The Arrangement Anthology 2(111)
The nurse doesn’t move. A high-pitched noise comes out of her mouth, and I’m sure she’s going to pass out.
Trystan continues, leaning in, saying the horrible words softly. “The thing is, we’re both friends of the family. If he’s not going to make it, please give her the chance to say goodbye.”
An older heavyset nurse with dark skin and bright red lips is frowning at him. She finally stands, scolding the blonde nurse, causing her to snap back to life and rush off. Meany Nurse shakes her head. “Just because you’re a celebrity you think you can go around breaking rules? Well, you can’t. Not here. I’m the charge nurse and I say no.” It’s clear she thinks Trystan leads an easy life—if she only knew.
Trystan smirks and leans forward on the counter, his hair dripping onto her papers. “Listen,” he whispers, “I know people here that could make your life so much easier. Plus, I’ve managed to hide…” his voice drops so low that I can’t hear him. The nurse and Trystan glance at me. “She can’t know.”
The nurse’s gaze flicks down Trystan’s bare chest. He’s wearing an old leather jacket that’s soaked. When she raises her eyes, she nods and lifts her hand to press the button to let us through the door. The thing buzzes and when he turns to look at me, his relief is evident.
“Come on.”
A familiar face is standing on the opposite side of the doors, her face white as paper. “Trystan?”
Chapter 2
“Mari,” I say her name and thank God there wasn’t someone else standing there.
“Avery?” She glances at me and then returns her gaze to Trystan. It looks like someone punched her in the stomach.
Trystan turns toward her slowly, his shoulders tense and his eyes widen. Before she can see, he grabs the ring hanging around his neck and yanks it off, breaking the chain, and shoves it in his pocket. Either he grabbed it before coming here or it was in his pocket during the show. The poser smile he wears too often appears as he resumes his normal slacker stance. “Dr. Jennings, how are you this evening?”
She swallows hard and even with everything that’s happened tonight, I can put it together. This is the woman that Trystan’s in love with, the woman he’s mourning. She’s also the woman who helped Sean and me when Logan wouldn’t—I like her. Did I sleep with her Trystan? I shiver at the thought.
Trystan notices and hands me his jacket. I take it to cover my scantily clad body, but it leaves him bare-chested. Someone gasps, and it sounds a little too orgasmic. That’s when a tall, beautiful man walks by and stops in his tracks. His gaze locks on Trystan, and narrows instantly. His voice drips with malice, “You.” It’s clear that he hates Trystan, too.
Trystan holds up his hands and steps back like he’s trying to avoid a fight. “He saved her. Don’t do this, Logan.”
“Sean almost died because of you!” the man steps toward Trystan. He’s obviously a Ferro, despite the lack of introduction. The way he walks, his stance, the way he hates Trystan reminds me of Sean. Under other circumstances, I’d wonder why the Ferro Family hates Trystan—well, all except Bryan and Jon—but I latch onto something else, instead.
“Sean’s alive?” I gasp. My hands fly to my mouth and I swallow a sob.
The man in the lab coat and scrubs glares at me. Trystan makes introductions. “Logan Ferro, Avery Stanz. This is Bryan’s brother and Sean’s cousin. You can see the crazed resemblance, plus he’s got that Ferro arrogance they wear so well. Wouldn’t you say so, Dr. Jennings?” He glances at her, but Mari’s lost her ability to speak. Her eyes lock with his and she stares at him like she’s seeing a ghost.
Logan sneers at me, but answers. “Yes, he was fucking lucky.” He stares at me for a moment and then adds, “You don’t belong here. You’re not family and I can’t say that Sean is asking for you. Actually, he said the opposite.”
“What?” I can’t breathe. Sean doesn’t want to see me? Pain grips me from the inside and I nearly double over with the shock of it.
“Avery,” Mari starts to say softly, trying to comfort me. “He’s been through a lot tonight, and many people say things they don’t mean. Don’t take it to heart.”
I wouldn’t, but there’s no other way to take it. Nodding slowly, I tell them, “The last time he was in the ER, he ripped out his IV and left. If he needs to stay, make sure he’s medicated, because if he can walk, he’s leaving.” I hope Dr. Ferro will tell me if Sean can walk, but he says nothing. The man stares at me like I’m the devil.