So Toxic(Bad Boy Next Door Book 4)(52)
“Can you tell me how my wife is? She’s the one in all the white lace.”
The woman’s smile is the practiced sort, the kind people put on when they don’t want you to know what they’re really thinking. “I’m sure she’s being well taken care of. Someone will give you an update as soon as possible.”
I scoot off the bed and stand. Stepping by the woman, I leave the small exam space, holding my right arm close to my body to protect it from getting bumped.
“JoJo? Are you here? Jo Jordan?” I go around the horseshoe-shaped room, pushing curtains aside with my good arm, checking behind each.
The nurse follows. “Sir, I need you to go to your bed. You can’t disturb all of our patients.”
I turn to her. “I need to know how my wife is. They took her away on a stretcher, in a different ambulance than me. I haven’t seen her since I got here.”
“I understand that you’re worried, sir. I promise she’s getting the best care possible.” She takes my good arm, guiding me to my bed.
A few minutes later, Dad sweeps the curtain aside, the lines on his face unusually deep. “Hey. How’re you doing?”
“I need to know what’s going on with Jo. Can you find someone who knows something?”
He places his hand on my shin. “I’m sure she’s fine. I want to know how you are.”
“Masters? Tyson Masters, where are you?” Jake’s voice comes through the flimsy barrier that hangs between my space and the nurses’ station.
Dad pulls open the curtain. “He’s here.”
Jake and Terri file in, followed by my mother.
My stress level shoots from an eight to a ten.
Great.
I ask, “Don’t they limit the number of people they’ll let into the emergency room with a patient?”
Jake grins. “I told them I’m your brother. Terri, here, is your aunt.”
Mother scowls. “You people and your lies. You shouldn’t be here. Ty is our son and—”
I raise my voice over hers. “I need to know how my wife is doing. Can someone please find out?”
“How could you not tell me you were getting married? I’m so hurt.” Mother slaps the bottom of my foot. “Your father went out to pick up some milk and was gone for hours. Then he calls and tells me to meet him here.”
Dad’s gaze darts around as he rocks on his heels, arms folded in front of him.
“I told him not to.” I let out a sigh. “You didn’t exactly make a good impression on Jo when you called her a wetback and a whore.”
Mother gasps. “Well, pardon me if I call it like I see it.”
My entire body tenses as I grind my teeth. “Out. Someone get her out!”
Dad ushers my protesting mother to the waiting room.
“Why the hell did you call them?” I ask Jake.
Terri raises her hand. “That was me. Sorry. I didn’t know.”
“So, what’d they say?” Jake asks, probably to take the heat off Terri.
“I’ve been poked and prodded, examined, and x-rayed. Now I have to wait for the doctor to tell me what’s going on. But I don’t give a shit about how I’m doing. I want to know what’s going on with Jo.”
The same nurse comes in, followed by a doctor. Neither looks like they’re coming to tell me good news.
“Jo? How’s my wife? Did you find out anything?”
The doctor, a tall guy with graying hair, gives me a tight smile. “I’m Dr. Meyer. You have a fractured clavicle. Luckily, it’s not a bad break, so you won’t need surgery. There isn’t a lot to be done except to wear a sling, take it easy, and allow it a few weeks to heal.”
“But what about Jo?”
“Deena is going to get a sling for you. And you’ll need to give her the information she needs to fill out these forms.”
The pressure of frustration builds in my chest.
I shoot to my feet and raise my voice. “I don’t give a shit about forms, or my fucking collarbone. I need to know how my wife is.”
The man steps back, hands in front of him. “Mr. Masters, I’m afraid we don’t have definitive news about your wife. The problem we're dealing with is that she’s not regained consciousness and isn’t responding to outside stimuli. There is positive news in that her vitals are fine and both pupils are equal, neither showing any sign of inter-cranial bleeding. Also, she’s breathing on her own. She did sustain some minor abrasions and has a laceration on the right side of her head, but those should heal, barring complications. She’s having an MRI now to check for other injuries.”
“But she’s going to be okay, right? She’ll wake up and be fine.”