Dee shook his head. “No, because she always loved you and wanted you to have the happiness that you deserve, and I feel the exact same way.”
“Stop it, or I’m going to cry again,” I moaned.
He grinned. “Can’t help speaking the truth, baby girl.” He gave me a smack on both my thighs. “Come out dancing with me and the boys tonight to get your mind off things.”
“Um, I’m not sure how hitting up ATL’s finest gay nightclubs is going to make me feel better about myself.” When Dee started to protest, I reached over and patted his cheek. “It’s a sweet thought, Dee, but it would just be a constant reminder that all the good guys are gay.”
“You gotta get back in the game.”
“Someday…just not…now.”
Dee gave a grunt of frustration before rising out of his chair. “Whatever. Guess it’s time we hit it, huh?”
I grinned. “Hey, who is the shift supervisor here?”
Making praying hands, Dee bowed deep at the waist. “You, oh great and powerful one.”
“That’s right.”
As I started out of the station, Dee smacked me on the ass. I couldn’t help the snort of laugher that escaped my lips at his antics. He was one of a kind, and I couldn’t have had a better friend and nursing partner. He’d stood by me through the last year when a lot of friends would have bailed. His friendship, along with working with him, kept the fragile pieces of my sanity intact.
3
Rhys and I stepped off the fourth floor elevator of St. Joseph’s Hospital armed with gifts for Frank. Although it felt like an eternity had passed, it had been just a week since Frank’s collapse at the Oklahoma City concert. Once he had arrived at the hospital, he had received both good and bad news. He would need a bypass, but his condition was stable enough for him to return home for the surgery. With a nurse at his side, he’d flown home the next day to meet his sons at the airport.
As for the guys and me, we felt like shit doing it, but we had to keep up with the next few stops on the tour. Frank’s oldest son, Rob, kept us updated on his condition during the surgery and while he was in CCU. Fortunately, we had two days off in a row where his second family, the band, could come back home to check on him.
“Which room is it again?” I asked.
Flipping out his phone, Rhys scrolled through his messages. “405.”
I glanced at the sign across from the elevator doors, reading off the room numbers. “Okay, it’s that way,” I replied, pointing to the left.
When we got to 405, I rapped lightly on the door. “Come in,” Frank called.
I poked my head in the door. “Hello, hello. You gotta little room for two wickedly handsome and charming men?”
Frank’s face lit up. “Look who is here!” he exclaimed, pushing himself up in the bed.
Holding the door open for Rhys, we stepped inside. The room could have doubled for a florists with all the Get Well Soon flowers and balloons. I knew Abby and Lily had gone a little overboard on sending daily reminders to Frank about how much he was loved and missed.
I stepped over to the bed. “Hey old man, how you holding up?” I questioned, leaning over to hug Frank’s neck.
Wagging a finger at me, he replied, “Almost good enough to smack you upside the head for calling me ‘old man’!”
I chuckled as I pulled away. “You look a helluva lot better than the last time we saw you.”
“I know. I feel a lot better too.”
Rhys stepped forward to hug Frank. “Bray, Lily, and Abby are coming by to see you in a little while, but Jake…” Rhys grimaced.
Frank smiled knowingly. “I understand. He’s gun-shy between what happened with Abby’s attack and poor Susan’s illness. It’s only been six months, so it makes total sense that hospitals and illness spook him.” He waved his IV-clad hand dismissively. “Besides, he doesn’t need to come by and see me. Hell, he called Rob three or four times a day when I was in the CCU, and I’ve talked to him several times.”
My brows rose in surprise. “Really?”
“Yep.”
“He didn’t tell us that,” Rhys replied.
“He probably didn’t tell you that he put me on three months paid leave either, did he?”
Rhys and I exchanged a glance before shaking our heads in unison.
Frank smiled. “He wants me to rest completely and be in the best shape possible to take my old job back.”
“Jackass coulda told us all this,” I grumbled.
“You know Jake well enough by now not to assume that.”
“True.”
Frank sniffed the air appreciatively while a curious grin spread on his lips. “Is that the Varsity I smell?”
Rhys laughed. “It sure as hell is. We figured they were starving you to death with shitty hospital food, so AJ and I decided to get you some of your favorites.” Digging in the bag, Rhys produced the Varsity’s familiar red box with a football player on the front.
Closing his eyes in bliss, Frank said, “Chili dogs, fries, and onion rings, right?”
“Oh yeah.” Taking the box from Rhys, I added with my best French accent, “And for the Pièce de résistance—a fried peach pie.”
I set the food box on the standard hospital table in front of Frank. He lifted the lid and inhaled the deliciously greasy aroma. “Mmm, mmm, you boys are amazing.”
Holding up a finger, I said, “Ah, but we’re not done yet. Show him, Rhys.”
He nodded before his hand disappeared into the bag. “Your favorite drink—a Frosted Orange.”
“We kept it in a cooler so it wouldn’t melt,” I added.
Frank shook his head with a grin. “You two thought of everything.”
“Beats flowers, doesn’t it?” I questioned.
“Sure as hell does.” A look of shame flickered on his face. “But don’t tell Abby and Lily that I said that. For some reason, those two gals think a gruff, old widower like myself needs daily flowers and balloons. Not even my daughters-in-law do that shit.”
Rhys and I laughed. “It’ll be our little secret,” I replied.
As Frank went to work devouring a chili dog, Rhys jumped up on the ledge in front of the window, swinging his legs back and forth, while I plopped down into the heinously uncomfortable chair next to Frank’s bed. We were just shooting the shit on all that had happened while he had been gone when the door swung open. Immediately, I got a swift kick in the pants of the most delicious kind. A tall, dark-haired, dark-eyed goddess of a nurse strode into the room. Through her standard blue scrubs, I detected she possessed every attribute that gave me instant wood—wide, curvy hips, thick thighs, a voluptuous ass, and a full, natural rack.
“Oh shit!” Frank exclaimed. His panicked gaze swept right and then left, as if he were trying to think of a speedy getaway. I couldn’t imagine from the way his Angel of Mercy nurse looked, not to mention her genuinely caring expression, that she could possibly be worthy of such fear. He was acting like she was Nurse Ratched out of One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest or something.
She only smiled at his reaction. “Now Mr. Patterson, that’s not your usual greeting. You’re always so happy to see me.”
“I can see why,” Rhys muttered under his breath.
“No shit,” I replied.
“Er, uh…I’m sorry, Mia.” Frank gave her a reassuring smile. “I promise I’m very grateful for the care you have been giving me. It’s just, well, you kinda took me by surprise. That’s all.”
“I’m glad to hear you approve of my care, and I’m sorry if I gave you a shock. I’ll be more careful since that isn’t good for your ticker.” Her gaze flicked over to Rhys and me. “You must be Frank’s grandsons. He said you were coming in from out of town.”