Chapter 19

This was darn near close to the most embarrassing thing to ever happen to her. And there were a lot of moments on that list.

The family surrounded Camryn's ER bed, fighting and carrying on, her hospital gown left her rearend hanging wide open for the free world to see, and her doctor looked like he should be doing pelvic thrusts on a wet bar, not practicing medicine. Add in the fact that Troy refused to leave the room, including when they'd undressed her, and she had the cherry atop the ice cream sundae from hell.

They were awaiting x-ray results before discharge. Thankfully, she didn’t need stitches. The cut on the back of her head was small. The doctor had assured them, Troy several times due to him freaking out, that head wounds bleed a lot, even minor injuries.

By the time Troy had been grating on her very last nerve, he'd plopped in a chair in the corner and shut up. Next time, she’d push him off a horse.

“You’re lucky you don’t need stitches, young lady.” This from Mom. Because Camryn had done this all on purpose. “What would your hair look like for the wedding?”

She knew it was her mom's worry showing, but still. Camryn didn't appreciate the "concern" just now.

“At least something good came from this,” Baba proclaimed. “Have you seen her doctor?”

Oh God. Baba was going to hit on the ER physician. Perfect. Just perfect.

Kuma Viola opened a cabinet door and closed it. “Never mind the doctor. Have you seen those slipper socks they give you in the hospital? I just love those.”

And now they could add theft. Lovely.

The doctor strode into the room wearing light blue scrubs and an uncomfortable expression while holding her x-rays. He uncomfortably wove around the family to get to Camryn's bedside. He set an amazing pair of blue eyes on her that contradicted his black as ebony hair. Wide jaw dusted with scruff and high cheekbones only emphasized his rogue appearance. “Okay, nothing is broken. Pelvis, neck, and spine are intact. You do have a minor concussion, so take it easy for the next twenty-four hours. Have someone wake you every couple of hours tonight. It would be a good idea to stay in bed tomorrow. No rigorous activity like exercise…”

Baba snorted.

“…or sex.”

Yjaka Harold laughed. “Hear that Troy? None for you tonight.”

“Cam wouldn’t know rigorous sex if it bit her in the ass,” Baba huffed. “But her doctor on the other hand…” She pinched his butt, causing the poor man to jump.

Camryn closed her eyes in mortification as the ER staff spontaneously broke out into song and dance. The nurses climbed on top of the station outside her room and kicked their legs in chorus. Doctors stripped off their white coats, twirling stethoscopes around their fingers and blinking the otoscope light lenses in harmony. Just as they were hitting the peak crescendo, her doctor interrupted.

“Ibuprofen is okay for pain. If you have any nausea or memory loss, come right back in. Do you have any questions?”

Are you sure you can’t admit my family to the psych ward for observation?

“Nope. Can I go now?”

He nodded. “I’ll get your discharge instructions ready.” He glanced around the room, looking like a five-year-old who'd just wet himself. “You can get dressed now.”

“Well, at least she won’t be wearing a cast in the wedding photos,” Tetaka Myrtle said, then belched. Loudly.

Troy rose slowly, body rigid and teeth bared. A calm before the storm. Camryn hadn’t witnessed him in rage mode often, it took a lot for him to get upset, but he was about to blow. Before Camryn could open her mouth to intercept, he got the jump on her.

“She could’ve been killed! She could’ve been paralyzed, and you’re worried about wedding pictures? If not for her, Emily would be a patient, too.”

A second passed where his voice reverberated off the walls and everyone stared.

Heather clapped her hands. “Out, everyone. Before Troy goes postal. Enough for one day. Come on. Let Cam get dressed.”

There was that halo again, popping over Heather’s head.

The family exited the room in silence.

Troy pinched the bridge of his nose and exhaled. Hard. He stared down at Camryn with an expression she’d never seen from him before. After studying at her for several moments, he pivoted and flopped sideways on the foot of her bed in a clear adrenalin crash.

“I thought I was going to kill them. How’s that for wedding photos? No one would be alive. We’d have to prop them up like mannequins.”

She grinned. “They were just worried. You know them. They treat everything like an apocalypse.”

He turned his head and looked her a long beat. “I’ve never been that scared in my life. I’m so glad you’re okay.”

Her chest swelled, making it hard to breathe. “I should have a t-shirt made. ‘I visited a Boulder ER and all I got was this lousy shirt.’”

Frowning, he sat up and glared at her. “You pick now to grow a funny bone?”

If only he knew. She shrugged. “At least I saved you from having to ride the horse back to the stables.”

“Dear God, you are trying to be funny. You hit your noggin harder than I thought.” He shook his head. “If I ever see you on a horse again, it’ll be too soon.”

“May I remind you, if you hadn’t been flirting with a pretty blonde farm girl, this never would’ve happened.”

His gaze shot to his hands as his throat worked a swallow.

Darn it. She’d gone too far. Her stomach sank. She reached for his arm, but he rose and stepped away.

“I’ll leave you alone so you can get dressed. I’ll meet you outside.”

Shoot. “Troy, I was only kidding…”

But he was gone.