"Well, what I have to say can't wait. I've waited too damn long as it is.
Listen, I don't want you to freak out or anything, but I'm in the hospital-
as a patient, and I'm only a floor away from you. Can you come see me?"
Hunter asked Stephanie.
"Hunter, I-"
"I'm in Room-umm. 342? Yeah, that looks right. Can you tell me whatever it was that you were going to tell me up here? I really need to see you."
Oh, this was too much for her to take. He sounded so earnest, so innocent...but she knew better now, didn't she? He had told Stacy he was in love with her. It was bad enough they'd slept together, but she just couldn't deal with the fact that he'd actually been able to say those words to that woman. To any woman but her. Stephanie ground her teeth together. "You know what? No, I'm not coming. For the longest time you've been saying that all you want from me is for me to leave you alone. Well, guess what, you jerk, you're getting that wish! From now on, I don't want to talk to you, I don't want to see you, I don't want you near me. You called me a manipulative liar? Well, baby, I'm nothing, nothing compared to you!" Stephanie hung up the phone viciously.
On the other half of the newly disconnected line, Hunter stared down at the receiver in disbelief. What the--? He threw the phone across the room and pushed the nurse's call button. Susan came in a minute later.
"Susan? I need another favor. Can you get me out of here?" Hunter asked curtly.
"Of course, in a few days, you should be well enough to walk-"
"No! I mean now, right now. I need to get out of here."
"I'm sorry but that just isn't possible. You're in no condition to walk anywhere. I doubt you even could."
"Yeah? Watch me." Hunter threw off the blankets and swung his legs to the floor.
"Oh what the-" he cursed loudly. He couldn't even sit up, he fell backward. But a second later, he gripped the side of the bed and pushing himself against the wall, he managed to stand, despite Susan's horrified gasping and objections. Hunter gritted his teeth, but he'd survived worse pain than this..he'd survive this.
"No, no! You're going to kill yourself. Lay back down, I mean it, really!" Susan yelled.
"I'm not sitting back down, it took too much energy just to stand up. Now, look, I only need to go up one floor. Will you help me walk up there? I just need something to lean on." Hunter looked at Susan with his best pleading look, which wasn't hard because he felt like he was going to pass out.
Susan raised a hand to her mouth, horrified. "No, absolutely not. I'm getting orderlies to help you back in the bed."
"Look, unless you intend to strap me down to the damn bed, I'm just going to keep on getting back up. I just need to go talk to someone on the next floor, and when I'm done, I promise, I'll come right back here.I won't even move! Susan? Come on, what do you say?"
"Only one floor?" Susan said doubtfully.
"One little floor, that's it."
"Fine." Susan sighed reluctantly. "But you're going in a wheelchair. No arguments, or I will just strap you down to the bed."
"Why, Susan, I had no idea you were that kind of girl." Hunter said, smiling, relieved.
"You're incorrigible, you know that?"
"No, I'm cute and cuddly..that's why everyone loves me." Hunter quipped, his good spirits returning a tiny bit.
Susan laughed and went out for the wheelchair. Hunter eased himself along the wall toward the door. She came back in quickly, and he was only too happy to collapse in the chair.
"Ooh, feeling a bit of a draft there, Mr. Helmsley?"
Hunter ran his hand through his hair. It was useless to reach behind him to try and close the gown. Could this damn day get any better?
"Want a robe?" Susan offered.
"No.I've got nothing to be ashamed about.I've been told I've got a cute ass, too." He'd always refused to get embarrassed about stupid situations, and he was glad that was a personality trait of his.
"That you do.oh, man, I'm going to get fired if I say things like that. I'm getting the robe, I don't want our poor nurses tripping over themselves. You're a very dangerous man."
"Yeah, I'm lookin' real sexy in my hospital gown."
"You carry it off well. And how many men can say that?" Susan teased as she eased the robe around his shoulders, helping him sit up a bit to slip it on.
"Well, now that I look like a complete idiot, can we get going?" Hunter asked impatiently.
"Where exactly are we going?" Susan asked as she wheeled him toward the elevator.
"Up one floor, Room 235."
"And who's up there?"
