Page 87 of Paging Dr. VanRyan

“Right here,” she replied, appearing beside Mark.

“What happened? Where—” A rush of pain hit me, and I hissed.

“We’re preparing you for surgery. CT confirmed that your spleen ruptured, and we need it out. Now.”

“Spleen?” I repeated, my mind not computing the way it usually did.

“Yes. We’re going in now. You’ll feel better soon.”

A nurse I knew added something to the IV attached to my arm, making me drowsy.

“Maddy,” I pleaded.

“Still here,” she said soothingly.

“My parents…”

“I’ll call them.”

“Tell them…” I swallowed, my train of thought fading. “I’m okay.”

She laughed dryly. “I’ll pass that along.”

“Maddy,” I said again, struggling to get the words out.

“I’m here,” she whispered, her face close to mine.

“I love you.”

I faded, but I was sure I heard the words I so desperately needed to hear.

“I love you too.”

I woke up groggy and disoriented. I gazed around the room, slowly recognizing the fact that I was in the hospital.

But right now, I wasn’t a doctor. I was a patient. My gaze traced the IV pole, the slow drip, drip of the pump that filled me with saline and, no doubt, pain medication. I studied the monitor, noting my steady heartbeat and pulse. My O2 level was good.

Now, if only I could fully recall why I was here.

I scanned the room, again, this time my gaze finding the figure curled up in the chair beside the bed, asleep.

“Maddy,” I murmured.

She was there.

Her eyes snapped open, and she stood, hovering over me. Her hands fluttered, almost touching but not quite. “You’re awake.”

“I am.”

“How are you feeling?”

“Like a truck hit me.”

She smiled, not objecting when I grasped one hand and held it to my face. “What happened?”

“Your spleen ruptured.” She frowned. “You’ve been walking around with mono, Matthew VanRyan. Pretending you’re Superman and nothing was wrong. I’m so mad at you.”

Her eyes flashed, and she looked furious. And sexy. I was okay with her being mad. She was talking to me.