"We're here to visit Mary Lou Parkinson," Sebastian said.
It took the receptionist a good five seconds to realize her mouth was hanging open. Finally, she came back to reality and began to search on her computer. "Mary Lou Parkinson is in room two hundred and three. Just go down the hall and to the left."
A rush of excitement went through Emmy when she realized she was going to see her friend. "Thank God nothing happened to her during the night."
"What, did you think a charging rhinoceros was going to spear her with its horn?" Sebastian asked teasingly.
"No, smart aleck." She elbowed him. "But there could be an allergic reaction to her medication. Stranger things have happened, you know."
For example, the appearance of werewolves was pretty damn strange.
"You know what, I think you're right." Sebastian took her hand as they walked.
She was silent all the way until she reached Mary Lou's room. When they stopped, she saw that Sebastian's grin was gone. Instead his eyes were distant, and she had the feeling that he was a million miles away. It was not an expression that Emmy liked seeing, especially after everything that had happened.
Emmy tugged on his sleeve. "Okay, what's wrong?"
"I think I'm going to give you and Mary Lou some privacy." Sebastian took a step back.
"But why?"
"Because I have something I need to do," he said.
The words were like a knife to the heart. Hadn't he promised her no more secrets? "You said that you weren't going to be secretive anymore. I can't believe that you're doing this to me again."
This time, she wasn't sure she could handle it if he was hiding something awful.
"Listen to me, sweetheart." Sebastian cupped her cheeks. "This isn't like before. I have a surprise for you, that's all."
She raised an eyebrow. "A surprise? What kind of surprise?"
"If I told you, then it wouldn't be a surprise anymore, would it?" Sebastian snorted.
Her face hardened. "I think I've had more surprises than I can stand."
"But this one is good." Sebastian laid a kiss on her lips. "And I think you're going to like it very, very much."
"I don't know." She swallowed.
Instead of backing away, Sebastian pecked her lips again. His warm mouth brushing against hers was enough to convince her to do anything. She would have jumped into a lake for him. She would have cut out her own liver for him. Maybe she would have shared a chocolate croissant with him. Oh, hell, that was going too far. She wouldn't share her chocolate croissant, but she'd do everything else.
"Give me thirty minutes." Sebastian peered deep into her eyes.
She crossed her arms stubbornly. "I'll give you fifteen."
"Twenty-five."
"Twenty," she said.
His grin widened. "Done."
"And don't you dare be a minute late." She prodded his chest. "What if something happens while I'm here without you?"
"Nothing is going to happen." He kissed her forehead. "But I'll be fast anyway."
"When will I find out what this mysterious surprise is?" She studied him.
"Tonight," he said.
Okay, now she was curious. "And you won't tell me anything more than that?"
"Not a damn thing." His lip quirked. "You, sweetheart, are going to have to sweat it out."
"Oh, goody, just what I've always wanted to hear," she said.
He shrugged. "I'm the ultimate romantic; what can I say?"
"You're also the ultimate jerk." She pinched his arm.
"Ouch." He rubbed his arm, feigning injury. "Oh, the agonies of loving a woman with a temper."
"Ha, ha, ha." She rolled her eyes. "Go get your damn surprise already."
"Mmmm." Sebastian patted her rear end. "And you go keep Mary Lou company."
Before she could say anything more, Sebastian gave her one last kiss before leaving. After he walked down the hall, she cursed.
"Cripes, couldn't he have waited a little while?" Emmy was still nervous about being left behind, even for a few minutes. Still at least she could visit Mary Lou.
Feeling a lot less excited now and a lot more apprehensive, she opened the door to Mary Lou's room and headed inside. Mary Lou was resting in bed with a blanket on top of her. The woman's lips were thin and her wrinkles were prominent because she wore no makeup. She was in a white hospital gown, which looked a hell of a lot different than her usual eccentric garb.
With a sigh, she grabbed her friend's hand, wishing that the woman was awake. Still it wasn't like she could shake her. The woman was injured.
"Poor Mary Lou." She sighed.
Emmy hung her head and fell silent. At that moment, the woman's hand jerked and her eyes flew open.