Т Нован - Exposure Season 2

I don't know how long I've been dozing when the slight creaking of the door catches my attention. I open my eyes to find Dr. Susan Hamilton. Apparently, she got lost on her way to the pediatrics ward.

"Hey, Doc," I mutter. I don't bother to stand up or offer my hand.

She seems surprised to see me. Get used to it, Doc.

"Ms. Kingsley," she says cordially. "I came to see Kels."

Don’t call her that. I call her that. You don't. "Kelsey." The correction slips out before I can stop it. Mama would be appalled at my manners. "Has been taken to surgery, a little while ago."

It's clear that Susan caught my correction. "Ah, well, okay. Sorry to disturb you. I’ll check back in a few hours."

I force myself to keep from swearing a blue streak. Catch a clue, Doc, and move along. You ain't her girlfriend anymore. "If you insist."

She pauses. "Meaning?"

"Nothing, Doc," I lie. "It’s just that when she comes back, she’s barely going to know I’m here. Let alone if you are." Okay, I can only do mature adult for so long and I’m fucking tired of ex-girlfriends dropping in.

I mean, I can understand about CJ, they had the Erik connection. But, this one … Jesus … all they did was share a couple sweaty nights under the sheets. It wasn't very long before she traded the substitute for the real thing. Kinda like switching from Pepsi to Coke. Once you've made the change, you never go back.

And now, I’m tired, I’m frustrated, I’m scared, and I want the parade of ex-lovers to leave us alone. We'll send out a fucking group email to all of them when she gets out of the hospital.

Of course, I still don't know who the fifth lover was. Beth was her first, at college. CJ was in LA. Susan … far too recent for my comfort. Me. Who was the other? And where does she fit in the timeline? Or was it a man?

Oh God, Harper, don't go there. Calm down. It doesn't matter if she slept with a duck. She's with you now.

Actually, the duck thing would be kinda hard to overlook.

"Ms. Kings … Harper, I know you and Kelsey are together now. I suspected I was a stand-in the first time I met you, to be honest."

Yeah, well, if so, why didn't you walk away then?

"I’m not here to interfere in that. I was merely stopping in to see a friend."

I shake my head a little, trying to get some of the nastiness out. I can't believe I'm being such a jerk. "I’m sorry. I’m tired and we’ve been through so much…"

She puts her hand up to stall my words. "I know. I didn’t mean to add to your frustration. I’ll call before I come back over. In the meantime, why don’t you take advantage of the quiet and get some sleep?"

I let loose a deep, relaxing breath. Well, at least the Doc is a gracious loser. "Doctor’s orders?"

"Absolutely." She digs into her pocket she tosses me something. "For after your nap." With a slight wave, she leaves the room.

I look in my left hand to find a sucker. I can’t help but laugh. Well, I was acting like a child.

The ringing phone wakes me up. I stumble over to the bedside table and lift up the receiver. "Hello?"

For a moment, all I hear is static on the other end of the line. Then a man begins speaking, occasionally being overwhelmed by the bad connection. "Hello! Is this Kelsey Stanton's room?"

Great. Now we have the tabloids from across the pond calling us. "Who's calling?"

"This is her father, Matthew Stanton."

Not the reply I was expecting. "Mr. Stanton, this is Harper Kingsley, I …," I stumble over our relationship, not wanting this call to go poorly, "I work with your daughter."

"May I speak to her, please? I'm calling from Bulgaria and the phone system is less than reliable, I'm afraid."

I can hear the connection breaking up again. "I'm afraid she's in surgery right now. I don't know when she'll be back."

"How is she?"

"She's going to be fine, sir. The surgery is to repair her knee. Otherwise, she is doing really well. The doctors are pleased with her progress."

I hear him let out a deep breath. "Thank God. Can you give her a message for me, please?"

"I'd be happy to, Mr. Stanton." All the manners I couldn't dredge up for Susan are coming out in full force for Kelsey's dad.

"Tell her I love her, I'm thinking about her and when I get back stateside I'll come visit her. I'm, unfortunately, going to be here in Sofia for another few weeks. My firm has been called in to help them restructure their economy — "

Shit, is that all?

"— And I can't leave yet."

"Of course, I'll tell her." But I'm talking to dead air, the connection gone. "Nice meeting you."

I hate the dopey feeling of waking up after surgery. I seem to remember waking briefly in recovery and being told I was being moved back to my room. My brain immediately translated that to being back with Harper. I was happy.

Something smells awfully good. This means I must still be dreaming, because nothing in this place smells good. Not the orderlies, not the medicine, and certainly not the food.

I open my eyes and see Harper and Mama sitting across the room eating whatever it is that has my stomach rumbling. I lick my lips, but can’t seem to get past the cotton in my mouth.

God, I hate this. I hate being here. I hate having my knee all screwed up. I hate having a broken wrist. I hate still feeling crappy after three weeks. I hate that I can't take a shower, or even go the bathroom on my own. I hate not sleeping next to Harper. And I really hate eating food I can't identify.

I must have moaned my frustration, because before I can do anything else there is a concerned set of blue eyes staring down at me. I actually smile in response.

"Hey, Little Roo."

"Water," I manage.

"Sure, chér, hold on." I feel her slide a strong arm behind my back to prop me up a bit. I put my lips around the straw presented to me. Oh, this has to be the best drink of water I have ever had.

"Thanks." I let the straw go. "What smells so good?" I fumble for the controls of my bed to bring myself more upright. I’m damn tired of lying flat on my back. Especially when it’s not for a good reason. Since Harper is not in this bed with me, there’s no good reason.

"Mama made sweet potato and andouille soup."

"Oh that’s cruel, Tabloid. You sit in here eating like a king while I'm gonna be brought pudding and soft eggs."

"I’m willing to sneak you some." Harper offers me a dazzling smile. She knows we're being bad.

"I’ll love you forever."

"Ah, that's not a bribe, Kels. You were gonna do that anyway," she teases.

I watch as she and Mama prepare me a small bowl of real food. I feel my stomach wake up in response. If they don't hurry, I might digest my pancreas at this rate. To distract myself from my hunger, I look at my knee. My whole leg is now encased in a brace to keep me from moving it. This is not something for which I needed any incentive. It hurts like a son of a bitch.

Harper returns to me, lowering the rail on my bed and carefully takes a seat. I am impressed that she didn't spill the soup all over. I would have. Especially now in my dopey stage.

Feeling the spoon at my lips, I take a little taste. Oh, that’s good. Very good. I’ve got to get out of this hospital before I starve to death.

It doesn’t take long before I’ve finished the small bowl of soup.

"As always, Mama, wonderful." I smile at her when she joins us at my bedside. She places in my hand a mug of tea. "Ah, that’s good," I hum taking the first sip.

"Mama brought a thermos of Earl Gray for you. You can count on her to take good care of us." Harper's voice is filled with fondness for her mother.

"We can’t wait to have you home, Little One. We’ll have you back on your feet in no time."