Don't Forget Me Read online

  Chase snorts, and Noah jumps in and steers the conversation onto another topic as I stop listening.

  This stroll down memory lane sucks.

  The guys continue to talk with her, and I stare at my napkin. I cannot believe I obsessed over Billie for six months when I could have been with Charlotte.

  God, I’m a dickhead.

  Charlotte. I need to figure out how to get her to talk to me.

  Billie is going on and on about something, and I wish she would leave. I turn to the window, and I see her.

  Wearing her blue hat, her blue eyes full of tears, is Charlotte. A lump rises in my throat, and I push Jamison so hard he almost slides onto the floor on his butt. I step on the bench, jump over him, and run out of the restaurant.

  “Xander!” Noah calls out as I’m almost to the door, but I don’t turn around.

  When I get outside, Charlotte is running down the street.

  “Charlotte, stop!” I yell, but she keeps running.

  “Charlotte!”

  She doesn’t turn around. The crosswalk light is flashing stop, but she doesn’t. A black car plows into her, and as she goes flying, her eyes catch mine.

  “Charlotte!” I scream as she hits the pavement hard in the intersection.

  I run over to her and pull out my phone, dialing 911.

  “Charlotte. Stay with me, baby.” I stroke her face and clasp her hand in my other one.

  Somehow, Noah, Chase, and Jamison arrive on the scene before the ambulance. They go into paramedic mode, but I’m useless other than trying to get Charlotte to stay awake.

  She tries to talk and moans in pain.

  “Shh,” I tell her and stroke her cheek. “It’s okay, baby. Just stay awake for me.”

  I’m crying. I don’t realize it until my tear hits her cheek.

  “Xa...” she tries to get out my name, and my heart breaks further.

  “Shh,” I tell her again. “It’s okay, sweetheart. Just stay awake with me.”

  The ambulance comes and the paramedics immobilize her. I ride with her to the hospital.

  “Xa...” she tries to repeat my name, as she blinks over and over.

  “It’s okay, baby. Shh. We’re almost there.” I hold her hand tighter and try to get her to focus on my face.

  She moans in pain, and my heart once again bleeds.

  “Stay awake, Charlotte. Just stay with me,” I keep telling her, stroking her cheek and trying to keep it together.

  Her eyes flutter and then shut, and I fear I’ve lost her.

  When we get to the hospital, the doctor tells me to leave.

  “I’m a surgeon in this hospital. I work under Dr. Sear.”

  “I’m sorry, but this isn’t your department. You know the rules. Go out to the waiting room.”

  “No.”

  “Go, or security will remove you from the premises.” The doctor gives me a stern look.

  “I’m not leaving her,” I say as Noah walks in.

  “Xander, you need to come to the waiting room.” He puts his hand on my shoulder.

  “I’m not leaving here,” I repeat.

  “I will call security,” the doctor warns me.

  Noah gets in my face. “You can’t do anything right now but come to the waiting room. If you don’t go, you’ll be kicked out, and that won’t help Charlotte. Come on.”

  I glance at her as the nurse shuts the curtain then Noah leads me to the waiting room.

  Jamison is already there with Quinn and Piper.

  It hasn’t even been an hour, but it feels like a lifetime passes before the doctor comes out. Piper stands next to me, since she’s one of her “in case of emergency” contacts.

  “She has a concussion, and we are worried about internal bleeding. She has terrible bruising. I’m shocked, but she doesn’t have any broken bones. Her left wrist is sprained, and she came down on her shoulder pretty hard, but we didn’t find any fractures.”

  “What about her foot? She was in a car accident this year and had to have it reconstructed.”

  “Her foot is fine.”

  “Is she awake?”

  The doctor shakes his head. “She is in and out of consciousness. We are trying to keep her awake.”

  “Can I see her?”

  The doctor shakes his head again. “Not yet. We will let you know when you can go back.”

  “How long will that be?” I ask in a snarky tone.