"My ex-wife and her family."
"Oh.I see."
"It's.a long story, and it's very complicated. But I really need to talk to her."
"Yeah, I've gathered that." She pushed him out of the elevator and as they passed a gift shop, Hunter asked her to stop inside.
"We had a deal, Mr. Helmsley." Susan said firmly.
"I know.but really, it would help me out. Just one second allright?"
He was too gorgeous to say no to. Susan just knew she was going to get fired if the head nurse found out about this. She wheeled him in nonetheless. As he passed the "Congratulations! It's a Boy!" Teddy Bears and storks, Hunter felt himself grinning like a moron. Only six months, and he'd be wallowing in them, he couldn't wait.
Stephanie had been so irate on the phone, though.he wondered what the hell was going on. She sounded seriously angry with him, and for the life of him, he couldn't figure out why. But whatever it was, he was determined to get to the bottom of it.
"Susan? This is kind of embarrassing, but I don't have any money on me, obviously. I'm good for it though.could you buy that bouquet of flowers?" he asked, pointing.
"They're beautiful..but can I ask why not that great bouquet of roses?"
"She wouldn't appreciate roses right now..another long story." He sighed.
"Yeah, fine..we'll get the flowers, you can pay me back later."
"You are the coolest nurse ever, you know that Susan?"
"You mean the easiest to work over."
"No, you're great. Really." He said appreciatively as the clerk handed him the huge bouquet.
"Room 235 you said, right?" Susan asked as they departed the gift shop.
"Yep. There it is, right there. If you could just knock on the door, have the woman who's in there come out?"
Susan peered through the window. "But isn't that your best friend's girlfriend? Stephanie?" She asked confused.
Damn, he'd forgotten all about that little lie. "Uh-yeah.she started dating him after she married me." He tried.
Susan shook her head at him. "You are such a liar."
"Does that mean you're not going in there?"
"No, I'll go, you look too pitiful sitting there in your little hospital gown and your flowers.she's a lucky woman."
"From your lips to her ears, Susan. I keep telling her that but she just doesn't seem to be buying." Susan entered the room quietly and escorted a very confused Stephanie out.
When Stephanie saw Hunter in the hallway every impulse she possessed in her body ached for her to close the few feet between him, but she forced herself to stay still. Stephanie longed to feel him over, make certain that he was really allright, ask him what the hell had happened in the first place.she still didn't even know how he'd ended up here! It was probably that he got into a fight or something. He looked like he was in so much pain..his forehead was all wrinkled up..she loved it when his forehead did that..and he'd brought flowers.
See? He's trying to make things up to you.he's trying to say he's sorry for sleeping with Stacy.
He is not. He's just trying to snowball you with that damn little grin he does. He gets you a stupid bouquet, and what, you're just supposed to melt at his feet? Forget that he slept with another woman?
Yeah, you are supposed to just forget that.it doesn't even matter. You still love the jerk.
No, it's just that you THINK you love him...he's done everything possible to make you hate him, and this time, damn it girl, just let him win. Grow your spine back!
But you can't just give up on this.you love him, you LOVE him, he's your husband and who the hell are you kidding-you want to jump his bones right this very second, not to mention one tiny, little thing..you're having his baby!
You can totally give up..let that bitch Stacy have him, they deserve each other.you can do so much better.
No, you really can't..it doesn't really get much better than this man right in front of you, and deep down, you know that.
He said he was in love with her! He said he loved Stacy!
Stephanie waited for the other voice to argue back, but it seemed the second voice had finally triumphed. Stephanie stood stiffly, her arms crossed.
"You're really going to make me work for this, huh?" Hunter asked.
"I told you on the phone I didn't want to see you, and what's the first thing you do? You're sick, Hunter. Just go, go away and leave me the hell alone."
"Why? What happened? What's wrong?"
"Like you even have to ask!"
"Yeah, actually I do, damn it! I'm here in the hospital, you haven't even bothered to ask me why, I haul myself out of the bed, get up here and you're acting like this?"
"Ask yourself why, Hunter. Think back a bit, I'm sure it will come back to you!"
