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Melena. She was here. I squinted, realizing my eyes had been closed. The room was well lit, and I squeezed them closed again as the light sent fresh shards of pain into my head. Her hand gripped mine.

“Ow.”

“Jimmy? I’ll get the doctor.”

“No, wait. I’m okay. I just have a splitting headache. What happened? Is this the hangover from hell?”

“No, you were in an accident.”

“I was? Were you there? Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. I wasn’t there. It happened at work, and you’re okay too.” I shifted and groaned again as a stab of pain lanced through my ribs. “Except for some broken bones. And a concussion,” she added.

Her words sparked the memory, and my shoulders relaxed against the bed. She was fine.

Everything hurt and my vision kept blurring. Did I break every bone in my body, or just the important ones? My head was messed up for sure. My neck and shoulders twinged at the slightest move, like I’d had my body rocked, and not in the good way. Given teenage soccer injuries, and the tightness in my chest, I was betting on a broken rib or three. I wiggled my toes, and both bumps under the covers wiggled back, but I winced at the bone-deep ache along my left leg.

“Was anyone else injured?”

She shook her head. “Everyone else’s injuries were minor. They were treated and released.”

I reached up a hand to feel my head. I had a bit of a lump on my temple, but it was small.

“Where am I?”

“Tacoma General.”

“We keep coming back to this place, huh?”

“Yeah. I’d like them to revoke our frequent flyer privileges. Twice in one week is too much.”

I grunted. Every word I spoke sent a serrated spike of pain through my temple. I tried to move and realized my leg was immobilized. “What fresh hell is this?”

I could hear the grimace in Melena’s voice. It hurt too much to open my eyes and look at her. “You’ve got a broken leg. They had to put some hardware in. And let’s not forget the fractured ribs.”

I rubbed my chest. “So, you won’t be giving me any aggressive hugs today?”

“Not anytime soon.”

“Too bad. I love hugs,” I said glumly.

“I’ll be glad to hug you silly once you’re healed.”

“Promise?” I asked, cracking my lids again to see her.

She smiled at me, her expression alight with something more than teasing. “Promise.”

“When can I get out of here?”

“When your doctor says.”

“And when will that be?” I wheedled.

“Not soon enough for me. Our room was lonely without you last night. I’m ready for you to come home.”

I focused on her face. Melena looked tired, her hair caught back in a ponytail and makeup nonexistent. Too pale. “Are you okay? It’s not long ago you were in this joint.”

She wrapped her arms around herself, running her hands up and down her forearms. “I’m fine. It’s you I’m worried about.”