Until Cobi
Page 3

“I think you have the wrong room,” I say, when the woman smiles and starts to come closer to my bed where I’m sitting.
“Are you Hadley?”
“Yes.”
“I’m Harmony’s mom Sophie. This guy is Nico, her dad.”
“Oh.” I look between the two of them once more. “Nice to meet you both.”
“You too.” Sophie sets down the flowers she’s holding on my bedside table. When her eyes come back to me, she starts to speak. “I just…. We just want to say thank you for what you did last night.”
Before I can reply, she grabs my upper arms and pulls me in for a hug.
“You’re welcome.” My words are muffled against her top, and I think I hear Nico chuckle.
“How are you feeling?” She leans back to look me over, and my throat starts to feel funny.
“I’m okay.”
“Are you sure? Cobi mentioned you were in a little pain.”
“Cobi?” Why is she mentioning Cobi? When I woke up and saw him asleep in the chair next to my bed, I thought I was imagining things. I didn’t know Cobi in school, but like every other girl, I knew of him. I was a freshman when he was a senior, and he was always the topic of conversation, since he was not only gorgeous, but also nice to everyone, got really good grades, and played football. He was the quarterback of the team three years in a row, and everyone thought he’d play ball in college then go pro one day, because he was that good. Instead of doing what everyone thought he’d do, he joined the military right after high school, and even after he was long gone, people still whispered about him. Some said he was a hotshot sharpshooter. Others said he was in the Special Forces. I don’t know if either of those things were true; what I do know is when I’m in the same room as him, my stomach feels like it’s going to come up the back of my throat and my mind stops working properly, making me act like a complete idiot.
“Harmony and Cobi are cousins,” Sophie says, not knowing my thoughts. “Cobi stopped by to check on Harmony on his way out. He told us you were still here, that you were in some pain, and to make sure you were looked after.”
“Oh.” I look between them. “The nurse gave me some Tylenol not long ago. I’m already feeling better.”
“Good,” Sophie replies softly.
“How is Harmony? I’ve asked about her a few times, but no one has given me any information.”
“She’s awake; she’s okay. She’s been worried about you.”
“Please tell her I’m okay and that I’m glad she is too.”
“I will,” she agrees softly.
I look from her to Nico when he mutters a quiet “Fuck,” then follow his gaze across the room to the television and my crappy old Facebook picture that’s on the screen. “Someone leaked both your names to the media,” he says, looking down at me. “The hospital has promised to find out who did it and deal with them, but as you can see, they’re already running with the story.” He could say that again. “Are you being released today?”
“As far as I know.” I shrug one shoulder ever so slightly. “My doctor came in earlier and said I should be okay to go home, but he hasn’t been back again.”
“Do you have a ride?” I think about Brie and the look on her face earlier. If I don’t call her to pick me up, she will lose her mind and I will never hear the end of it.
“I have a friend who will come pick me up once I’m released.”
“Right,” he mumbles and pulls out his phone. I watch him type something, and then less than ten seconds later, his phone beeps and he looks at me once more. “All set. Once your doctor says you can go, an officer will be here to escort you out to the staff parking lot. You can have your friend pick you up there.”
“Thank you.” My muscles relax—actually, my whole body relaxes at the news that I won’t have to go out front and face the cameras.
“Anytime, and I’m sure Cobi will take care of you. But if you need anything, I’ll give you my number. Don’t be afraid to call.”
“Thanks,” I murmur, ignoring the Cobi taking care of me part, since after today I will hopefully never see him again.
Nico smiles a strange smile, like he knows something I don’t.
“We’re going to go and let you rest,” Sophie says, grabbing my hand and attention. “But when Harmony is up to it, I’d love to have you join us for dinner.”
I study her and her husband then think about what happened last night with Harmony. It’s not a lie when I say, “I’d like that.”
“Good.” She leans over to kiss my cheek then, surprising me, Nico does the same. My throat itches as I watch them leave my room talking quietly and holding hands. I wonder if Harmony knows how lucky she is to have two people who obviously love each other and her; I hope she does. As a child of parents who can barely stand each other and couldn’t care less about me, I know that kind of love is rare.
_______________
“You’re free to leave, but I want you back here in a couple days so I can look at your stitches,” Dr. Ross says, jotting something down in my file before meeting my gaze. “But if you have any nausea or if your headache gets worse, you need to come back to the emergency room.”
“Sure,” I agree, then I look toward the door when someone comes into the room. I take in the older gentleman and let out a relieved breath when I see a badge clipped to his belt. I also see he’s carrying my purse and a white plastic shopping bag in one hand.
“Don’t forget to come back. Normally there is nothing to worry about after getting stitches, but from time to time, infection can set in, and I want to make sure that doesn’t happen,” Dr. Ross adds, pulling my attention back to him.
“I’ll be sure to come back,” I assure him, as the officer comes closer to my bed and Dr. Ross looks at him.
“Detective Frank, this is Ms. Emmerson. They told me you’d be in to escort her out of the hospital. I appreciate it. Things have been a mess since the story broke.”
“Anytime,” Detective Frank replies, giving me a small smile before he looks at Dr. Ross. “It’s going to be a while before the story dies down. You might wanna get a couple more security guards on the front door to manage who’s coming into the building. I stopped one reporter on my way up and sent them back outside.”
“I’ll talk to the head of the security department and see what they can do,” Dr. Ross says, looking annoyed. I can’t say I blame him; I’d be annoyed too if my place of work was overrun with media.
“Let me know if you need my captain to make a call.”
“Will do,” Dr. Ross tells him, and then his eyes come back to me. “Take some Tylenol when you get home, and rest. I’ll see you in a couple days.”
“Sure.”
He lifts his chin toward me then does the same to the detective before he leaves.
“Mayson wanted to come himself, but he’s tied up on a case,” Detective Frank says, and I focus on him, blinking in surprise. Why would Cobi want to come himself? “He also gave me this to give to you.” He hands me my purse and the plastic shopping bag.
I open the plastic bag, seeing a pair of sweats and a plain white shirt. Cobi sent clothes for me? What the heck?
“He didn’t have to do this.” I hold up the T-shirt. “My friend would’ve brought me clothes when she came to pick me up,” I inform him.
“We spoke before I came here. We think it’d be better if your friend doesn’t come inside to pick you up, and Mayson doesn’t want you having to wander the hospital in that gown or to have to go home in it.” Okay, there was a lot there to take in, but before I have a chance to reply, he continues. “He also said you still need to give your statement. You up for that right now?”
I’m not really up for it, but still I want this done. “I’d like to get it over with.”
His face softens. “How about you call whoever is picking you up then go change. We should be done by the time they get here.”