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Eli didn’t answer right away, and Bridget wondered what was going through that brain of hers. Eli was smart, in ways Bridget was not. And she knew without a doubt that Eli was already working through all the implications of her statement and probably three or four alternatives.

“Do you want to stay with them?”

A simple look in Eli’s direction was enough of an answer for the both of them. They were interrupted when Ann came back in, walking toward Bridget and the monitors all hooked up to her. “How are you feeling?”

“Better since the extra pain medicine.”

“I’ll make sure we keep up with that one, then. I can remove some of the IVs if you want. This one will have to stay.” She pointed to the one in Bridget’s right arm. “But I can take the one in your neck out.”

“The one in my neck?” Bridget’s eyes widened. “I didn’t know I had one in my neck.”

Ann pursed her lips. “You have three IVs.”

“I can’t exactly see my neck,” Bridget countered.

“I’ll give you that one.”

“Don’t be so hard on Ann. She’s only trying to help.” Eli gave Bridget a hard stare.

Ann looked surprised. “I didn’t think you remembered me.”

“I rarely forget visitors, but especially not ones who are so…interesting.” Eli and Ann shared a look over Bridget, which made Bridget very uncomfortable.

“I think I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“Please do.” Eli relaxed in her seat, giving Bridget another hard look. “Don’t be mean to Ann. She’s doing her job. Be a good patient for once and don’t have them call me to snitch that you’re making their lives miserable.”

“I have not—” Bridget started.

Eli interrupted. “Don’t try to convince me otherwise.”

“Fine.” Bridget lay still while Ann pulled the unused IVs out of her and covered the wounds with cotton balls and tape. She checked the catheter and emptied it, embarrassment flinging at Bridget full force. She was a complete invalid, and it hadn’t fully occurred to her until then. She’d never been so in need of care before. She’d never allowed herself to get like that.

A second nurse came in, her dark hair pulled back into a ponytail but with wildly curly strands running free. Her eyes were not a dark brown like Bridget would expect, but a hazel with lighter hues swirling in them, but the freckles that littered her nose and cheeks were the topper on the cake. This dark-skinned woman was stunning. Bridget absolutely did not want her to touch anything on her. It would be absolutely embarrassing.

“Bridget, this is Jerica. She’s one of the nurses in the ER who worked on you when you first came in.”

Bridget cringed. So much for that hope.

Jerica gave a soft smile. “I came up to check on you since my shift is over. I wanted to see how you were doing.”

“I’m fine,” Bridget managed to answer.

Nodding, Jerica didn’t move her gaze from Bridget’s face. “We were worried about you downstairs, and we rarely get updates after we admit patients and transfer them, so I wanted to come check for myself.”

“Could have just called like normal,” Ann muttered, quiet enough that Bridget wasn’t sure Jerica could hear, but she knew Eli had. Eli perked up immediately.

Jerica gave Ann a sharp look. “I wanted to see for myself. It’s nice to see you looking so good and awake.”

“She still looks a mess,” Eli chimed in.

Bridget and Ann shot her a dirty look, shutting Eli right up.

“I’ll let the other nurses and doctors know that you’re doing well, if you don’t mind.”

“I don’t,” Bridget’s voice was soft, and she honestly couldn’t fathom why she was agreeing to let the whole world know she was fine. She hated other people talking about her. After having been the talk of town for years, she was glad to fly under the radar when she could.

“Good.” Jerica gave her a brilliant smile, dimples flashing in each corner of her mouth. “They’ll be happy to hear it.”