Bad Seed

sh on the results. We should know within the hour whether she can leave or not.”

“Sounds good to me,” I said. “I got a place reserved for us when she gets the all-clear.”

I handed the discharge papers back to the nurse before I looked over at Theresa.

“Don’t give the technicians a hard time,” I said.

“No way, I want out of here as soon as possible,” she said.

I smiled at her and leaned over to give her a quick peck on the cheek, then I stood there as they wheeled her out. In an hour, she’d be in my care. In an hour, I’d be able to show her what I could provide for her.

In an hour, I’d have her in a place where her father and brother couldn’t find her.

And that was the best way for her to finish her recuperation.

CHAPTER 23

THERESA

My scans came back clean, and I was discharged to go with Grant. I couldn’t get out of there fast enough. He wheeled me out to his car and helped me in, but my headache was slowly returning. The doctor said headaches on and off would be normal for the next week, but if they made me nauseous or persisted longer than a few days, I needed to come back in so they could have a look. After Grant buckled me in, I leaned back, ready and excited about going with him to the hotel he’d booked for us.

But when we drove to the hotel and he helped me up to the room, things got awkward.

He didn’t do anything, but I figured I would feel more comfortable than I did. The hotel door opened into a beautiful suite, but once he guided me through the door, my heart started thumping against my chest. I took a step away from Grant and turned around to see where he was, and for some reason I had this sense of fear fill my lungs.

I didn’t like it.

Without a word uttered between the two of us, he helped me into the bed. It was king-size and comfortable, and the sheets were silky smooth against my skin. The pillows were fluffy, and I groaned, lying into them. I looked over on the bedside table and saw a menu, so I picked it up and began looking at it.

“You hungry?” Grant asked.

I jumped at the sound of his voice, and my heart started slamming against my chest again.

“Um, a little,” I said.

“What would you like?” he asked.

I watched him pick up the phone by the bed as his eyes panned to mine. I opened the menu to divert my attention away from him. It felt awkward, being alone in this hotel with him, and I didn’t understand why. I knew I was safe. I wanted to be with him. But there was something off about the entire thing.

I wished Jane was there to talk to. But she was at some writing conference on the other side of the country.

“Just some soup sounds nice,” I said.

“I’ll get you some bread, too, in case you get hungrier. Yes, I’d like to order some food. Suite 1209. I’d like a bowl of your soup of the day, an order of honey yeast rolls, two steak sandwiches, a double order of fries, a pitcher of water, and a pitcher of orange juice.”

My eyes widened at the order, and Grant shot me a wink.

I lay in bed as Grant sat in the chair in the corner of the room. It almost felt like I was back in the hospital again with him, but this time I was painfully aware of the fact that we were alone. There was a moment where the awkwardness was relieved when our food arrived and there was another person with us. But once the room service courier left, the uncomfortable silence settled around us again.

Why was this happening?

“Let’s get you sitting up so you can eat,” Grant said.

“I’ve got it,” I said. “I can sit up.”

I held my hand out to him, and he watched as I struggled to get up. He didn’t try to intervene in any way, though I knew he could tell I was struggling. I finally got myself propped up with pillows behind my back, but I was panting.

He grinned at me as he handed me my soup.