“Bridget, this is Jerica. She’s one of the nurses in the ER who worked on you when you first came in.”

  Bridget cringed. So much for that hope.

  Jerica gave a soft smile. “I came up to check on you since my shift is over. I wanted to see how you were doing.”

  “I’m fine,” Bridget managed to answer.

  Nodding, Jerica didn’t move her gaze from Bridget’s face. “We were worried about you downstairs, and we rarely get updates after we admit patients and transfer them, so I wanted to come check for myself.”

  “Could have just called like normal,” Ann muttered, quiet enough that Bridget wasn’t sure Jerica could hear, but she knew Eli had. Eli perked up immediately.

  Jerica gave Ann a sharp look. “I wanted to see for myself. It’s nice to see you looking so good and awake.”

  “She still looks a mess,” Eli chimed in.

  Bridget and Ann shot her a dirty look, shutting Eli right up.

  “I’ll let the other nurses and doctors know that you’re doing well, if you don’t mind.”

  “I don’t,” Bridget’s voice was soft, and she honestly couldn’t fathom why she was agreeing to let the whole world know she was fine. She hated other people talking about her. After having been the talk of town for years, she was glad to fly under the radar when she could.

  “Good.” Jerica gave her a brilliant smile, dimples flashing in each corner of her mouth. “They’ll be happy to hear it.”

  “Can you maybe tell me what happened when I came in? I’m a bit vague on details and asshole here is less than helpful.” Bridget pointed at Eli.

  “Oh, sure.” Jerica’s smile faltered. “You came in with internal bleeding, which was the first thing we had to deal with. Once we got you stabilized enough, we took you back to have surgery and repair the puncture to your spleen. You were with us in recovery for a bit until we assessed the rest of your injuries, stabilized your arm, and wrapped your leg and ankle.”

  Jerica pointed to each injury as she explained.

  “Then we waited for you to be transferred up here since you weren’t waking up.”

  “I wasn’t waking up?”

  Swallowing hard, Jerica’s plump lips parted. “No. And we were worried you wouldn’t, but I suppose you just needed some time to recover first.”

  “I guess.” Bridget wasn’t sure how to answer that. She wondered if anyone was even there when she was in surgery but decided she didn’t want to know the answer to that. Eli had already stated she hadn’t been there, but were Sharon and Edward? Would Bridget have even wanted them there? Yeah, she would have, in the long run, wanted them to have cared enough, but she was too scared to ask because she was pretty sure they didn’t. “Thanks.”

  “No problem.” Jerica stood still by the end of the bed. “I guess I’ll go back down to the ER, but do you mind if I check on you again? We just want to be sure you’re recovering well.”

  Bridget nodded before any words formed on her lips and then inwardly cursed again at her instant agreement to whatever Jerica said. In seconds Jerica and Ann walked out of the room, chattering and shutting the door behind them. Embarrassed, Bridget didn’t even want to look at Eli, knowing she would say something.

  “Well, that was…”

  “Nothing,” Bridget finished for her.

  Eli shook her head. “Oh no, that was something. I’ve seen that something before.”

  “It was nothing,” Bridget reiterated.

  “If you say so, but I’ve never seen an emergency room nurse come to check on a patient that isn’t hers anymore, and after her shift finished. This wasn’t an official call.”

  Not answering, Bridget crossed her now IV free arm over her stomach and instantly regretted that decision, moving back to how she had been lying. What she would kill to be able to shift and lie on her side. She just wanted to move and get comfortable, or better yet, get the fuck out of Dodge and go home. This was far too uncomfortable and confining.

  “Think about it, Bridget. It doesn’t have to be her, but if you’re interested in someone, and she’s interested in you, go for it.”

  “How do you know Ann?”

  “She stayed at Indigo with her partners.”

  Bridget glared. “Partners?”

  “Yup.” Eli scrunched her nose. “I don’t judge my guests, and they’re all very sweet.”

  “So she’s…she’s gay.” Bridget whispered the last word as if it was curse, but that wasn’t how she meant it.

