I pull her to lie down next to me on the bed and I hold her tight. “You ok, baby? That was a pretty awful nightmare you had last night.”
She smiles warmly and kisses me and her lips linger on mine. “The wake-up call I got has erased all bad memories, thank you Mr Stanton.”
I squeeze her tightly. “Good … Tash do you want to go travelling for a while? Take a couple of months, see the world.”
Her eyes widen. “You are serious about this? Could you take time off?”
“I don’t see why not.” I smile warmly.
“Oh, I have to go back to Australia on the weekend. I need to be back at work on Monday.”
My eyes widen, “Well that’s not happening. I need you with me.”
“Joshua, I am going back to resign and there is not a thing you can do about it. My boss has been so good to me and two other staff are on holidays and I am booked solid all week. I will come back in two weeks.”
“I will come with you then. I am not letting you out of my sight.” Bloody hell, this is a logistical nightmare.
The doctor enters the room. “Cameron has just explained the situation to me. I understand you are checking out.”
“Yes, I have to go to Sydney on the weekend, Doctor, so I will just pick up my treatment over there.”
“I’m afraid that won’t be possible. You are unable to fly for at least two weeks-your heartbeat is too erratic. Let’s not forget that you almost died three days ago. You will risk a heart attack at that altitude.”
“Josh, I will just come back in two weeks. It will be ok,” Natasha urges as she picks up my hand again.
“I will send a nurse in to put a drip in for a couple of hours to rehydrate you and then I will hook you up to an angiogram for an hour and if the results are all good I will check you out this afternoon. Definitely no flying for two weeks.”
It’s four o’clock. Josh has been hooked up to a drip for three hours. I’m tired and I just want to get the hell out of here. I stand and stretch, the nurse pushes in the heart-rate thingy and starts to stick things to Joshua’s chest.
“I’m going to go to the bathroom outside in the waiting room, Josh.”
He frowns and mouths the words, “Just go in here,” as he gestures to his bathroom with his chin.
I smile and shake my head. “The private rooms outside are riddled with guards. I will just be a minute.”
He shakes his head apprehensively. “Be quick.”
I smile and leave the room. I head through the lounge area and I see Max.
“Max, I think I want a coffee. Let’s go for a walk.”
He frowns. “You can’t leave the room till the other guards get back.”
“Where are they?”
“They have gone back to check Joshua’s house and prepare for the transfer.”
I roll my eyes. “This is ridiculous: prepare for the transfer. This isn’t an episode of bloody Star Trek you know.”
He smiles. “I will go get the coffee. Do not leave this room.”
I give him a salute. “Aye, aye captain.” As he leaves the room, security buzz through.
“We have an Amelie Richards here to see Joshua Stanton.” Max looks at me for approval and I nod as I head into the bathroom. Great, bitchface is here. I suppose it is better she comes here rather than to the house to see him.
I finish up in the bathroom and am washing my hands when she walks in.
“Hello Natasha.” She smiles.
“Hi Amelie. Thank you for coming. He’s in the room. Just go in.”
“I didn’t come here to see Joshua. I came to see you.”
I frown. “Really, what about?”
“What has Joshua told you about him and me?” she replies flatly.
My stomach drops and my heart rate picks up speed. “What do you mean?”
“I mean exactly what I said. What do you think Joshua and my relationship is?”
“That you are close friends,” I whisper as dread creeps through me.
She tutts. “Did he tell you that we have been sleeping together since he got back from Australia?”
I stumble back from her in shock.
“You’re lying,” I snap.
“Go ask him for yourself. You see Joshua is confused. He thinks it is you that he wants but the reality is he can’t let me go. We made passionate love as recently as Friday.”
Pain lances through me as I step back from her in shock. That’s five days ago.
“I don’t believe you!” I whisper.
“Natasha, I think it’s time you realise the harsh truth. You cannot make him happy like I can. He is only with you out of obligation. Wake up and smell the coffee, dear girl. Joshua is in love with me.”
I scurry out of the bathroom in a daze and find myself entering Joshua’s room. The nurse is still in there adjusting his machines. He smiles warmly at me as I stand at the end of the bed, my face is blank and expressionless and I fall into the chair against the wall as I keep staring at him in shock. This can’t be true. I don’t believe her. He frowns and puts his head on the side in a question as he looks at me. My eyes fall to the floor as I go over the words Amelie has just relayed to me: He’s only with you out of obligation. He loves me. We made passionate love as recently as Friday.
The nurse smiles and leaves the room and he holds his hand out for me.
“Come and lie with me, presh.”
My heart stops, I stand and walk to the end of his bed.
“Did you sleep with Amelie?” I breathe.
His face falls and he starts to pull the cannula out of the back of his hand.
“Natasha,” he whispers.
“Did you or not?” I cry.