"I haven't done anything wrong! And if you think that I have then you had better damn well come right out and say so because I'm getting tired of all of your tantrums."
"Tantrums? Tantrums?! I'll show you a tantrum, you jerk!" Stephanie yelled. " This is a tantrum!" And with that Stephanie pulled the bouquet from Hunter's hands and whacked it against the wall, she pulled his wheelchair around and gave it a shove, sending Hunter down careening down the hallway. Susan gasped and ran after Hunter, managing to stop the chair and he furiously wheeled himself around to face Stephanie. "You are such a-to think that I was actually going to tell you that I lo-Go to hell, Stephanie! I am so damn glad you're not my problem anymore! And just so you know, whenever you get your freaking act together and actually know what you're talking about, don't come back to me, saying your sorry.because I am finished! I'm done, we're done, it's done, and I am happier than words can express!" Hunter threw the wheelchair into gear and shoved himself in the general vicinity of the elevator. As they went down, Susan gave Stephanie a confused glare. Hunter looked up at the ceiling helplessly. He didn't have a clue what had just happened, and there were only three things in the world that he knew at this moment:
His back was hurting so badly he felt like asking for some tranqs and to be woken up when the pain was finally over..Stephanie was the most infuriating, irritating woman he'd ever met in his entire life, she made him want to scream, he hated her..and he loved her, and their baby more than he'd ever loved anything in his life.
Hunter sat still as Susan wheeled him to his room. There were days when it just didn't pay to get out of the bed. He'd figure this damn thing out if it killed him. Which it just might.
As soon as the elevator doors dinged shut Stephanie felt the tears start to crawl down her face. She knelt to the floor and carefully picked up the remnants of the bouquet and inhaled the gorgeous aroma reverently. She couldn't remember a time in her entire life when she'd been more confused than she was right now. She'd been watching Hunter's expression so carefully throughout the past few minutes, and she could swear that he had genuinely looked like he really hadn't known what she was talking about. But how could he not? He was such a good liar, she hated that he could lie to her any time he damn well pleased and there was no real way for her to know what was the truth anymore. There was no way this could all be a misunderstanding, right? Right? She asked the two dueling voices.
But strangely enough, neither one of them seemed to want to offer an opinion on the matter.
"Hunter, I-"
"I'm in Room-umm. 342? Yeah, that looks right. Can you tell me whatever it was that you were going to tell me up here? I really need to see you."
Oh, this was too much for her to take. He sounded so earnest, so innocent...but she knew better now, didn't she? He had told Stacy he was in love with her. It was bad enough they'd slept together, but she just couldn't deal with the fact that he'd actually been able to say those words to that woman. To any woman but her. Stephanie ground her teeth together. "You know what? No, I'm not coming. For the longest time you've been saying that all you want from me is for me to leave you alone. Well, guess what, you jerk, you're getting that wish! From now on, I don't want to talk to you, I don't want to see you, I don't want you near me. You called me a manipulative liar? Well, baby, I'm nothing, nothing compared to you!" Stephanie hung up the phone viciously.
On the other half of the newly disconnected line, Hunter stared down at the receiver in disbelief. What the--? He threw the phone across the room and pushed the nurse's call button. Susan came in a minute later.
"Susan? I need another favor. Can you get me out of here?" Hunter asked curtly.
"Of course, in a few days, you should be well enough to walk-"
"No! I mean now, right now. I need to get out of here."
"I'm sorry but that just isn't possible. You're in no condition to walk anywhere. I doubt you even could."
"Yeah? Watch me." Hunter threw off the blankets and swung his legs to the floor.
"Oh what the-" he cursed loudly. He couldn't even sit up, he fell backward. But a second later, he gripped the side of the bed and pushing himself against the wall, he managed to stand, despite Susan's horrified gasping and objections. Hunter gritted his teeth, but he'd survived worse pain than this..he'd survive this.
"No, no! You're going to kill yourself. Lay back down, I mean it, really!" Susan yelled.
"I'm not sitting back down, it took too much energy just to stand up. Now, look, I only need to go up one floor. Will you help me walk up there? I just need something to lean on." Hunter looked at Susan with his best pleading look, which wasn't hard because he felt like he was going to pass out.