  Eli raised an eyebrow at her. “Yes, but I don’t know how out they are, so bare that in mind while you’re shouting that word to a room with two lesbians in it.”

  Bridget frowned. “I didn’t…I didn’t mean it like that.”

  “I know.” Eli heaved a breath and rubbed her hands over her face. “Do you need anything at the house? I can grab it when I come back tomorrow.”

  “You’re coming back?”

  “Bridget…” Eli’s look immediately softened. “You look like shit, like someone ran you over with a combine a couple times. You called me down here for a reason, and while you haven’t shared why, I’m not going to leave you to the wolves. I will stay as much as you need me to. I promise. If you need me to stay the night, I can do that too, but I’d really like to go home and get some clean clothes then.”

  “Sarah’s not going to worry?”

  “She’s finishing up her tour, so she’s not here. Bill said he’ll do whatever needs done at Indigo so long as I’m here. He gets this, you know.”

  Bridget didn’t say anything, just stared at Eli in awe. “Thank you.”

  “Do mind telling me why you called me? I wouldn’t think your ex-girlfriend you barely talk to would be the person you’d call when you’re on your deathbed at the hospital.”

  “I’m not on my deathbed.”

  “Your face could have fooled me. Really, you look like shit.”

  “Gee, thanks.”

  “Have you seen yourself?”

  Bridget shook her head. “I’m not allowed up yet.”

  “Where’s your phone?”

  “No clue. Did it survive?”

  Eli narrowed her gaze but pulled her cellphone out of her pocket. She turned the camera on and turned it to face Bridget, holding it out. Bridget clenched her jaw as she looked at herself. Her hair was a stringy mess all around her face, no doubt in tangles that would take weeks to comb out. Her left eye was black and blue, the bruise spreading down her face to her jaw. Her neck was equally bruised from the IV they’d stuck in and pulled out.

  “Holy shit.”

  “Exactly,” Eli responded. “You look like shit.”

  “I didn’t…I didn’t realize I looked this bad.”

  “So if the pretty nurse from the ER thinks you’re cute like this, I think you’ve caught yourself a winner.”

  “Shut up, Eli.”

  Laughing, Eli let Bridget have the phone for as long as she wanted, staring at herself and judging every injury she could see. “What the hell happened?”

  “Wish I knew more than what I do.”

  Bridget handed the phone back and fell silent. She did want to answer Eli’s first question, but she wasn’t really sure how to. They’d had such a strained relationship over the last few years, but she’d known Eli would show up without hesitation if Bridget needed her.

  “I didn’t have anyone else to call.” She was so quiet when she spoke, she was worried Eli hadn’t heard and that she’d have to repeat herself. Luckily, when she finally raised her gaze, Eli looked as though she’d definitely heard. “I didn’t want Sharon and Edward here, but I didn’t have anyone else to call, and I couldn’t be alone.”

  Eli leaned in, covering Bridget’s hand and giving her a gentle squeeze. “You know I’ll always come if you call, right?”

  “That’s why I called.” Bridget blinked back more tears, wishing them away but she couldn’t help when they flooded her eyes and dripped down her cheeks.

  Eli moved in, standing and bending over the bed, her arms moving around Bridget’s shoulders and neck in as much of a hug as they could manage. Bridget closed her eyes, breathing in Eli’s familiar musky scent, and let herself be enveloped in the embrace. She needed this, far more than she could ever explain or share with Eli, but she was so very glad Eli had come, that she had answered Bridget’s call. Because she couldn’t do this alone. Not anymore.

  CHAPTER 3

  Eli had stayed with her for several days, even after they transferred her to another room and out of ICU. Bridget couldn’t be more grateful for her best friend, and she was beginning to recognize that Eli was still very much that. She needed Eli like she needed oxygen. They had her up and moving around as much as she could during the day, and Eli had stayed through her ankle surgery, but as soon as Bridget was out of recovery and back in her room, Eli had begged off to check her cattle.

