himself in the bed. “I don’t want you to waste any more time on me. If you come, I will tell them to send you away.”

  “Is that really what you want? To cut yourself off from the only person in this world who cares about you?” Justice wiped at the tears on her cheeks. “When you answer me, have the decency to look at me.”

  He turned and met her gaze. “That’s what I want.”

  “Fine.” Justice turned and stepped out into the hallway, collapsing against the door as it closed behind her.

  “Justice, sweetie, come on. It’s after noon. You’ve been in this bed all day. Get up.” The bed dipped as Kelsea sank down onto the mattress beside her.

  “What's the point?” She pulled the blankets further over her head. “Everything just falls apart when I do. Merrick and my father are in the hospital. My father is being arrested for arson.”

  “You're acting like someone died.”

  “Someone could have. My father has basically disowned me. He said he did it for money, but what did he need money for? I don’t even know what was going through his head.” Justice pulled the blankets down. “The gym was my second home.”

  “I understand, but the important thing is everyone is safe. Merrick and the rookie…they’re going to be released from the hospital. Yes, your dad is going to be arrested. They couldn’t very well let him off with a slap on the wrist. He endangered people’s lives, including his own. And he endangered the businesses and homes in the area. The gym is gone. That’s it. A building can be rebuilt. Your father will get out of jail in a minimum of five years. There will be a hefty fine to pay. Jackson will do his best for your father.”

  “I know. But he sank everything he had into the gym.”

  “And you put up a fair amount too.”

  “The money never mattered to me. I would’ve put up all of it. He’s my dad. If I’m honest, even if they weren’t all good memories, I had them. They were mine. Time invested in those walls. Now there's nothing but a pile of ash.”

  “You're just going to give up?” Kelsea’s voice held sadness. “This is a side of you I've never seen. Can’t say I’m a fan.”

  “There's a first for everything.” She rolled over and shut her eyes, trying to make the memory of the fire and Merrick’s bruised body vanish from her mind. “Everyone’s allowed a bad day.”

  “Just as long as it isn’t permanent. I’d like my best friend back.” She felt Kelsea's hand rub her back, then the mattress leveled out. The room darkened, and she heard the click of the bedroom door.

  An hour passed, she tossed and turned, not willing to leave her room, yet unable to let sleep claim her. She sat up and stared at her phone. Messages filled the screen. She didn’t want to read them, so she shut off the phone. Movement on the other side of the door indicated she had more than one person standing vigil over her. Bare minimum she would walk out to find Kaitlyn and Jackson DeLuca, Chase and Kelsea, and Dakota and Kreed. More than likely, the way the town seemed to rally around their own, there would be a lot more than just the usual suspects in her small living room.

  She didn’t want to deal with them. Instead, she quietly showered, dressed, and slipped out the window, thankful she lived on the first floor of the building. Merrick’s truck still sat in her parking spot, where it had been since she left the hospital the previous night. Maybe she could break him out, and they could just run away. Some place exotic maybe, where no one could find them and they would live like gypsies. Knowing her friends, they would track her down no matter how far she ran.

  On her way toward the hospital, she called down to Southern Charred and had Kyle cook up a pizza and put together a salad. He met her at the curb with everything packed up and even threw in some craft sodas they’d just got in. Hopefully, this would be a good start to apologize for running out on him, for jumping to conclusions about Bella, and for thanking him for risking his life for the gym and her father.

  When she pulled up to the hospital, she sat there, staring at the clock. They probably wouldn’t let her in. She wasn’t family. Small town or not, there will still rules. She should’ve called first, but she had only thought about getting out of her place undetected. She climbed out of the truck and grabbed the pizza box along with the bag Kyle had packed up.

  She entered the hospital and walked up to the nurse’s station. When the lady behind the counter put her pen down and spotted her, she smiled. “Here to see your boyfriend?”

  “Um, he’s not my—”

  “Of course he’s not, honey.” The nurse tapped her pen in tune with the country song playing softly in the background. “Go on. He’s been quite irritable today. Maybe you can change his disposition.”

  Justice nodded, then headed down the hall. The keys fell from her hand and hit the floor, sending an echo through the quiet hallway. Careful not to spill anything, she balanced the pizza box and the rest of the food in one hand as she knelt to retrieve the key ring from the floor. As she stood, she heard Merrick yelling at whoever was in the room.

