released from the facility
for the night. Dr. Wilson and I had concerns about him being placed back in
this environment, however, without even being through his first ten days of
therapy. This is highly unusual. ”
Zane broke in, staring at me. “ I suggested that they send a staff
member with me. Someone who could pose as my date for the event, but still help
keep me on the straight and narrow. I suggested maybe you could do it since you ’ d be off work in time. ”
“ But
then Ms. Dantes said it requires a considerable bit more time to prep you for
such an event, ” Dr. Bentley added. “ If you ’ re willing, they ’ ve offered to pay you an additional
day's wage if you ’ re willing to leave work and go
with them. ”
I couldn ’ t believe this. Zane had somehow
managed to set up some pseudo-date for us right under the noses of everyone and
he was looking pleased as punch about it. Not only that, if I said no, I ’ d seem like a complete and total
uncaring ass.
“ What
about my other patients? ” I asked, knowing I had many
other duties than just the ones revolving around Zane.
“ They ’ re all taken care of, ” Dr. Bentley replied. “ One of the other nurses picked up
your morning rounds and one of the weekend nurses is coming in to cover the
rest of the day. ”
For the life of me, I couldn ’ t seem to grasp any other straws
that might save me from this. My mind was drawing a complete blank. “ It appears you have it all figured
out. ” I wasn ’ t sure how I felt about all this
being done without even asking me first.
“ So
you ’ ll do it? ” Zane asked, and I swore he was
holding his breath.
“ I
guess so. ” I didn ’ t have much of a choice.
He didn ’ t even try to hide his grin. “ Thank you. ”
Dear lord, that smile. It should be registered as a
lethal weapon it was so infectious. It was a crime how much joy seeing it
brought me. I didn ’ t want to think about that, though.
“ You
owe me, ” I said, feeling a smile niggle at
the corner of my lips in spite of myself. Plus, I didn ’ t want to look like a complete
jerk. “ Big time. ”
“ I
do, ” he agreed immediately, and
something in his eyes suggested we weren ’ t talking about the same thing
anymore. “ You name it — anything — it ’ s
yours. ”
Eyeing him, I realized he was completely sincere. “ Hmm. I ’ ll have to think on it and make it
something really good. ” Everyone in the room
chuckled. They were obviously unaware of the past tension between us. “ So what ’ s the plan from here? ” I asked, not knowing what else to
do.
“ I
turn you over into the capable hands of Ms. Dantes, ” Dr. Bentley said with a smile. “ You have the rest of the day off. ”
The woman mentioned, stood, and extended her hand to
me. “ It ’ s
nice to meet you, Ms. Hart. ”
“ You,
too. ”
“ Why
don ’ t you go grab whatever things you
need, and we will meet you at Z ’ s room. ”
“ All
right. It ’ ll only take me a minute. ” I stood, nodding at the others. “ See you soon. ”
Nervously sitting in the limousine, I stared at the
others accompanying me, not really sure what to say. I felt totally out of my
element. I ’ d taken a few moments to call my
mom and asked if she could let Dustin spend the night with them tonight. I told
her I had to work late, but I would call her later to fill her in on the
details. I still didn ’ t officially have permission from
anyone yet to tell her about Zane.
“ Um,
I have a question, ” I finally said, unsure of
whom to address it to, so I glanced between the three of them. “ I can ’ t
break patient confidentiality, but I ’ m pretty sure my parents might
freak out if they suddenly see me on television or something. Is there some way
I can tell them what is going on, so they aren ’ t
shocked by anything? ”
“ Tell
them anything they want to know, ” Zane spoke up, before anyone
else could.
Penelope shuffled restlessly, glancing
for the night. Dr. Wilson and I had concerns about him being placed back in
this environment, however, without even being through his first ten days of
therapy. This is highly unusual. ”
Zane broke in, staring at me. “ I suggested that they send a staff
member with me. Someone who could pose as my date for the event, but still help
keep me on the straight and narrow. I suggested maybe you could do it since you ’ d be off work in time. ”
“ But
then Ms. Dantes said it requires a considerable bit more time to prep you for
such an event, ” Dr. Bentley added. “ If you ’ re willing, they ’ ve offered to pay you an additional
day's wage if you ’ re willing to leave work and go
with them. ”
I couldn ’ t believe this. Zane had somehow
managed to set up some pseudo-date for us right under the noses of everyone and
he was looking pleased as punch about it. Not only that, if I said no, I ’ d seem like a complete and total
uncaring ass.
“ What
about my other patients? ” I asked, knowing I had many
other duties than just the ones revolving around Zane.
“ They ’ re all taken care of, ” Dr. Bentley replied. “ One of the other nurses picked up
your morning rounds and one of the weekend nurses is coming in to cover the
rest of the day. ”
For the life of me, I couldn ’ t seem to grasp any other straws
that might save me from this. My mind was drawing a complete blank. “ It appears you have it all figured
out. ” I wasn ’ t sure how I felt about all this
being done without even asking me first.
“ So
you ’ ll do it? ” Zane asked, and I swore he was
holding his breath.
“ I
guess so. ” I didn ’ t have much of a choice.
He didn ’ t even try to hide his grin. “ Thank you. ”
Dear lord, that smile. It should be registered as a
lethal weapon it was so infectious. It was a crime how much joy seeing it
brought me. I didn ’ t want to think about that, though.
“ You
owe me, ” I said, feeling a smile niggle at
the corner of my lips in spite of myself. Plus, I didn ’ t want to look like a complete
jerk. “ Big time. ”
“ I
do, ” he agreed immediately, and
something in his eyes suggested we weren ’ t talking about the same thing
anymore. “ You name it — anything — it ’ s
yours. ”
Eyeing him, I realized he was completely sincere. “ Hmm. I ’ ll have to think on it and make it
something really good. ” Everyone in the room
chuckled. They were obviously unaware of the past tension between us. “ So what ’ s the plan from here? ” I asked, not knowing what else to
do.
“ I
turn you over into the capable hands of Ms. Dantes, ” Dr. Bentley said with a smile. “ You have the rest of the day off. ”
The woman mentioned, stood, and extended her hand to
me. “ It ’ s
nice to meet you, Ms. Hart. ”
“ You,
too. ”
“ Why
don ’ t you go grab whatever things you
need, and we will meet you at Z ’ s room. ”
“ All
right. It ’ ll only take me a minute. ” I stood, nodding at the others. “ See you soon. ”
Nervously sitting in the limousine, I stared at the
others accompanying me, not really sure what to say. I felt totally out of my
element. I ’ d taken a few moments to call my
mom and asked if she could let Dustin spend the night with them tonight. I told
her I had to work late, but I would call her later to fill her in on the
details. I still didn ’ t officially have permission from
anyone yet to tell her about Zane.
“ Um,
I have a question, ” I finally said, unsure of
whom to address it to, so I glanced between the three of them. “ I can ’ t
break patient confidentiality, but I ’ m pretty sure my parents might
freak out if they suddenly see me on television or something. Is there some way
I can tell them what is going on, so they aren ’ t
shocked by anything? ”
“ Tell
them anything they want to know, ” Zane spoke up, before anyone
else could.
Penelope shuffled restlessly, glancing
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