Blue Colla Make Ya Holla (67 page)

Nate grinned at the image Joanne made, standing there with her hands clenched in fists at her side, her eyes sparking, and foot stamping as she emphasized her points. “Have I told you how cute you are when you’re angry?”

“This is not funny. You could have been seriously hurt.”

Nate dropped his grin and held out his arm, gesturing for her to come closer. As she did, he wrapped his arm around her and pulled her into his body. Her warmth comforted him more than it should. His body relaxed, and he breathed in the scent of her hair. “I know. But I wasn’t. And that’s all that matters.”

“No, that’s not all that matters.” Her voice wavered, and Nate realized she was crying. He turned her face up to his.

“Hey. What’s wrong? I’m okay.”

“Nate, I didn’t know Stan was so dangerous. What if he goes after you again? I should never have gotten you involved in my problems.”

“You didn’t. I got involved all on my own.” Nate laughed lightly.

“What are you talking about?”

“That morning we met, you aren’t the one that called for a tow truck, were you?”

“No,” Joanne said slowly.

“You were asleep—”

“Passed out.”

“Fine, passed out. Anyway, I showed up to do my job. You didn’t have any control over that. When I found you, I could have let you drive off. I could have called the police if I really thought you were still too drunk to drive. I could have just towed your damn car like I was supposed to. Did I do any of those? No. Instead, I took you and your car home. See? I have a knack for finding my own trouble.”

“But I’m the one who called you when Stan messed with my car. He wouldn’t even have known about you if I hadn’t called.”

“And I didn’t have to go to your friend’s wedding and act like your date. I could have dropped the car off, just like I intended to in the first place.”

Joanne started to say something then paused. “Wait, you
acted
like my date?”

“Well, it was your friend who invited me, not you. I honestly didn’t know what you thought. I didn’t want to assume I was your date just because your friend said I was.”

Neither said anything for a few moments. It was Joanne that finally broke the silence. “What were we talking about anyway?”

Laughing, Nate brushed his hand over her hair. “Who cares? I’m glad to know I am such a good distraction.” He waggled his eyebrows in suggestion.

“You!” Joanne slapped at his shoulder. It just happened to be the bruised one that he had fallen on, and he shrugged away from her. “I’m sorry,” she cried. “Oh my God, you make me forget everything. You’re a horrible influence on me.”

Her fake sincerity made Nate let out a deep laugh. The sharp pain that clutched at his middle had him gasping and holding his side with his good arm.

“Oh, geez. I’m an awful person,” she cried. “I’m always hurting you. You should just stay away from me.”

Nate snuck an arm around her waist and tugged at her until she leaned against him. “I don’t think I can,” he whispered in her ear. “You make me laugh and bring something to my life I didn’t realize I was missing.”

Nate slid his tongue along her earlobe, and Joanne shivered and melted against him. When another nurse walked in the door pushing a wheelchair, Joanne jerked away, embarrassed that she had let herself almost lose control at work. In front of her colleagues. Nate really was a bad influence on her.

“Nathan, they’re ready for you in radiology,” the nurse said. She glanced between the two of them. Nate still had his arm at her waist, and Joanne stared down at the floor. “Can you stand, or do you need help?” she asked.

“I can stand,” Nate said. He let go of Joanne and used his good arm to lever himself over to the side of the cot and to his feet. He clutched his ribs as he took the few steps to the wheelchair where he sat down. “Will you be here when I get back?” he asked her. His eyes were still squinted in pain from his short walk.

Joanne’s anger at Stan returned full force.
Why in the hell had he done such a thing?
She didn’t understand. It was so unlike the Stan she knew and used to love. “I’m going to find Stan. I need to confront him about this. But I’ll be back before you’re released.” She glanced at her watch. “I still have a couple of hours left. If you wanted to wait until I’m off, I could give you a ride.”

Nate reached out and clasped one of her hands. “Babe, don’t go looking for another fight.”

“He won’t hurt me.”

Nate shook his head. “Even if he doesn’t, he’s not worth it.”

“No, but you’re worth it.” The words were out before she even knew what she was saying, and she felt the heat flood her cheeks.

His thumb caressed the back of her hand. “You’re the sweetest woman I’ve ever met. Other than my mom of course,” he joked. “I would really rather you just let it be though. Please?”

