All three of us blew out a breath of relief.
“Lock the door!”
Another voice answered, “I got it!” letting us know there were more than just Gentry headed our way.
By the way Bernice stiffened, I had a feeling I knew who was with him.
I was proved right when Hux arrived with Gentry moments later.
Hux was carrying a case of beer and Dr. Peppers. Meanwhile, Gentry had a stack of pizzas.
“Your girl told us what kind of pizza you like,” Gentry said to Odin as he tossed a pizza box down in front of the big man. “She said she’s sorry she can’t join us for our impromptu end of the first day celebration. She said she was busy with a baby bear.”
Odin grunted and flipped the pizza box open.
Hux set the drinks down, ripped open the boxes, and handed everyone a drink.
I took a beer.
Bernice took a Dr. Pepper.
Just as her hand closed around the cold can, her breath hitched.
At first I thought it was due to her touching Hux’s fingers, but the wheezing started soon after.
Shit.
I reached behind me into the cubbyhole where she’d stowed her purse, fished around, and pulled out her inhaler.
I’d learned today as she was running around with us that she was an asthmatic.
She’d had a bad day today and had taken a hit off her emergency inhaler twice between patients.
Odin and I had kept an eye on her throughout the day, fully expecting her to be overextended.
But she’d trucked through.
I handed her the inhaler, and Hux watched her like a hawk, eyes only for her.
Bernice took a puff of her inhaler, held her breath, then let it out slowly.
The wheezing slowly stopped.
Her shoulders slumped. “Today was a bad day.”
“Cold air and allergens,” Odin mused. “We might need to take a look at your medications. Maybe make a few changes.”
Bernice finally took the drink from Hux and popped the tab open.
She took a quick sip, then said, “What kind of pizza’s in that box?”
The way she asked it made Hux grin. “The normal kind. I didn’t put anchovies on it this time.”
Both Bernice and I scrunched up our noses in disgust.
The pizzas were revealed, and I was happy to see that my favorite kind was in there as well.
My eyes met Gentry’s. “Thank you.”