Caleb reached the elevator first, pushing the down button and turning to face me. He looked hot, of course, he always did. Even his youth corrections issued clothing hadn’t detracted from his flaming hotness. Although I was afraid of touching, there was no helping my looking.
His silence disturbed me. The doors slid open and we stepped inside, with me deliberately hugging the wall opposite him. Inside the elevator, he murmured, “This reminds me of my favorite elevator ride.”
Well, now it reminded me also of a hot guy saying filthy words and no objection from me at the time. “You don’t have to go with me to see my mom. I’m sure you have somewhere to be.”
“I need to talk to my dad anyway.”
I stared down at my flip flops, thinking of Caleb’s clothing. He wasn’t really a flip flops kind of guy. Even in June he wore jeans and boots with his t-shirt, a thick leather watch on one wrist. I’d noticed him checking out my legs, uncovered by the shorts I wore. It made me feel hunted.
With a ding, the doors opened and I rushed out. It was then I realized I didn’t know her assigned room number.
“214,” he said in my ear. “My dad texted it to me earlier.” He grabbed my hand, guiding me in the right direction.
The door stood open to 214 and Scott could be seen inside. “Hey,” I said to get his attention. I wasn’t sure what was going on with my mom and Scott. There were still feelings there, but they’d hurt each other. I winced inwardly at the comparison of Caleb and myself.
“Gianna,” Scott whispered, coming closer. “She’s asleep.”
I wanted to talk with her, let her know I was here. “Did they drug her?” My mom’s still form, a blanket pulled up to her waist and machines monitoring her, made me want to cry.
“No,” he said. “A nurse is waking her every so often because of her concussion.”
“When is the next time?” I asked, deciding I could wait for it.
Scott looked at his phone for the time. “Forty-seven minutes.”
“I’ll wait,” I told him, determined to speak with her.
“Did you eat?” Caleb asked at my back.
Scott perked up. “Could you two could run and get something?”
My dinner was interrupted and now that everything had settled down, I felt hungry again. And it would kill time until my mom woke. “What do you want?” I asked Scott.
He shrugged broad shoulders. “Hamburger, burrito, whatever is easiest.”
“There are a couple fast food places in the shopping center across from the hospital,” Caleb said.
Scott looked at his phone again before telling me, “Forty-six minutes.”
I pulled my own cell out, setting a timer. “We’ll be back before then.”
“Let’s go,” Caleb urged, stealing my hand in his again.
I yanked it away as soon as we were out of sight. “Quit doing that.”
His expression said I was the one with the problem. “Just offering comfort in your time of need.”
“What ever happened to you not wanting to see my deceitful face again?” I reminded him.
He laughed, his mood better than the last time we’d been alone. “You are a liar, gotta admit that much.”
“Where are you parked?” I asked once we were on the first floor.
“In the lot closest to the ER,” he said, walking ahead of me out the automatic sliding doors.
I trailed behind him, noticing his back looked incredibly muscular in the thin white t-shirt he wore. I wasn’t sure if I imagined it, but it looked like he was either wearing another shirt underneath or he’d gotten a new tattoo on his back. A very large one.
His walk was confident as usual, the blue jeans hugging his perfect behind, perversely irritating me. Must be nice to feel so sure of who you were and unafraid of where you were going in life. Even in juvie he hadn’t lost his swagger.
He opened the passenger door, appearing patient in his wait for me to slip inside. I purposely took my time. As he went around the hood to get behind the wheel, I scanned the inside of his Camaro. It had been months since my last trip in the vehicle. Resisting the many memories trying to bombard my mind, I instead texted Cece, Jared and Gage all at once to let them know about the accident.
Cece texted back immediately, her fingers as fast as her mouth. Do you need me to do anything?
My phone beeped with another message as I replied to Cece. Everything is fine now. Could you or Jared pick me up from the hospital in an hour?
Gage’s text said, Call me if you need to talk.
Jared’s came a moment later. Cece said you needed a ride. Which hospital?
Caleb started the car, snatching the phone from my grip. “What the heck?” I exclaimed. “Give it back!”