Page 18 of Crossing the Line

The doctor looked at me like I was being hysterical. “There’s no hospital on the island, Mr. Hawkins. You’d have to go to the mainland to go to a hospital.”

I was considering it when Kelsie slapped my arm. “I’m not going to the mainland for this. I’m fine.”

I glanced at her bruised temple again, but I recognized the look she gave me. She wasn’t going to give in on this. I sighed.

“Fine.” I turned back to the doctor. “You’re sure it’s not a concussion?”

She hesitated, as if she didn’t want to answer. That didn’t make me feel better. “I’m not sure. But I think it’s unlikely. Technically, symptoms might not show up immediately due to adrenaline, but…”

“So, what symptoms should we look out for?”

If Kelsie wasn’t going to the hospital to confirm that she was fine, I’d just have to make sure of it myself. So, I listened closely to every symptom the doctor said to look out for over the next twenty-four hours. Moodiness, clumsiness, vomiting, confusion… the list went on. But I knew I’d remember all of it. This was too important to forget.

“And if she unexpectedly loses consciousness at all, even briefly, bring her back here right away,” the doctor finished. When I looked toward Kelsie again, she at least seemed to be taking it seriously now. The doctor handed over a bottle of Tylenol to Kelsie. “Take this for headache pain and get plenty of rest.”

Kelsie went to stand, the paper on the examination table crinkling beneath her, and I rushed forward to lift her into my arms again. Her raised hands and the stern look on her face stopped me.

“I’ll walk,” she said firmly.

I didn’t think it was in my best interest to argue with her, so I just stayed close as we left the med room. When we reached the lobby, Leanne came rushing up to us.

“There you are!” Kelsie winced at the loudness of Leanne’s voice, and I bit back the urge to chastise her. She meant well. “I wanted to come after you sooner, but Damien took off so quickly, and I wasn’t sure where you went.”

“We just left the med room,” Kelsie said. “The doctor says I’m fine.”

“She says she thinks you’re fine. You could still have a concussion.”

Kelsie shot me an impatient look while Leanne seemed to be struggling not to smile.

“Well, I brought your stuff from the beach.” Leanne held out a canvas bag, and I took it before Kelsie could. Peeking inside, I saw my phone and clothing along with Kelsie’s dress and the seashells she’d collected on the beach. “I take it that you won’t be joining us for dinner tonight?”

“No,” I said, not sure if Kelsie planned to go or not. The doctor said she needed to rest, and I was going to make sure it happened. “We’re going to order room service and watch a movie.”

Kelsie arched a single eyebrow. “Is that what we’re doing?”

“Yep.”

Just the two of us this time.

We parted ways with Leanne, heading to the floor where we were both staying. Kelsie was quieter than usual, but I didn’t push for her to talk, worried about her headache. She took two Tylenol in the med room, but it might not have kicked in yet.

I wanted to stick with her, but we were both covered in sand and needed to get cleaned up. So, I went to my room first, taking a fast shower and ordering room service to Kelsie’s room. When I knocked on her door, she answered with damp hair and dewy skin from her own shower.

She was wearing a tank top with a cartoon cat on the front and a pair of fleece pajama pants. Her feet were bare, and her red painted toes curled into the carpet when I glanced down.

She was adorable.

“Food’s on the way,” I said, and she stepped back to let me in. The way her breasts moved beneath her shirt told me that she wasn’t wearing a bra, and a tingle ran down my spine at the thought of being alone with her like that. God, it would be so easy to slip a hand under her shirt and touch…

“Thanks,” she said, seeming more relaxed than before. I hoped that meant her headache medicine had kicked in. “I probably could’ve gone to dinner, but it’s been a busy couple of days, and I’m kind of looking forward to just relaxing in the hotel room.”

“You need rest,” I said, gesturing to the couch.

Kelsie smiled as she took a seat. “You know, you worry too much.”

“Only about you.”

The words slipped out before I could think them through, and Kelsie’s expression shuttered. The air between us felt thick with things unsaid and regrets we couldn’t take back.