“We’ll see about that. Gonna go get stocked up on a few things. Figure we won’t stop until we hit the motel room, and by then all I’m gonna want is a shower and sleep.”
“Alright, Monroe called me, so I’ll see what that’s about.” He grumbles, shaking his head, but walks away. Little fucker. He’ll need his beauty rest tonight because he’s got shit to do before we meet up. The one thing Diamondback prides itself on is due diligence. Too much shit has gone down for us not to.
I bring my phone out and unlock it, seeing Monroe’s missed call, then noticin’ she left a voicemail. She doesn’t usually do that.
“Hey, Hunter, I was going to text you, but I figured you’d rather hear a thank you on your voicemail than seeing it typed out. I love the flowers you sent, but I promise I’m okay. They’re ridiculously thoughtful and gorgeous. So, yeah, anyways, we’re good. Thank you. Can’t wait for tonight.” I can hear the beeping in the background, the blast of the intercom talking about code this and that. I end the voicemail to call her back, but she doesn’t answer.
“Fuck,” I grunt, still staring at my phone at a loss for words.
“Trouble in paradise already?” Bennett the wise ass says.
“Nope.” I ignore his look askin’ for more. Instead, I hit Monroe’s number to call her again. It doesn’t even ring before it goes to her voicemail. Fuckin’ service in the hospital sucks at times.
“Monroe, can’t get ahold of you, but, baby, those flowers ain’t from me. Call Doc.” I hang up and text Razor and Shovel. I’m not about to let somethin’ else happen to my woman.
“Let’s roll out. Might be leavin’ sooner than we thought.” Tomorrow, we meet the Russians at our warehouse, exchange the other half of their order, and then we’re headin’ straight back to Ely. And figure out what dumb cocksucker was brave enough to send Monroe flowers.
Fourteen
Monroe
“Those are some flowers someone special sent you,” Marnie says as I come back from making rounds with the patients. Today, I’m on the pediatric floor for long term care. It pulls at my heart strings that some of these children are here for cancer treatment or are on a donor transplant waiting list and our machines are what’s keeping their little bodies functioning.
“Yeah, I got lucky. My man is one of a kind.” It’s nice to actually say that out loud and not have to keep it a secret.
“I’ll say. Send him to my husband. He could learn a thing or two.” She’s so full of crap. Her husband thinks she walks on water, and I’ve seen him bring her meals, flowers, and pick her up from work all with a smile on his face.
“You’re full of it. Your man is golden.” I sit down, noticing that Hunter hasn’t called or texted me back. Then again, I’ve been so busy. Now is the first time I’ve had a chance to look, and it’s almost time for me to clock out of work. That thought causes a thrill to slide through me.
“Oh, he is. That doesn’t mean he can’t use some finesse every now and then. It keeps us young, you know?” She wiggles her eyebrows, and I laugh at her.
“I know. I’m going to do these last few charts and get out of here. Are you pulling a double?” Luckily, the nurse before me kept up on her charts, so that when I got them, they weren’t atrocious and were easy cases to handle.
“Girl, are you crazy? I am nearing fifty years old. Pulling doubles is for young whipper snappers like yourself. Unless you’re Doc. Your father has more energy than any person I’ve ever met.” Speaking of, I still need to get online and see if I can switch to a permanent floor and away from him.
“He’s been like that for as long as I can remember. I honestly think he just loves what he does.”
“Anyways, next time your man has time, bring him on up. I’d love to meet the man who keeps you smiling.” She logs off her computer, picks up her bags, and start to head out of the hospital.
“I’ll do that. He’s out of town right now, but next week you’re on.” I make a few more notes. It only takes me staying fifteen minutes longer than my shift, but I prefer things to be easier.
“You’re a hard woman to reach, Monroe.” I tip my head up from my work and stare into Razor’s eyes.
“Jesus, you scared me.” The red roses are blocking a big part of him.
“Well, if you’d answer your phone, you’d know Hunter and Doc tried to call you.” His face is stoic. My heart beats out of my chest.
“What’s wrong?” I ask, but I’m digging through my bag, locating my phone, which is no easy task with all the shit that’s inside of it.