A Broken Forever(16)

       
         
       
        

It also didn't help that the reason I had incurred these fees was a direct result of my ex-husband.

When I reached the billing department I was relieved to see a woman already sitting behind the desk, with no line waiting to speak with her. She smiled as I approached.

"Hello! How can I help you?"

"Hi, I actually have a question about what I owe after my insurance covers my hospital stay."

"Of course. Well, for starters, how long were you here?"

"I stayed the night and had an ambulance ride in." The woman, whose name I still hadn't caught, jotted down a few notes, nodding as she did.

"Okay, no problem, who is your insurance provider?"

I fished around in my purse and dug out my insurance card for her. She looked at it and, after asking, made a copy for their records.

"Well, most insurance offices aren't open on the weekends, but I'll work on it right away tomorrow morning. I'd be happy to take a look and get this figured out for you. I'm aware most insurance companies do not cover ambulance rides, but we'll take a look to make sure."

"Wonderful, here's my number," I said, scribbling down my cell on a piece of paper and handing it to her. "Oh, and I actually have a favor to ask of you as well … " I paused, waiting for her to fill in her name.

She smiled and replied, "Amber."

"Amber. Well, I'm wondering if you could not tell Richard about this."

Her head cocked slightly to the side. "Richard?" she asked, the confusion obvious in her tone.

"Oh, I'm sorry, Dr. Richard Michaels. He is my fiancé, but I'd really rather he didn't know anything about this."

With relief she nodded knowingly. "Of course, I'll only speak about this matter with you."

"Thank you," I said, feeling a hint of relief that at least Richard wouldn't feel the sudden financial burden of being tied to me.

I pulled out my phone and sent a quick text to Kacie, letting her know if Richard asks that she brought me home. I hopped in a cab and rode home to my loving fiancé to spend the day snuggled up in his arms.





"Baby, you don't really have to go to work, do you?" I whined while Richard tied the navy blue tie around his neck. His lips pulled into a smile as he looked back to where I sat on the bed.

"I do, darling, but I must say you are very tempting right now." I looked down at my knee-length socks, oversized t-shirt that stopped right below my bum, strategically showing just a little bit of my lace panties.

My fingers took hold of the very bottom of my shirt and, tantalizingly slow, began to raise it up over my stomach. Richard's fingers stopped moving around his tie, his eyebrow cocked as he turned to stare at my bare skin. 

"You're not playing fair, Greyson."

I shook my long hair for effect and my gaze intensified. "I know," my voice came out in a seductive whisper.

His eyes continued to caress my curves, but he didn't come any closer. "I really have to go, darling. There's a meeting right away this morning that I just cannot miss."

Immediately, I felt my entire disposition pout. Of course I knew work was extremely important, but I couldn't help hoping that every now and again a toe-curling love-making session could take priority.

Richard closed the space between us and cupped my face in his hands.

"Don't be sad, my beautiful girl." Very softly his lips touched my forehead, nose and mouth. "We have all night to be together," he purred into my ear. Chills ran up and down my spine, making me officially hate Richard's job.

Instead of acting like the pouty six-year old I was feeling like, I sucked it up and gave him a reassuring smile. "I'll be here, baby."

I followed him to the front door, wished him a good day and kissed him goodbye. This was a life I knew I could see myself getting used to. There was just something that made my heart flutter when I thought of Richard coming home to me that made everything seem perfect. This was my life. I was blessed with great friends, a growing business and the best man a girl could ever want. It wasn't often that all the dark thoughts were completely blacked out, but for now I felt the true beauty in the life I had made.

Technically I was supposed to be at work this morning, but because of Richard and Kacie, I was "not allowed," according to them. The injuries I had sustained weren't as bad as they were making it out to be. Sure my ankle still hurt, but it was more sore than anything. Quite honestly it was my hip that hurt the most. But I didn't argue with them about staying home, because truthfully, I could use a serious mental health day. With my emotions and memories all over the place it was time to rein them in and really get myself back on track. So this day would be one of pure relaxation and I couldn't be happier.