Page 10 of Doc Rock
“What’s the problem?”Mai demanded.
The security guard leaned forward and whispered,“Drugs.”
“Right.”Mai grabbed the bag that contained the drug antidotes, which were, evidently, standard issue at any concert.“Coming.”
She dashed after the security guard, who was already rushing away and shoved her glasses back up her nose. They always slipped down when she ran. Not that she ran often, she maintained that trotting along the street, getting sweaty, wasnother idea of exercise. She much preferred Pilates.
It wasn’t until she got backstage that the reality of the situation hit her.
She was closer to Midnight Thunder—closer to him—than she’d been since she left sixteen years ago.
Shit.What if it was Ford? What would she do?
Her mind began to spiral, but the security guard pushed a door open and gestured for her to go inside, snapping her out of it.
The first thing shesawwas Ford standingthere, staring at her as she entered the room.
Their eyes met.
She immediately dropped hers. Her breathing was erratic, and she purposefully turned her head away from him, her gaze skimming over Joel and Scotty, to look instead at the man lying on the sofa, clearly unconscious.
It must be Ryan, she'd read about his ongoing‘issues’.
Donnie knelt next to the slumped man, one hand on his chest. When their manager’s eyes swung to her, they didn't hold a hint of recognition.
“I’m the doctor.”Mai didn’t supply them with her name.“What happened to Ryan?”
She strode across the room, gently pushing Donnie out of the way to look at Ryan.
“Drugs,” Donnie said.
“Right.”Mai nodded and dumped the medical bags on the floor.“Any idea what kind?”
She glanced up and made eye contact with Scotty and Joel. She avoided looking at Ford, knowing that seeing him look back at her with no recognition in his eyes was something she couldn’t handle.
“Maybe fentanyl,” Scotty said. “The dickhead—” he winced, “—sorry, Doc.”
“I’veheardthat word before. Don’t worry.”She'd spent six years in a band; sheknewevery swear word in existence and a few that they made up.
She swallowed hard. She spent six years withthisband. This washerband. They still sanghersongs.
“This idiot,”Scotty amended.“He’s been talking about trying fentanyl for ages. I think he finally found a dealer.”
Mai grabbed a torch out of the medical kit, then leaned over and opened Ryan’s eyelids to examine his pupils. Pinpoint, just like she expected. It looked likely that this was opioids. Hopefully, the Narcan would do the trick.
“Right.”Mai pulled some equipment out of her bag and set up to cannulate Ryan. It had been years since she put a drip into an adult, so she reminded herself thatit wouldbe easy. This was just a giant baby.
“And probably a shit load of booze.”
Mai froze for a moment as Ford’s voice rumbled from behind her, and goosebumps ran over her skin.
The last time shesawhim, he tried to persuade her to go for a walk with him. She refused, and as he left, he turned around to face her, blowing her a kiss.
What would he say if he knew it was her?
Would he be angry?
Would he be happy?