  He gives me a look of mixed sympathy and annoyance. “We will let you know.”

  Piper puts her hand on my arm. “Xander, come sit down.”

  I plop into a chair. I don’t know what else to do.

  I feel a hand on my shoulder. Vivian is sitting next to me. “They kicked me out,” I tell her.

  She nods.

  “I’m a doctor, and they kicked me out.”

  Several minutes pass, and Chase arrives.

  She needs to wake up and stay awake.

  Concussions and internal bleeding are dangerous, and a million different thoughts race through my mind.

  “Don’t go there.” Noah snaps me out of my thoughts.

  I stare at him.

  “Don’t,” he repeats. “She will be okay.”

  I stand up. “This is ridiculous. I’m a surgeon in this hospital.” I walk away.

  “Where are you going?” Chase asks.

  “To override this bullshit policy.”

  Noah is by my side. “Xander, what are you doing?”

  “I’m going to talk to Dr. Sear and get access. I’m not sitting in the waiting room any longer. I’m a doctor for God’s sake.”

  “Xander—”

  I spin on him. “Stop. I’m going to Dr. Sear, and that’s it.”

  He considers then nods. “Okay. Let me come with you.”

  “Fine.”

  I plow through the hospital directly to Dr. Sear’s office, past his assistant, and knock. He yells to come in.

  “Xander,” he says, surprised when I open the door, and his assistant is behind me telling him she is sorry for my intrusion.

  Before he can say anything, I blurt out, “Charlotte is in the ER. She got hit by a car, and they can’t keep her awake. I need to get into the room.”

  He stands. “Did they diagnose her yet?”

  “Possible internal bleeding, concussion, sprained wrist, and shoulder. You need to help me, so they don’t call security. Please.”

  He pats me on the back. “Okay. Let’s go.”

  “Thank you.”

  We walk back through the hospital and into the ER unit. Dr. Sear finds her doctor, and, after a five-minute conversation, he allows me to go back, with the agreement, I won’t interfere with any decisions the doctors need to make.

  Noah pats me on the back, leaves, and goes to the waiting room. I thank Dr. Sear, and he tells me to keep him updated.

  I enter Charlotte’s room. She’s hooked up to all kinds of machines. I know what every device is, what it does, and why she needs it, but when I look at her, I have to blink back tears.

  The nurses are on shifts to try to keep her conscious. The one currently in the room I’ve spoken with several times over the last few weeks during my hospital duties, and I tell her I will take over trying to wake Charlotte. She leaves, and I lean over Charlotte and kiss her forehead. “Charlotte, wake up, sweetheart.”

  Her eyes flutter but only momentarily.

  I kiss her eyelids, one at a time, then whisper in her ear, “Come on. I need you to open your eyes, Charlotte.”

  She opens her eyes then shuts them quickly.

  “The lights are bright, just go slow.”

  She tries again and moans as she closes them.

  “You’re doing good. Just keep trying.” I kiss her on the lips and stroke her cheek.

  “Xander,” she whispers with her eyes closed.

  I brush my hand across her hair. “I’m right here. Open your eyes for me.”

  Her eyes open and then shut again. “Bright,” she whispers.
/>   “I know, baby, but you need to keep them open. Let me help you.” I cover her eyes so they are semi-shaded from the light. “Open your eyes now, and I’ll move my hands slowly.”

  She moans. “Everything hurts.”

  I tilt my head down so I can see her eyes through my hand. “I know, baby, I know. I need you to open your eyes so you can get better. Come on, Charlotte.”

  Her eyes slowly open, and this time she doesn’t shut them.

  “Good girl. Okay, I’m going to move my hand just a little, and it will get brighter. Look at your feet and not the ceiling.”

  Her eyes shut.

  “Open your eyes,” I tell her sternly.

  She opens them quickly.

  “Good. Look at your feet.”

  She tries to focus on her feet.