  “I’m fine! You don’t need to draw any
more blood, you vampire. I feel like a pincushion. And what do I have to do to get some real food around here? I’m not sick. I didn’t suffer any injuries on the job. Don’t you think this is a little overkill?”

  “In probably ninety nine percent of existing hospitals, a cracked rib would be considered an injury. Which you obtained while on the job. Now, the more cooperative you are, the sooner we can get you out of here, Mr. Hudson.”

  “My blood was drawn when I arrived. A cracked rib. Nothing more. Back off Mistress of Darkness!”

  Biting back a smile, she popped her head around the corner. “Is this a bad time?”

  The nurse in the room gathered up the vials she’d managed to collect and finished typing information into the computer on her cart. “No, Miss Morgan. The grump is all yours.”

  “Thanks.” Justice moved fully into the room and set the boxes on the tray beside Merrick’s bed. She leaned over and placed a kiss gently on his lips but pulled away before it became something more. He removed the blood pressure cuff, the oxygen sensor, and the sensors monitoring his heart rate. The machine beside the bed started making noises as the lines went flat.

  The nurse popped in. “Mr. Hudson...”

  “I’m fine. My oxygen levels are good. Coughing is under control. Let me enjoy my visitor in peace.”

  The nurse came over, checked his levels for herself. Then gave him a hard stare. “If you would like to leave here and give us all some much-needed peace and quiet, you should learn to do as you are told.”

  The nurse gave Justice a look that said more than words could. Justice shook her head and took Merrick’s hand in hers. “I see you’re being a model patient.”

  He snorted. “I’m miserable. And because misery loves company…”

  “You figured you’d make the staff miserable, too? Not wise to irritate people who can come at you with needles.”

  “True statement.”

  She giggled. “You are hopeless. I brought something to cheer you up.”

  “Just seeing you is enough to lighten my dismal mood.”

  “Yeah? Then I guess I’ll just take this and let the nursing staff enjoy. They’ve probably more than earned it from what I can see.” She grabbed the food from the table and headed toward the door. “I’ll be back.”

  “Whoa, don’t go getting carried away. What do you have there?” Merrick straightened himself up in the hospital bed. “Come on…let’s see.”

  “Oh just one of the finest vegan pizzas this town has, a very delectable salad, and a couple of craft sodas which I hear are going to be all the rage.” She unpacked the bag. “I may need to run this by the dietician though. Wouldn’t want to impede your recovery.”

  The nurse popped her head in from around the corner. “’Give him the food. Maybe he won’t be so grouchy.”

  Justice laughed. “He’s a tough guy. Tough guys don’t do hospitals or Jell-O. But I promise he’ll be on his best behavior from here on out.”

  Merrick scowled at her. “Why would you promise such a thing?”

  “I’m sure I can convince you it’s in your best interest to play along and be nice to the nursing staff.” Justice leaned in, careful not to touch him. With her mouth hovering just over his, she whispered, “These lips don’t kiss jerks who are too manly to accept help when they need it.”

  As he reached for her, she straightened, opened the pizza box, and grabbed a plate. He grunted. “Tease.”

  “By no means am I teasing. There’s nothing I would love more than to kiss you right now.”

  “But?”

  “I want you out of this hospital at any cost. If it means kisses become bargaining chips…then so be it.”

  “You don’t play fair.” Merrick’s phone rang, and Justice grabbed it from the table and handed it to him without glancing at the screen. His fingers brushed her palm as he took it from her and after checking the caller ID, he answered. “Hey, Kelsea.”

  Justice cringed, waving her hands in the air and waiting for him to look at her. When she’d managed to get his attention, she whispered, “Don’t tell her I’m here.”

  He covered the phone and stared at her, a puzzled look on his face. “You want me to lie?”

  She nodded.

  Merrick shrugged, and returned to the phone conversation. “Yeah, I’m still here. Doing better every minute. Just waiting for them to grant my pardon…I mean sign my release forms.”

  He waited, as he listened to whatever Kelsea was saying, then said, “No, I haven’t seen her…of course I’ll have her call you the minute I do.”

  He disconnected the call and stared at her. “What was that all about?”

  “I snuck out of my apartment.”

  “Why did you sneak out of your own house?” He set the phone beside him on the bed. “A little childish, don’t you think?”

