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“Sorry,” I muttered as we took seats. “I should have checked with you before saying anything about our relationship. With patient privacy laws, I thought this would be the only way to stay with you. I hope that’s okay. I can wait for you here if you want.”

She shook her head, and I grabbed her hand in mine, squeezing tight. I felt better about my decision when she squeezed back and shot me a hesitant smile.

“I’ve never been to the ER,” she said softly.

I wanted to tell her she was lucky, but I held it back at the last moment. Melena didn’t need to hear about teenagers supergluing themselves together. Then again, Truth or Dare injury stories might be just what she needed. She looked more than a little scared. I didn’t want to add to her fears.

“I’m right here,” I said. “I’ll stay with you the entire time if it’s where you want me.”

Frowning, she tucked her dark hair behind one ear before responding. “I feel like I should do this myself.” She looked at the range of people sitting in chairs around us. A couple in their seventies in one corner held hands. A young family tried to soothe a fussy baby at the other end of the room. She glanced at me with over-bright eyes. “But I really, really don’t want to. I’m still a fully functioning adult even if I’m afraid of needles and want you to hold my hand, right?”

I clasped her hand in mine and watched some of the tension around her eyes ease. “Absolutely. Do you want to call anyone? Your family?”

Melena bit her lip. “I’ll do it tomorrow. We don’t know anything yet, and I don’t want to freak my parents out.”

We sat in the stiff chairs and waited for her to be called back. I tried to let myself be distracted by a fewHouse Huntersepisodes playing on the lobby TV. They made it look easy to find a dream home. Make an offer, and boom—accepted. Move in and live the dream. Bullshit for the TV cameras. Every few seconds I glanced at Melena out of the corner of my eye. Still stable. Still conscious. She was pale, her skin too white against the backdrop of her bright shirt, but she’d lost the fine tremor in her hands. With every squeeze, I’d tried to give her some of my strength. The hospital gods were smiling on us because we didn’t have to wait much longer before a perky attendant appeared. “Malayna?” she said tentatively.

Melena’s grimace tried to masquerade as a smile. “It’s Ma-lean-a.”

The nurse huffed a quick laugh. “Sorry about that. Follow me.”

Her hospital ID said Anais, and she held it up as she introduced herself and showed us back to a procedure area. “Ah-nah-EES. Believe me, I feel your pain.” She took a quick history from Melena before asking, “Could you be pregnant?”

“No,” I answered quickly.Shit. Ihadn’t gotten her pregnant. We’d barely rounded first base. I gazed at Melena with an apology in my eyes and held my breath. My answer was an overstep. In all the ways. My training had kicked in. I was used to rapid-fire Q&A with the medical staff when we brought patients to the ER. She shook her head no, and I released my breath. I needed to keep my mouth shut. I kept my resolve as another member of the medical team peppered Melena with questions, listened to her chest, and drew blood. As each minute passed, more of Melena’s color returned, and she looked more like the vibrant woman I’d started my evening with and less like the ghost of dates gone wrong.

It was reassuring to see Melena appear less like Tree Pose would land her in a heap on the floor. We hadn’t known each other long. Admiring her at the gym didn’t count; our first kiss had been hot...until it was not. Participation was my bare minimum. Nothing less than enthusiastic consent. Even as a kid, I could watchCinderellabut was never aSleeping Beautyfan. I grimaced. My sister Andi would be proud. Look at me, naming Disney princesses.

“Here, please put on this gown, and we’ll get you in for tests when we have availability.”

The nurse handed Melena a hospital gown, and I tried not to smirk. Shoes and gowns, next it would be woodland creatures and a fairy godmother. Then I’d know I was living in a cartoon.

I squeezed her hand briefly. “I’ll step outside and let you get changed.”

She stood frozen for a moment before releasing her grasp on my fingers. I smiled reassuringly, “Hey. I know you’re probably nervous about what will happen, but you’ve got this.”

From the other side of the blue curtain, I could sense her movement. When she grew still, I couldn’t help but check on her. “You okay in there?”

In answer, she pulled the blue curtain back, revealing her figure in the boxy light blue gown. It swam on her, and my heart clenched as I took in her messy hair and the slipper socks on her feet. So delicate. It was a lie. Melena was tough. She had two brothers and a career as a massage therapist. She could probably break me with her pinky if she applied pressure in the right place. Tonight, a kitten’s paw could tip her over. It was sobering to see her stripped of her usual sass, lost in the cotton gown.

I moved in closer, hoping to give comfort. Her arms were crossed over her chest. She didn’t move away, but she didn’t seek me out either. “I’m sorry if I overstepped earlier. I’m used to answering the admitting team immediately when we bring a patient in. I should have let you answer for yourself.” I had messed up. If she kicked me out, I’d understand, but I still hoped she’d let me stay. “Are you cold? Do you want to snuggle up for warmth?”

Melena’s lips twitched, but she sank into my frame, leaning her body against mine as we both perched against the bed. “Thank you. It’s okay, you can stay. I’m not above using you for your body heat. It’s cold in here, and I can’t wear a bra for the testing. The girls are not amused.”

Suddenly her earlier posture made sense. “Sorry. It may make me a terrible person but remember, unapologetic boob man.” I held up a thumb to point back at myself and put the other arm around her shoulders.

She snorted and slapped my arm with her hand before sinking into my hold. “Well, then I’m gladsomeoneis happy. This sucks.”

I’m not sure who needed the reassurance of the hug more. Her or me. “Yeah, I know it’s not ideal.”

“Vast understatement. Not how I hoped to spend our date,” she said.

I wiggled my brows. “What?No. We’ve got a bed right here. See? Curtains for privacy. What more could we ask for?”

She shook her head. “I love the optimism. Is now the time to let you know I’m not an exhibitionist?”

“But...privacy curtain,” I teased.

She laughed. Mission accomplished. We settled in to wait in silence. It was getting late. Or early, depending on your perspective. I tried to focus on the faint scent of jasmine wafting off her skin instead of the overwhelming antiseptic smell of the hospital. The odor still brought back bad memories, but I pushed them aside. Melena had to be my priority, and she was probably freaking out without adding my drama to the mix. It felt like forever before an aide came to show her back for an electrocardiogram. Melena was quiet in my arms, almost like she’d fallen asleep against me.