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My fingers tightened around her broken glasses so tightly, I heard the lens crack. The shorter officer gave me a knowing look before addressing Ruth. “And did he physically harm you during these instances?”

Ruth seemed to consider that. I loved watching her think—I could practically hear the delicate, mechanical whir of it. “I don’t believe he did. More than actual physical violence, I felt intimidated by the possibility of it.”

The shorter, older man with a head of silver hair nodded and made another note. “Understood.”

“I believe we have everything we need from you, Dr. Coldwell. We will be in touch if we need clarification. Remember to email us those text records when you’re feeling up to it. Is there anything else you’d like to add?”

Ruth physically shrunk away from that. “No, I’m good.”

Once the officers had exited through the heavy, extra-wide hospital room door, Rook straightened away from the wall. “If that’s all you need from me, I’ll be going.”

Gemma’s ears had gone bright pink, and I was surprisedsteam didn’t jet out from them. “That isnotall. You work in the same building as her.” Gemma threw out her hand, gesturing at Ruth. “And you justwalked bysome asshole threatening her?”

Rook looked at Ruth, arms still folded, and his expression gentled a fraction. “I apologize, Dr. Coldwell. Truly.”

Ruth looked like she wanted to burrow under her blankets, and she brought them up to her chin. “It’s really—it’s fine. Like you said, it probably looked like none of your business.”

Rook nodded once. “I’ll see you around, then.”

“Oh, I really fucking hope not,” Gemma seethed.

Unperturbed by her ferocity, Rook opened the door and gestured for Gemma to exit before him. “I’m sure Ruth is ready to get dressed and go home.”

Gemma glared up at the tall man. Then, deflating slightly, she seemed to accept his inferred suggestion and gave Ruth a worried look. “I’ll stay if you want me to.”

One corner of Ruth’s mouth quirked up. “I’m okay. I do want to go home.”

Gemma gave me a wary glance before looking back to Ruth. “If you’re sure.”

“I’m sure,” Ruth assured her. “I’ll call you when I’m home.”

When Gemma looked back up at Rook, I could have sworn I actually heard a chihuahua-like growl come from the short blond woman. Rook cast a long-suffering look up to the ceiling, and then they were gone.

I stood, glancing at Ruth’s monitor to make sure her vitals were still stable. Not one time had they so much as blippedsince we’d been here, but it was like my heart had sustained actual bruising from the shock of seeing her catapult herself from that car. It still smarted when I thought about it.

“Stop worrying,” Ruth said gently. I gave her a silent look of censure, sliding my hands in my pockets. She huffed, and the way she looked up at me through her lashes nearly gave me another heart attack. “I’m fine, Cal.”

I ran my eyes over the angry road rash on her arms, and then on the split down her full lower lip. “Clearly, our definitions of ‘fine’ differ.” She had also opened her knee wound, and the tissue was so damaged from already having been stitched, it looked like she had a baseball hidden under the tightly wrapped dressing.

Ruth blinked once, but for once, she didn’t seem concerned about my reproval. I shouldn’t keep scowling, I knew that, but my worry and anger had returned to a low simmer in my chest, and I still felt like putting my fist through drywall. She gave me a tentative smile. “Want to throw your doctor weight around and get me discharged early?”

Ruth’s scans had looked good—they hadn’t shown any serious damage, and technically, there was no reason for her to remain in the ER. “I can talk to the nurses,” I agreed reluctantly.

Her knowing smile made me want to pinch her cheeks. I’d told her I loved her, and she’d taken that remarkably well considering the circumstances. I couldn’t help but wonder if she reciprocated my feelings, but it didn’t seem like the right time to ask. With one last glance at her picture-perfect vitals, I wentout to the nurses’ station to ask Marlene to discharge Ruth.

The older nurse gave me a pinched frown as she handed me the tablet with the discharge paperwork on it. “You seem inappropriately interested in this girl, Dr. Reed.”

I choked out a laugh, taking the smooth tablet from her wrinkled fingers. “I’m offended, Marlene.” When her eyes went squinty with suspicion, I added, “I’m inappropriately in love with that girl.” Several heads turned my way in surprise, but I left before the nursing staff could dive into that confession too deeply.

When I returned to Ruth’s room, she was already dressed again in the shorts and blue tank top she’d been wearing before. She winced as she reached down to fit her foot into her sneakers, and I assumed that had something to do with the cracking scabs all along her right side. I closed the door behind me, set the tablet on the counter to the left, and came to kneel in front of her. I moved her hands away and tightened the laces with brisk efficiency. “Why does no one ever want to stay in the hospital? We practically have to tie you stubborn patients down to the beds half the time.”

Ruth straightened, cradling her bruised right elbow against her stomach. “You’re right. It’s such a charming experience being here.”

I lifted an amused look up to her briefly before moving to her other foot and helping her wedge her foot inside the white canvas shoe. “I’m here. Isn’t that a little charming?” Her fingers sifted through my hair, surprising me.

I glanced up again, and she smiled softly. “Truthfully, yes. I’d stay anywhere you are.”

I had to stop my jaw from falling open. I swallowed instead. “So, if I suggested you get admitted overnight for concussion watch—”