Joanne shook her head. “I can’t, Nate. I need to understand.”

The other nurse cleared her throat, interrupting them. “We need to go if he wants to keep his slot for radiology.”

“Go ahead,” Joanne told her. To Nate she said, “I’ll probably be back before you are. See you soon.”

Nate squeezed her hand once more before letting go. The nurse swiveled the wheelchair and pushed it down the hall. Joanne squared her shoulders and stalked in the other direction. This late in the afternoon, Stan should be doing his rounds.
If he even showed up for work today,
she thought. She would find him and demand to know his reasons. He had to have one. He never did anything without planning and thought. He wasn’t a spontaneous guy. In fact, Joanne realized, in that regard he was exactly opposite from Nate.
Is that why I was attracted to Nate in the first place?
Is he just a fling, something I’ll get over, get out of my system, and then go back to wanting steady and dependable?
Her steps slowed as she approached the elevators, and she grappled with her thoughts.

When she got to Stan’s floor, she didn’t have to search long before she saw him turn a corner and walk down the hall a few yards ahead of her. He hadn’t seen her, and he was walking fast. Before she could call his name, he pushed his way into the men’s restroom. Joanne paused in the middle of the hallway, wondering what she should do. Should she wait for him? She stepped to the side and leaned against the wall. Surely he wouldn’t be too long. He was a man, after all.

Within seconds, Joanne heard retching sounds coming from the restroom. She straightened. Was that Stan? She didn’t think anyone else was in there. The floor was quiet this afternoon, with very little traffic. Stan was the healthiest person she knew; he never got sick. Why would he be vomiting?

It was five minutes before Stan slowly pushed his way out of the restroom. His face was pale and clammy, and he wiped the back of his hand across his mouth.

“Stan?” she questioned. “Are you okay?” She didn’t want to be concerned, but it was in her nature, it was why she had become a nurse.

Stan grabbed her shoulders. “Oh, Joanne. I’ve done something horrible.”

He opened his mouth to speak, but Joanne cut him off. “Stan, I know. I know what you did. Nate is down in Emergency right now. Luckily, he’s not hurt too bad.” His mouth flapped open and closed, but no words came out. “Why, Stan?” Her voice was low and hurt.

Stan pulled her down a side hallway where the noise of the nurses’ station didn’t reach. She could see the moisture building in his eyes. Stan was crying, she realized.

“Joanne, I don’t know why. You…you just make me crazy sometimes. I’m crazy about you, and the thought of losing you for good made me lose my mind. I made a mistake. I made several mistakes. I know I’ve lost you.” He buried his head in Joanne’s shoulder, and Joanne realized he had been rambling.

She put her hands on his waist and gently pushed him away. Keeping her voice calm, she spoke soothingly. “Stan, why don’t you tell me what happened today.”

He ran his hands down his face, and Joanne noticed his hands were shaking. “After I sobered up from this morning, the anger hit. Before that, my mind was so muddled that I honestly didn’t know what I was doing. Somehow, I thought that if that guy wasn’t around maybe I could make everything up to you, that you would eventually forgive me given enough time. I was just intending to scare him away, I swear!” He held out his hands, palms up. “But when he got there, he wouldn’t even listen to me. I wanted to argue with him—I needed a fight, and all he did was walk away. He’s a better man than me.” That last sentence was said as a quiet aside. “I just couldn’t let him leave like that. I thought I was just going to make him stay, but something else took over, something dark. Oh God, Joanne, it was awful. I’ve never hit someone in my life. I couldn’t stay after I did that. I had to get out of there before I got sick.”

“Is that what happened in there?” Joanne gestured to the restroom.

“Yes. I couldn’t stomach what I’d done any more. I really thought I’d done some damage. You said he’s not hurt that bad?” he questioned her.

Joanne shook her head. “No, just bruised I think. He’s getting x-rays now, but the doctor didn’t think anything was broken.”

“Oh, thank God. Joanne, I’m really sorry.”

Joanne cut him off. “It’s not me you need to apologize to. It’s him.”

“I can’t talk to him,” Stan exclaimed. “I’m sure he doesn’t want to see me.”

“Probably not,” Joanne admitted. “But can you live with yourself if you don’t make amends?”