  “Says the man who was arguing with the very people who are charged with ensuring he’s making a full recovery from smoke inhalation and being thrown against a brick wall.”

  “Point, Justice.” He sighed. “By the way, Kelsea also wanted me to inform you that the next time you want to sneak out of your house, please make sure you take your phone with you or she’ll call out the National Guard.”

  “She knew I was here?”

  “Didn’t believe a word I said.”

  “Duly noted.” She sat back in the chair and rested her head against the cushion, closing her eyes for a moment and trying to let the weight of the last few days slip away.

  “Well?”

  “Well what?” She opened her eyes and lifted her head, so she could see him.

  “Sneaking out. You’re a grown woman, fully capable of leaving your own apartment without having to give reason…why did you sneak out? Felt like reliving your wild teen age years?”

  “I wasn’t a wild teen. And I don’t know. I didn’t want whatever percentage of Serendipity had managed to cram itself into my small living room to know I was coming here.”

  “Ah, embarrassed of me.”

  “No. If I said something, you know very well Kelsea or Dakota would’ve wanted to tag along. They’d say it was because they needed a break from all the chaos, but I’m sure they’d want to keep an eye on me.”

  “Have you seen your father?”

  “Nope. He’s basically disowned me. The man does not want me stepping one foot into his hospital room. He made that perfectly clear the night I brought you in.”

  “When has that ever stopped you?”

  “Never, I guess.” She shrugged. In the past, she would have ignored her father’s request and shown up anyway, but she was tired. She’d finally found her breaking point. Car accidents and arson…she couldn’t cope with the hole her father was digging himself into. “I just wanted to come here first.”

  “Why?”

  “Maybe I didn’t want you to see me with red puffy eyes, in hysterics because I stopped by his room first.”

  He smirked. “Right. Tell me why you came here first.”

  “Are you that dense, Merrick Hudson?” She rubbed her hands over her face, this was not how she envisioned this moment going. It was surely not the reason she’d come to the hospital.

  “Just say it.”

  She sat up and glared at him. “Forget it.”

  “If you can’t say it, then there’s no hope for either one of us.” He winked at her, then he stuck out his perfectly kissable bottom lip. Pathetic.

  “Not going to work, Merrick.”

  “Please?”

  “You are getting far too much enjoyment out of this.”

  “Maybe, but I just want to hear you say it.”

  “Say what? You’re right? That I want to see whatever this is between us? Admit it scares me to death because if things go bad, I’ve potentially ruined a good friendship in the process? That even right now, when you are irritating me with your questioning, I can’t think of anything else but kissing you?”

  “Yes.” He sat up and threw his legs over the side of the bed and
leaned forward. “I want you to admit all of it. Because those very thoughts mimic my own. It may be a mistake and no doubt this is going to be a relationship riddled with problems, but we’ve both been through worse on our own. And honestly, I have no doubt that we will come out okay no matter what road we travel down. Can you imagine the powerhouse we would make together? I mean, I’ve never dated a woman who had the ability to take me out with a single kick if I get out of line.”

  “There is that.” She had a hard time looking away from him. He was so close she could feel the warmth radiating off his skin.

  “See? There’s no reason not to date me. You have the ability to put me in my place should I ever attempt to pass off fast food and a make-out session as a date.” He winked.

  “If you ever try it without it being a mutually agreed upon plan, I just might.”

  “Are you saying we’re going to do this? Explore a relationship? Like really go for it? No holding back, even when the fear is paralyzing?”

  Justice was never one to just follow her gut. All her life she did the expected. She played things safe. Starting this thing with Merrick would be anything but. She swallowed, not sure if she was making the right choice, but knowing it was the first choice she could remember making from her heart. “Yeah.”

  He hit the button to page the nurse, who came into the room glaring at him in anticipation of what he might say next. “Did the doctor sign my release papers?”

  “Yes, Mr. Hudson, he just finished.”

  “Then I would like to get out of your hair, if it’s alright with you.”

  “I would be more than honored to help you on your way.” Relief washed over the nurse’s face. “Let me get your paperwork.”

  “Wow, you’ve been a bit of a difficult patient for a mere twenty-four hours.” Justice got up and grabbed her purse. She wrinkled her nose at his hospital attire and shook her head. “No way am I driving you around town until you get dressed. I’ll be outside.”

  Chapter 11