Perfect Strangers Read Online Free PDF Page A

hand. We’re leaving the vehicle and heading toward the
emergency room’s entrance.
     
     

Watch Over Me
     
    Once inside, I’m surprised to see an empty waiting room.
Usually, this place is packed. I’ve been here for minor issues and waited for
hours. Hopefully, tonight will be a quick in-and-out visit.
    Drew takes charge and guides me to the registration desk.
After all the paperwork and insurance information is exchanged, we take a seat
and wait for my name to be called. I’m very thankful to have him by my side,
but I’m also not sure if he wants or should be with me when I see the doctor. I
bite my lip, worrying about where to go from here.
    “What’s the matter?” He’s watching my teeth push into my
lip. For being practically strangers, he has an uncanny way of reading me.
    “God, this is so awkward, but when they call my name, I’ll
just head back on my own?”
    “How about I go back with you and stand outside the door. So
if you need me for anything, I’ll be there.”
    “Where did you come from Drew? You’re a little too perfect,”
I tease.
    He takes my hand in his and I haven’t forgot how good he
feels, so comforting. I sigh and lean in closer to him.
    “Perfect would be a better description of you.” He’s so good
at turning the tables back on me.
    “See. That’s what I’m talking about.” If I wasn’t holding
his warm hand right now, I might believe I was dreaming up this guy.
    “Katrina Williams.” I hear my name being called out by
someone. We rise out of our chairs and head toward the nurse across the room.
She holds a chart in her hand and has a door propped open with her leg.
    “I’m Katrina,” I tell her when we’re a couple feet away.
“That was quick. I just signed in.”
    “It’s the snowstorm. No one is out in this weather.” She
appraises us quickly, likely wondering what the heck we’re doing here. Her eyes
then read over what appears to be my chart.
    “It says here possible head trauma?” She speaks to us as we
walk to a nearby curtained area. It’s a little room with a small hospital bed
and some medical equipment.
    “I hit my head when I swerved into a jackknifed bus on Lake
Shore. Nothing big, really. I don’t even have a headache anymore.”
    “Lake Shore,” the nurse repeats slowly. “Were you two
stranded out there?”
    “Yes, after the bus blocked the lane, the snow started to
pile up and no one could move their cars.”
    “It’s all over the radio. They’re saying about one hundred
cars are stuck out there.” It’s impossible to miss the concern in her voice.
She motions for me to sit on the bed. I obey and notice that Drew is still
standing near me. So much for waiting outside my room and I’m glad.
    The nurse takes my vital signs and records them on a page
inside my chart. She presses a few keys on a small laptop sitting on a tall
table toward the end of the bed.
    “Rest here.” She lightly touches my shoulder. “The doctor
should be in in a few minutes.”
    As soon as she moves beyond the curtain, I remember
something super important. My mother.
    “Crap. I still haven’t called my mother. She’s gonna kill me
for sure now.” I cringe as I imagine her reaction to what I’ll tell her. I’m
definitely in a heap of trouble.
    Somehow, Drew has been carrying my purse for me since I
registered with the front desk. Truthfully, I can’t even remember handing it to
him. It’s like we’re a couple already. I hold out my hand and eye my purse,
which he hands over to me.
    I pull the phone out and call my mother. Predictably, she
answers before the first ring even finishes.
    “Kat! Please tell me you’re okay?” I’ve never heard her so
worried before.
    “Well, yes and no.” I prepare for her freak out.
    “What do you mean?” she sounds panicked.
    “There was this bus on Lake Shore Drive. It fishtailed and I
sideswiped it, but the hit didn’t even set off my airbags.”
    I hear her yelling to my father. He must be in the