  The time she’d spent alone in the room had become longer as each day passed, but she understood. Eli couldn’t abandon her life to spend the entire week with her, but equally, Bridget needed to learn to be on her own too. She was still groggy from the surgery, but she was honestly feeling better than she had days before, even though the pain medicine had been increased temporarily.

  She was going to have to stand before bed. The doctors had told her that much, and she was not looking forward to it. The amount of physical therapy she was going to need to do in order to get back into shape and pass her physical was outrageous. She’d be lucky to be back in the field inside six months.

  Bridget turned her nose up at her dinner but grimaced her way through the first bite when there was a knock on the door. Eli wasn’t due back that night, at least she didn’t think, and she’d told all the nurses on the floor to never let her parents in without warning her first, and not that day. They hadn’t even come in for her surgery even though they knew it was happening. Typical.

  Turning her chin toward the door, she was surprised to find the beautiful young nurse eyeing her back. “Hey.”

  “Hey,” Bridget answered, eyes widening. She at least felt better for this conversation and no doubt looked less black and blue, though she was still that sickly yellow and green color. It would fade with time, or so the doctors told her.

  “You said I could check on you?” She asked as if it was a question, but it wasn’t. Bridget had agreed to allow Jerica in.

  “Come in.” Bridget motioned her into the room. Luckily she had it to herself, and she was so glad she hadn’t had to share it with someone else yet. That would only add salt to her wounds. “Are you finishing up a shift?”

  “I am.” Jerica gave her a sweet smile and sat on the edge of the mattress. “Is your friend around?”

  “Eli? No. She went home for the night.”

  “Has she been around a lot?”

  Bridget narrowed her gaze. “Yeah. She’s a good friend.”

  “Good.” Jerica put her hands in her lap, folding them together. “I was kind of hoping to catch you alone.”

  “Why?”

  “Your friend scares me a little.”

  “What?” Bridget could have laughed. Eli wouldn’t hurt a fly if she could avoid it. She cried every time she had to put down one of her animals, and Bridget knew the day she had to put down old Max, the pup who lived on her deck, Eli would be devastated for months. She’d never known anyone to be afraid of her.

  Jerica lifted a shoulder and dropped it. “She’s very protective of you.”

  “Oh.” Though Bridget was confused. She hadn’t seen any protectiveness from Eli when Jerica had been around before. In fact, it had been the exact opposite. Eli had encouraged Bridget to do more than talk to the pretty nurse. “Well, she’s not here, and I don’t expect her back.”

  “Okay.” Jerica’s gaze dropped to Bridget’s dinner. “How are you doing?”

  “As well as can be expected, I suppose. They just pinned up my ankle this morning, so I’m bound to be sent home soon.”

  Jerica nodded. “I hope it’s not too awful a recovery.”

  “I’m sure it’ll be worse to see what my cruiser looks like.” Bridget tried to make light of the situation, but she knew it hadn’t come off right. She was so bad at this flirting thing. That was why she and Eli had worked so well—they’d known each other since they were in diapers. There was no trying to impress Eli into liking her. It was kind of a requirement of being in the same class together.

  “I’m betting it looks pretty squished.” Jerica’s voice was soft.

  “Probably,” Bridget replied. She didn’t really want to think about it, but she still hadn’t remembered anything about the accident, and part of her hoped that seeing her vehicle would give her the jolt of reality she needed. Although it could also prove to be too much of a jolt. “I was walking with a knee scooter thing before surgery today, so maybe I’ll get back to that tomorrow.”

  “I’m sure PT and OT will get you right up and going.”

  Jerica’s mood was far more subdued during this visit than the previous one. Bridget tried to pinpoint it but wasn’t finding the reason why there was such a change, especially since Jerica had been the one to come visit her.

  “It was nice of you to visit.” Bridget gave her an out if she wanted one. She wouldn’t want Jerica to stay there if she needed to leave.

  “Oh, it’s my pleasure really.” Jerica’s cheeks tinged darker. If Bridget didn’t know any better, she’d say Jerica was blushing. It was a lovely color to add to her already dark skin. But she really wished Jerica would look up at her, make eye contact. “Hospital food hasn’t killed you yet?”