Stan scrubbed his face with his hands. “You’re right. You always are. Okay, I’ll come down in a bit.”

“Don’t wait too long. He’ll probably be released after his x-rays are finished.”

Joanne left Stan standing there, his back against the wall, and made her way slowly back toward the Emergency Department. As upset as she had been with Stan for cheating on her, at this point she was glad she’d gotten out of a relationship with him when she had. She’d had no idea he was prone to violence. Of course, she realized anyone could be pushed to do something they normally wouldn’t given the right circumstances. But a friendship with another man—and that’s all it had been before this morning, in spite of their mutual attraction from the beginning—shouldn’t be enough to provoke someone who truly loved her. She did hope Stan was able to eventually find happiness, but she finally felt free of the hurt and the pain that he had caused her. This was for the best. For the first time in over two months, she felt her life was coming back together.

When she got back downstairs to the Emergency Department, she peeked her head into Nate’s room. He was sitting on the edge of the bed, legs hanging to one side. The doctor was in with him, and she heard him say that the x-rays were clear and he was being released. Neither of them saw her, so she ducked back outside until they were finished.

She went to the nurses’ station to sort through some paperwork until the doctor was done. A few minutes later, the doctor approached her with Nate’s patient chart and discharge orders. “Can you process these, Joanne?” he asked her.

Joanne hesitated. “Actually…I can’t.” She motioned to another nurse to take the paperwork from the doctor. “But, please, can you at least tell me everything is okay with him?”

“Yes, he’s fine, just banged up. Are you guys seeing each other?”

Joanne dropped her eyes. She wasn’t used to people asking about her love life. She’d been with Stan for so long that it was hard to get used to the fact that her coworkers didn’t already know what was going on with her life. “I guess you could say that,” she answered.

“Well, take it easy on him for a few days,” he said lightly. “He’s going to need some time to recuperate before doing anything too strenuous.” With that, he picked up a file and headed to another patient room.

When the nurse finished the discharge paperwork, Joanne followed her to Nate’s room. He was on his cell phone when they stepped inside, and she paused, not wanting to interrupt him. He looked over at her and smiled.

“Yep,” he said into the phone. “A day should do it. My arm’s still too sore to do much work, but nothing’s broken. I’ll be back in on Wednesday.” He disconnected the call and slid the phone into the pocket of his jeans. “I hope you’re here to tell me I’m all set to go,” he said to them.

“All you have to do is sign this,” the discharge nurse said. She took it to him and handed him a pen. Joanne stood at the foot of the bed, fiddling with the sheet until he finished. He scribbled his signature and gave everything back. As the nurse reached to take it from him, he froze. Glancing at him, Joanne saw he was focused on something behind her. She turned to see Stan standing in the door.

Joanne stepped closer and put a reassuring hand on Nate’s arm. “It’s okay,” she said.

The discharge nurse scooted quickly out of the room, as if she could feel the rising tension.

Stan glanced between the two of them as she stood there next to Nate before he stepped further into the room. Nate slid off the bed and to his feet. He didn’t know what to expect, but he wanted to face it on his feet. He’d been knocked down enough today. Stan stopped when he was still a good five feet away.

“I just wanted to apologize,” Stan said. “I don’t know what else to say. There’s no excuse for what I did, and I don’t expect you to forgive me. I just needed to tell you that.” Stan turned on his heel and took a step back to the door before stopping again and turning back to them. “I’ll pay your hospital bill. This is my fault and my responsibility.”

“I don’t want your money,” Nate spat. “I can pay my own bills. I may not be as rich as you, but I can take care of myself.”

“I don’t doubt that.” Stan looked at Joanne then to Nate. “If not for you, let me do it for her. I’ve hurt her too, and she deserves something better than me. Why not let me pay for this?” He gestured around the room. “And you can save your money for something more useful, such as treating Joanne the way she deserves.”

“Don’t bring me into this,” Joanne said softly. “I don’t need anything from either of you.”

Nate bowed his head in thought. He should probably take Stan up on his offer. Sure, he had money and insurance. But the hospital bill would probably wipe out most of his savings. Money that he now wanted to keep. He’d never thought much about his future before. Now, he wanted to. He wanted to envision himself with Joanne, planning for whatever might come their way. A house. Marriage. Family. He didn’t know yet, but all the possibilities lay open in front of them.