It was like hearing a story about someone else. She truly couldn’t remember any of it—defending Bear, arguing with meth-heads, falling into the street.
“Is Bear okay?”
“He was pretty shaken up about what happened to you, but he’s going to be all right. Winona got him settled down. Megs helped him clean his jacket. Kendra brought him another piece of cake.”
“What about the meth-heads? Did anyone catch them?”
The three exchanged a glance again.
“Yeah,” Eric said. “They caught them. They’re in jail.”
“Good.” Then it occurred to her. “How many times have you told me this?”
“Four. Or five now, I think.”
“Wow.” She closed her eyes, her head throbbing.
“Are you in a lot of pain?”
“Yes.” It was like the worst migraine ever.
She heard a beep, and then Eric spoke. “Victoria is still in a lot of pain. Can you please call the doctor to ask him to boost the dosage and do something to help her now?”
“I’ll be right in,” said a woman’s voice through the speaker.
“I called your father to let him know what had happened,” Lexi said. “I told him you’re going to be okay.”
Eyes still closed—the light hurt—Vic thanked her. “What did he say?”
“He wants you to call when you’re up to it.”
So he wasn’t coming out here. She supposed she shouldn’t be surprised.
“Your boss called. Eric spoke with her.” There was a note of amusement in Lexi’s voice that brought Vic’s eyes open.
“Oh, no. What did you tell her?”
“I told her that I couldn’t tell her anything due to patient privacy laws. Then I whispered that I was the first paramedic on the scene and that you were in the hospital with a skull fracture, and we weren’t yet sure how badly injured you were.”
“Oh, my God.” Vic laughed, then winced at the explosion this caused inside her head, pressing her fingers to her temple. “What did she say?”
“She wanted to know your hospital room, so I told her. Then she asked when I thought you’d be discharged. I told her I didn’t know because I was just the paramedic and not a doctor. But I told her you probably wouldn’t be able to travel for a week.”
Vic couldn’t help but laugh again, despite the pain. “You’re terrible.”
“I just want her to leave you alone so you can rest.”
She squeezed his hand. “Thanks.”
The door opened, and a nurse in maroon scrubs breezed in, something in her hand. “Are you in a lot of pain?”
Vic nodded.
The nurse injected medication into her IV.
Vic’s eyes drifted shut, and she floated away.
* * *