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“No.” I couldn’t say anything else; my chest felt like a ton of bricks was sitting on it.
“You were in an accident. Do you remember anything about it?”
“No,” I said again, wishing I didn’t have to talk.
“We’re going to get you up to X-ray in a few minutes. Is there someone we can call? Do you have family who lives close by?”
I closed my eyes and shook my head but just barely. It hurt too much to try to move it more than that.
“Sir, I asked you to wait outside.”
I felt fingertips brush my hair from my forehead, opened my eyes, and looked into Cope’s.
“Hi, there,” he murmured.
I blinked a couple of times; I was in too much pain to talk.
“I’m going to ask you a couple of questions, sweetheart. Blink once for yes and twice for no.”
“Do you mind?” the nurse growled.
“Ali, do you have family I can contact? Someone in your phone? Mom? Dad?”
I blinked twice, fast.
“Okay. Siblings?”
I repeated the movement.
“Got it. How about a contact in case of emergency?”
This time I blinked once. “Chloe,” I whispered.
“Chloe. Great. Last thing, what’s the password to your phone?”
“Chloe,” I repeated.
“He needs the password,” said the nurse.
I looked at Cope, who punched the name into my phone. “Got it. I’ll give her a call, and then I’ll be back.”
“You can wait outside until I’m finished,” said the nurse, but Cope was already gone. “Sit tight. The doctor will be in to talk to you in a few minutes.”
As if I was going anywhere. Once she was gone, the reporter I’d met yesterday came in.
“You’re a mess, sis,” she said with a smile. “But I think Cope’s a bigger one. I didn’t realize you two knew each other.”
“Don’t,” I whispered.
“You in a lot of pain?”
I slowly nodded my head.
“Well, shit, they haven’t even started an IV to get you meds. I’ll get on that, and then I have to get to the courthouse. Not sure anyone is going to grant a continuance because I ask, but Cope refuses to leave the hospital, so…”
I closed my eyes. I wanted to tell him he could leave, but those were too many words for me to try to string together.
“Why are you still here, Stella?” Cope said when he came back in, carrying my phone.