Susan raised a hand to her mouth, horrified. "No, absolutely not. I'm getting orderlies to help you back in the bed."
"Look, unless you intend to strap me down to the damn bed, I'm just going to keep on getting back up. I just need to go talk to someone on the next floor, and when I'm done, I promise, I'll come right back here.I won't even move! Susan? Come on, what do you say?"
"Only one floor?" Susan said doubtfully.
"One little floor, that's it."
"Fine." Susan sighed reluctantly. "But you're going in a wheelchair. No arguments, or I will just strap you down to the bed."
"Why, Susan, I had no idea you were that kind of girl." Hunter said, smiling, relieved.
"You're incorrigible, you know that?"
"No, I'm cute and cuddly..that's why everyone loves me." Hunter quipped, his good spirits returning a tiny bit.
Susan laughed and went out for the wheelchair. Hunter eased himself along the wall toward the door. She came back in quickly, and he was only too happy to collapse in the chair.
"Ooh, feeling a bit of a draft there, Mr. Helmsley?"
Hunter ran his hand through his hair. It was useless to reach behind him to try and close the gown. Could this damn day get any better?
"Want a robe?" Susan offered.
"No.I've got nothing to be ashamed about.I've been told I've got a cute ass, too." He'd always refused to get embarrassed about stupid situations, and he was glad that was a personality trait of his.
"That you do.oh, man, I'm going to get fired if I say things like that. I'm getting the robe, I don't want our poor nurses tripping over themselves. You're a very dangerous man."
"Yeah, I'm lookin' real sexy in my hospital gown."
"You carry it off well. And how many men can say that?" Susan teased as she eased the robe around his shoulders, helping him sit up a bit to slip it on.
"Well, now that I look like a complete idiot, can we get going?" Hunter asked impatiently.
"Where exactly are we going?" Susan asked as she wheeled him toward the elevator.
"Up one floor, Room 235."
"And who's up there?"
"My ex-wife and her family."
"Oh.I see."
"It's.a long story, and it's very complicated. But I really need to talk to her."
"Yeah, I've gathered that." She pushed him out of the elevator and as they passed a gift shop, Hunter asked her to stop inside.
"We had a deal, Mr. Helmsley." Susan said firmly.
"I know.but really, it would help me out. Just one second allright?"
He was too gorgeous to say no to. Susan just knew she was going to get fired if the head nurse found out about this. She wheeled him in nonetheless. As he passed the "Congratulations! It's a Boy!" Teddy Bears and storks, Hunter felt himself grinning like a moron. Only six months, and he'd be wallowing in them, he couldn't wait.
Stephanie had been so irate on the phone, though.he wondered what the hell was going on. She sounded seriously angry with him, and for the life of him, he couldn't figure out why. But whatever it was, he was determined to get to the bottom of it.
"Susan? This is kind of embarrassing, but I don't have any money on me, obviously. I'm good for it though.could you buy that bouquet of flowers?" he asked, pointing.
"They're beautiful..but can I ask why not that great bouquet of roses?"
"She wouldn't appreciate roses right now..another long story." He sighed.
"Yeah, fine..we'll get the flowers, you can pay me back later."
"You are the coolest nurse ever, you know that Susan?"
"You mean the easiest to work over."
"No, you're great. Really." He said appreciatively as the clerk handed him the huge bouquet.
"Room 235 you said, right?" Susan asked as they departed the gift shop.
"Yep. There it is, right there. If you could just knock on the door, have the woman who's in there come out?"
Susan peered through the window. "But isn't that your best friend's girlfriend? Stephanie?" She asked confused.
Damn, he'd forgotten all about that little lie. "Uh-yeah.she started dating him after she married me." He tried.
Susan shook her head at him. "You are such a liar."
"Does that mean you're not going in there?"
"No, I'll go, you look too pitiful sitting there in your little hospital gown and your flowers.she's a lucky woman."
"From your lips to her ears, Susan. I keep telling her that but she just doesn't seem to be buying." Susan entered the room quietly and escorted a very confused Stephanie out.