  Bridget snorted. “Eli’s been sneaking me some food from home.”

  “Tsk.” Jerica giggled lightly. “But I can’t say I wouldn’t do the same if I were in your situation. I eat this stuff all the time, and it’s not something I’d like to eat for every meal if I could avoid it.”

  “Then why eat it at all?”

  Jerica’s tongue dashed across her full lips. “I don’t often have a lot of time to eat, and sometimes it’s nice to walk down and get a fresh hot meal when I’m short on time.”

  “Makes sense.”

  Bridget cocked her head to the side, trying to decide what to say next. They didn’t know each other at all, and Bridget only remembered one very brief conversation with her. At least she was more with it this time and able to think better. The shock of her accident had eased, and she was a bit more settled now.

  “I suppose I shouldn’t keep you.” Jerica moved to stand, but Bridget put out a hand to stop her.

  “You don’t have to leave unless you want to. I’d enjoy the company, actually. It gets quiet in here by myself with nothing other than the television.”

  “Eli didn’t bring you anything to do?”

  Bridget shrugged slightly. “I don’t have many hobbies. I work a lot.”

  “No hobbies at all?”

  Reaching onto the table next to the bed, Bridget pulled over a book and handed it to Jerica. “She brought me a couple books, but I can’t say I’ve ever been a reader like her.”

  Jerica flipped the book over and read the back. It was Bridget’s not-so-subtle hint to figure out if Eli’s suspicions were right or wrong. She wanted to know if this woman was as interested in women, but Bridget didn’t have the radar that Eli did. She needed verbal confirmation.

  Handing the book back, Jerica made eye contact. “I like Ruby Scott’s books. I’ve read a lot of her romances. I usually need something nice and light after what I deal with daily.”

  It was close to a confirmation. Bridget pressed her lips together hard, trying to get enough guts to just ask outright. The more Eli had talked about it, the odder Bridget thought it was that Jerica kept visiting, and this second visit confirmed that. No one else had checked in on her from the hospital.

  “I’d never heard of her before Eli brought the book over.”

  “Is your friend a lesbian?”

  Bridget snorted. “Oh yes, and she’ll be proud to tell you that. She’s dating a big time musician. Sadie Bade.”

  “Oh! I’ve heard of her.” Jerica’s eyes lit up. “I’m not a huge fan of her music, but that’s mostly because I don’t listen to that style very often.”

  Bridget was going to be hard pressed to admit that she loved Sadie’s music, and she would never admit that to Sarah or Eli. “Anyway, Eli is kind of all things lesbian, hence the books.”

  Jerica smiled. “It’s good she’s proud of who she is and that she’s got friends who accept her. Not everyone has that.”

  Bridget’s stomach dropped, and she stared at the plate of food in front of her, suddenly not hungry. She couldn’t even fathom what it had been like to grow up in Eli’s house, so accepted. She’d never had a chance like that, and she’d known it from the start. Coming out to her parents would have gotten her kicked out of the house, or worse yet, thrown into some kind of conversion therapy. They would have found a way for it even if she’d been an adult—she was sure of that. It had gotten to the point that, after Eli had come out to her family and Sharon and Edward had found out, that Eli wasn’t allowed anywhere near Bridget.

  They’d thrown a loud fit down at the school board when two of the teachers had come out and announced they were dating. They’d lost, but it still hurt that she had to face the fact she was related to two of the biggest bigots in town.

  “Bridget, did I say something?” Jerica caught Bridget’s attention.

  “Oh, no. I think the pain medicine is finally kicking in and making me groggy. Sorry.”

  “I should probably let you rest, then. Did they say when they’ll release you?”

  “I think the current plan is in a day or two. I’m not entirely sure. I think it depends on how well I can move without help.”

  “Makes sense.” Jerica’s lips curled upward. “I hope you get out of here sooner rather than later. It’s always easier to recover at home in my opinion.”

  “I won’t be going home,” Bridget mumbled. “Can’t get in and out of my house. Too many stairs.”