Her Hometown Hero(4)

"I promise you that I'm virtually unscathed despite all the drama. And  nothing could possibly make me feel better than some of your special hot  chocolate and a full night's rest." Sage was desperate to get out of  this bed and out of this hospital. She'd be here plenty beginning next  week, when her residency began. At least due to this experience she'd be  more understanding when her patients began feeling restless. Maybe all  medical staff should have to be patients before treating anyone.

"Of course, darling, if you really think you're safe to leave, then I'll  take good care of you. Eileen, Maggie, and I can take shifts so you  aren't alone for a single minute."

Still, Bethel didn't look reassured. Sage would have to try really hard  not to wince as she was leaving. The thought of her grandma, Maggie, and  Eileen hovering over her nonstop was enough to send her blood pressure  shooting through the roof. Hardly the best way to get some rest.

The aches were starting to set in and she suspected that she'd have a  rough few days of it. But it wasn't as if she hadn't been sore before.  She'd just have to grit her teeth and bear it.

"Could you go ask the nurse about my clothes while I use the bathroom?"                       
       
           



       

"Certainly, sweetie. I'll be right back."

Bethel left the room and Sage climbed slowly from the bed. To her  surprise, she had to stand there gripping the bar on the side. Her head  had begun spinning, and the resulting nausea forced her to take several  deep breaths to avoid passing out. When the nausea went away and she  took her first steps, pain sliced down her spine. Nope. The next few  days weren't going to be fun. At least her residency didn't start for a  week.

That would give her plenty of time to study up on her specialty,  emergency medicine, while she was recuperating. She was actually looking  forward to it. When it came to books, Sage was a pro. She had an  incredible memory, which in medical school, at least, was an advantage.  In love, not so much.

But there was no time to dwell on romance, or in her case, lack of  romance. She'd signed up for years of school and continuing education  when she'd decided to be a doctor. She didn't regret that decision. It  was just that seeing her old crush after all these years was messing  with her head.

No. It couldn't be that. Her head must still be foggy from the wreck.  Yes, that was it, she assured herself. Her grandmother returned promptly  and handed her the clothes, then gave her privacy as she put them on  very, very slowly.

Home, hot chocolate, and bed. That was all she needed. Sure it was, her  mind said mockingly, but Sage quickly shut off that traitorous thought  and then sat and waited for her grandmother's return. In a few days  she'd be right as rain . . .





"I can't believe you've been in town for two days already and you haven't called me. I thought I was your best friend."

The ridiculously beautiful Grace Sinclair glared at Sage from the doorway of the small bedroom at her grandmother's house.

Rest just wasn't going to happen, not with what felt like everyone she'd  ever met since moving here at the age of four showing up and wishing  her well. If one more person held her hand and told her how sorry they  were, she'd give them a reason to be sorry. All right, she could admit  how petty and unappreciative that sounded, and she was thankful that  she'd never said such a thing aloud.

"It's so great to see you, Grace. I can't believe it's been almost a  year," Sage said, guilt consuming her that she'd let so much time go by  without even a phone call to her dearest friend. "I guess the only  excuse I can come up with is the last year of medical school was  grueling and I barely found time to breathe, much less speak to anyone  outside of the classroom."

"I don't care about any of that. I've just missed you like crazy,  darling. I can't believe, number one, that you were moving back home and  didn't bother telling me, and then, number two, that you get in a  near-fatal car crash and still don't feel I'm worth a phone call."  Grace's long fingers sat stiffly on her shapely hips, and her dark brown  eyes shot fire.

"I was planning on calling you soon, but last I heard, you were still in  New York," Sage said, hoping she looked apologetic enough to appease  her friend.

"I moved home a couple of months ago," Grace told her, her shoulders  slumping as she entered the room and plopped down on the mattress, just  as she'd always done when they were girls.

"What? Why? I thought you loved it there. Whenever we talked, you said  New York was a place people came to and never left, and that's where you  were determined to stay."

"Yeah, that's what I thought, too, but you know, life just happens,  whether we want it to or not," Grace said with a sadness in her eyes  that Sage couldn't recall seeing before.

"It looks like we should have talked a long time ago." Sage reached out  and took her hand-Grace seemed to be the one who really needed comfort.

"Yes, we should have-not because my life went to hell, but because we're  best friends and we should never forget it. I love you, Sage, more than  any other person in the world, and I've missed you so much." Grace  pushed her long, dark hair behind her ear.

"I've really missed you, too. Does this mean that we're actually living  in the same place again for the first time in eight years? We're going  to get to see each other for longer than three days?"

"Yes, that's exactly what it means. I know this is probably the last  place in the United States that you wanted to do your residency, but I'm  so glad you're here," Grace said, then pushed Sage farther over to make  space for herself on the bed.

Sage hardly noticed the aching in her body. It was just so nice to be  with her best friend again. What idiots they'd been to let so much time  pass!                       
       
           



       

"I didn't want to come back, but now that I know you're here, Grace, I'm  feeling a lot better about the decision. Okay, enough moaning and  groaning. Tell me everything you've been up to. If I recall, the last  time we talked, you were dating some hot Italian guy, and you already  had your future children's names picked out."

"Ah yes, Vincenzo," she said a little dreamily. "That boy was incredible, and I mean with a capital I," she added with a giggle.

"Why do I hear a but coming in?"

"But . . ." Grace said with a wicked smile. "He was only incredible in  one area, if you catch my drift." She gasped to see Sage's cheeks turn  scarlet. "Oh my gosh, Sage. Are you seriously still a virgin?"

Was it written on her forehead? She didn't want to admit it to her  gorgeous, successful, charming best friend. Guys fell all over  themselves simply to be in Grace's presence. It wasn't like that with  her. They'd run into her, literally, before they even knew she was  standing there. It was mortifying.

"That's it! I'm taking you to Vegas, dressing you in my shortest,  tightest outfit, and we're going clubbing. You'll star in a regular orgy  before the night is over!"

Was she kidding? Frighteningly enough, Sage wasn't sure.

"Yes, I'm kidding, Sage. You can put away the deer-in-headlights eyes  now. Seriously, have you looked in a mirror lately? You're an utter  knockout with those green eyes, flaming red hair, and curves that could  cause a pileup. Why don't you exploit your natural assets a little more?  Some of us have to work a lot harder to look as beautiful as you."

"You have got to be kidding me, Grace. You've always been the most  stunning woman in the room. How in the world can you say that? Now I  really have to know what in the heck went on in New York."

Her own insecurity was forgotten as she looked at Grace with new eyes.  Who was this woman? What had happened to her best friend? And more  important, would Sage have to hunt down the Italian lover and spike his  cocktail with arsenic? Wait! She was a doctor. She could dig up methods  less easily traceable, and make it look like a natural death.

"I promise at some point to tell you all about New York . . . I do-I  swear," Grace added when Sage looked at her doubtfully. "But right now,  only happy thoughts are allowed. Please tell me you aren't still  guarding the V card."

Yep, that was the Grace she knew, not pulling any punches, coming right  to the point. "There hasn't been anyone worth giving it to, Grace."

"Oh, honey, at some point, you just have to get it over with. If you  have these high expectations, and I know you do, you could be lonely  forever. Sometimes it's okay to have a little fun. As long as you don't  act like Heidi Benson and give it to the whole world."