When Stephanie saw Hunter in the hallway every impulse she possessed in her body ached for her to close the few feet between him, but she forced herself to stay still. Stephanie longed to feel him over, make certain that he was really allright, ask him what the hell had happened in the first place.she still didn't even know how he'd ended up here! It was probably that he got into a fight or something. He looked like he was in so much pain..his forehead was all wrinkled up..she loved it when his forehead did that..and he'd brought flowers.
See? He's trying to make things up to you.he's trying to say he's sorry for sleeping with Stacy.
He is not. He's just trying to snowball you with that damn little grin he does. He gets you a stupid bouquet, and what, you're just supposed to melt at his feet? Forget that he slept with another woman?
Yeah, you are supposed to just forget that.it doesn't even matter. You still love the jerk.
No, it's just that you THINK you love him...he's done everything possible to make you hate him, and this time, damn it girl, just let him win. Grow your spine back!
But you can't just give up on this.you love him, you LOVE him, he's your husband and who the hell are you kidding-you want to jump his bones right this very second, not to mention one tiny, little thing..you're having his baby!
You can totally give up..let that bitch Stacy have him, they deserve each other.you can do so much better.
No, you really can't..it doesn't really get much better than this man right in front of you, and deep down, you know that.
He said he was in love with her! He said he loved Stacy!
Stephanie waited for the other voice to argue back, but it seemed the second voice had finally triumphed. Stephanie stood stiffly, her arms crossed.
"You're really going to make me work for this, huh?" Hunter asked.
"I told you on the phone I didn't want to see you, and what's the first thing you do? You're sick, Hunter. Just go, go away and leave me the hell alone."
"Why? What happened? What's wrong?"
"Like you even have to ask!"
"Yeah, actually I do, damn it! I'm here in the hospital, you haven't even bothered to ask me why, I haul myself out of the bed, get up here and you're acting like this?"
"Ask yourself why, Hunter. Think back a bit, I'm sure it will come back to you!"
"I haven't done anything wrong! And if you think that I have then you had better damn well come right out and say so because I'm getting tired of all of your tantrums."
"Tantrums? Tantrums?! I'll show you a tantrum, you jerk!" Stephanie yelled. " This is a tantrum!" And with that Stephanie pulled the bouquet from Hunter's hands and whacked it against the wall, she pulled his wheelchair around and gave it a shove, sending Hunter down careening down the hallway. Susan gasped and ran after Hunter, managing to stop the chair and he furiously wheeled himself around to face Stephanie. "You are such a-to think that I was actually going to tell you that I lo-Go to hell, Stephanie! I am so damn glad you're not my problem anymore! And just so you know, whenever you get your freaking act together and actually know what you're talking about, don't come back to me, saying your sorry.because I am finished! I'm done, we're done, it's done, and I am happier than words can express!" Hunter threw the wheelchair into gear and shoved himself in the general vicinity of the elevator. As they went down, Susan gave Stephanie a confused glare. Hunter looked up at the ceiling helplessly. He didn't have a clue what had just happened, and there were only three things in the world that he knew at this moment:
His back was hurting so badly he felt like asking for some tranqs and to be woken up when the pain was finally over..Stephanie was the most infuriating, irritating woman he'd ever met in his entire life, she made him want to scream, he hated her..and he loved her, and their baby more than he'd ever loved anything in his life.
Hunter sat still as Susan wheeled him to his room. There were days when it just didn't pay to get out of the bed. He'd figure this damn thing out if it killed him. Which it just might.
As soon as the elevator doors dinged shut Stephanie felt the tears start to crawl down her face. She knelt to the floor and carefully picked up the remnants of the bouquet and inhaled the gorgeous aroma reverently. She couldn't remember a time in her entire life when she'd been more confused than she was right now. She'd been watching Hunter's expression so carefully throughout the past few minutes, and she could swear that he had genuinely looked like he really hadn't known what she was talking about. But how could he not? He was such a good liar, she hated that he could lie to her any time he damn well pleased and there was no real way for her to know what was the truth anymore. There was no way this could all be a misunderstanding, right? Right? She asked the two dueling voices.
But strangely enough, neither one of them seemed to want to offer an opinion on the matter.