POV Jess
I don't know what possessed me to blow up like that, it was completely unprofessional and unjustified. I guess, even though Cole gets under my skin, it irked me that, that group acted like they cared. Not once did any one of them even have the decency to call. Now, I'll give them the benefit of the doubt that they weren't aware of the accident, but come to think of it, they had to have known; they were all riding together, except one, who was slightly ahead of the others and in my gut the one ahead was Cole. My brain is beginning to hurt trying to figure it all and maybe there is nothing to figure out, who knows? Maybe this isn't even the same motorcyclist from the night of the accident and I just lost my shit on innocent people. Embarrassment floods my cheeks at the thought.
As I walk down the hall to refill Cole's antibiotic I begin to overhear two familiar voices in conversation just around the corner. Lex and Shaggy. I halt in my steps, one, not wanting to face them, and two I'm curious about what they're saying. To justify the first one I could undoubtedly just turn the other way no harm no foul but the devilish side in me wants to hear.
"Can you believe that fucking nurse?! Who does she think she is?! I'm filing a report with whoever owns this place!" Shaggy sharply bites out.
Great… I'm in for it…
"Riley.." Lex exaggerates his name. Ahh, so Shaggys got a name.
Riley? I've seen him in pictures with Cole on his Facebook but in the pictures, his hair was significantly shorter. They're in a lot of photos together actually.
"And what the fuck was that Lex? Kissing him? I almost knocked his fucking teeth out!" He's losing his cool and my god, this just got a shit ton more interesting.
"I'm sorry! What was I supposed to do?!" Lex is clearly panicking.
"Oh, I don't know maybe don't kiss him!" I hear him let out a frustrated breath.
"Cmon let's get out of this hell hole," Riley says and that's the last thing I'm able to hear.
Wow. I can't even wrap my head around everything that happened tonight. Cole and Riley are both convinced Lex is theirs. Damn, who needs Love is Blind when I've got the real drama unfolding right in front of my face. I experience drama on the daily, medical drama, my own personal drama but social drama? Rarely.
Once I know the coast is clear I head to where I need to go for the refill. Get it done and trail my way back to Cole's room in hopes that this antibiotic doesn't make its way back on my scrubs. I can't believe he did that, what a child. There are several faint white stains splashed all over me, and I almost want to head up to the ICU just to show Charlotte.
I quietly knock at Cole's door before entering so that he knows I'm here. When I get in, his head is down and he looks downhearted. Ugh that stupid good part of me encourages me to apologize for my behavior but the pride in me wants to watch him suffer.
In the end the good wins, "Look, I'm sorry, I stepped out of place."
He doesn't look at me, "Give me the antibiotic and just leave."
"Cole.." I start but he cuts me off.
He finally looks at me, straight in the eyes and filled with hate, "No, I don't know who the fuck you are or who you think you are but stay out of my business. You don't know shit so please, do me a favor and kindly fuck off."
Cole doesn't physically slap me in the face but it sure as hell feels like he did. A variety of emotions hit me like a freight train. Guilt, sadness, anger, and embarrassment rise through me. Have I become so deluded in his case that I'm forgetting where I really stand in this equation? He is my patient, nothing more and nothing less. I hand over the antibiotic with no response to his words and leave him as I found him.