Spencer Cohen Series, Book Three (The Spencer Cohen Series 3) by N.R. Walker Page B

let me help you,” Andrew said, putting his hand on my shoulder.
    “You wanna hold it for me?”
    He laughed. “Don’t think they’ll appreciate that.”
    “I’m fine,” I assured him, getting to my feet and manoeuvring my IV pole with me. “I can get up.”
    He bit his lip.
    “Not that,” I said with a snort. “Well, I can get that up too, but I’d rather not have a piss-on when the doctor comes in.”
    “A piss-on?”
    “Like a hard-on, but just morning and a full bladder, you know how it is?” I walked over to the private bathroom door, wheeling my saline drip with me. “Can you see my arse through this gown?”
    “Ah, yes.”
    I wiggled my arse. “Good.” I closed the door behind me, relieved my bladder, then washed my hands and my face. Hospitals always made me feel dirty. I stood with my back to the door so Andrew would have a perfect view of my arse and reaching behind me, I opened the door. “You know, these gowns could come in handy. We should see if I can take this home.”
    Only Andrew didn’t laugh. Sarah did. Really loudly. I spun around. Andrew slowly put his hands over his face, Sarah was now bent over silent-laughing, Andrew’s parents, who were holding drinks and food, were both trying not to laugh, and the doctor rose one eyebrow and nodded slowly before saying, “I think you can keep it.”
    I’m pretty sure I was bright red from my head to my feet. My voice squeaked, “I didn’t know… God, I’m really sorry.”
    “I take it you’re feeling better?” the doctor asked.
    “Much.” Still not making eye contact with anyone in the room, I walked around them and sat on the bed, making sure everything was duly covered. “Can I go home, please? I’d much rather die of embarrassment there.”
    A nurse breezed in, removed my IV line without so much as a word, and when she was done, the doc’s expression went from amused to serious. He gave me a lecture about severe allergies, like I didn’t know, and he gave me the nod to be discharged. “Like I said last night, I’d prefer you weren’t left alone for 48 hours. And you need to come back at the first sign of dizziness or nausea, shortness of breath, swelling.”
    “I can stay with him,” Andrew said.
    The doc smirked. “A nurse will be around with the paperwork. Just don’t let her catch you stealing the gown.”
    “I was joking about that. I’m really very sorry,” I mumbled as fresh waves of embarrassment rolled through me.
    The doctor left, and Andrew was the first to laugh. He clapped his hands together and rocked up on his toes. “Well, now that everyone’s seen your backside.” I threw the pillow at him. It was like a brick. I hoped it hurt, but he caught it easily.
    “Here you go, my dear,” Helen said, handing me a white takeout cup. “Green tea. Andrew told me what to order. And there’s pastries as well.”
    Allan held out the bag he was holding. “No shellfish. I asked.”
    I smiled as I took a sip of my tea. It was heavenly. “Thank you. Thank you all, for everything. For the tea, for saving my life yesterday, for pretending I didn’t show you my backside. And for telling them we were related so Andrew could stay.”
    Helen smiled. “Ah yes, it’s not exactly lying when it’s acting. And I can still give quite the credible performance. No one questioned me.”
    “Well, thank you. I appreciate it.”
    “After yesterday, it’s the least we could do,” Allan said.
    “I don’t blame anyone,” I told them. “These things happen.” No one looked convinced at all. So I sipped my tea again and released a sigh. “This is great tea. Thank you.”
    Andrew sat on the bed, took a long drink of his coffee, and looked into the bag of pastries. He pulled out one and handed it to me. Then he picked one and bit into it. “Mmm, so much better than hospital food.”
    “Oh,” Sarah said. “Lola wants you to call her first thing.”
    I looked at Sarah. “Can you please hand me my phone? I don’t even