  “Good. You’re doing good, Charlotte. It’s going to get brighter.”

  “Wait,” she whispers.

  “Okay.”

  She grabs my hand with hers, shuts her eyes, and brings my hand to her lips.

  A tear slides down my cheek, and I wipe it away on my arm. I bend down and kiss her forehead. “You have to wake up, sweetheart. Wake up so I can help you, okay?”

  “Mm-hmm,” she mumbles.

  I put my hand back over her eyes, but I don’t shield as much light this time. “Look at your feet, baby.”

  She opens her eyes and stares at her feet.

  “Okay, good. I want you to keep your eyes open, okay?”

  “It hurts,” she whimpers, and a tear rolls down her cheek.

  My heart is ripping through my chest, seeing her in so much pain. “I know. But I need you to keep them open.”

  “Okay,” she whispers.

  “Good, Charlotte. You’re doing so good.” I kiss her on the forehead again and move my hand completely away.

  She blinks a few times.

  “Keep them open, Charlotte.”

  She continues to blink until she is staring at her feet. Slowly, she looks over at me.

  I bend down and kiss her, stroking her hair. “You’re doing so good, baby.”

  Her blue eyes stare into mine. “What happened?”

  “You got hit by a car.”

  She tries to nod and winces in pain.

  “Just lie still.” I grab the chair and pull it up next to her.

  “Do you remember the accident?”

  “No.” She looks at me, worried.

  I stroke her cheek. “Don’t worry. That’s normal. It’ll come to you later.”

  “Did I break my bones? My entire body hurts.”

  “No. You got lucky. But you have a concussion and a lot of bruises.”

  “Can I go home? I want to go home.”

  “Not yet. But as soon as I can get you out of here, I will.”

  24

  Xander

  It’s late at night when Charlotte gets discharged. She only gets released because I sign a waiver saying that I’ll look after her and take her as a patient in my care.

  They want to keep her for observation, but I can do that, and she keeps saying she wants to go home.

  She hasn’t brought up Billie, or Club D, or the coffee shop. I don’t know what the last thing is she remembers, but I don’t want to ask her in the hospital. At some point, it will come back to her, if it hasn’t already, and we will have to talk, but now is not the time. Plus, she’s on a lot of pain medicine.

  Chase and Jamison returned to the airport. Quinn and Vivian took them after they saw Charlotte. It was a quick visit because Charlotte is in a lot of pain and seems to want only me by her side.

  Noah and Piper saw her, too, and left a few hours ago, but Noah sent his driver back to the hospital to take us to Charlotte’s.

  Piper took my hotel key. She packed a bag for me and dropped it off at Charlotte’s. I already told Dr. Sear not to expect me for at least a week, so I don’t have any reason to have to leave her side.

  When we get to Charlotte’s, it’s after midnight. I carry her upstairs because she’s weak and dizzy from her concussion. She nuzzles into my neck and murmurs, “You always smell good.”

  I smile and kiss her head as the elevator doors open. When I get into her apartment, I take her right to her bedroom, give her a glass of water and her pain pills, then go into her closet and find a pair of pajamas for her.

  “I need a shower,” she whispers.

  “Tomorrow. Just rest tonight.”

  “I feel gross. I’m going to take one.” She tries to sit up and throws her hands to her head. “Ouch.”

  “Whoa. You need to move slow.”

  She sits for a minute then stands and ambles into the bathroom.

  “Where are you going?”

  “Shower,” she mumbles.

  I follow her into the bathroom, making sure she doesn’t fall. I point to her vanity bench. “Okay. Sit down, and I’ll get the shower ready.”

  She lowers herself carefully and winces. “Why does my ass hurt so bad?”

  “Because you were hit by a car,” I tell her.

  She softly laughs.

  I join her. “Why are we laughing? It’s not funny.”

  She laughs harder. “I don’t know.”

  I kiss her on the head. “Stay put.”

  I turn the water on and get naked.

  “No offense, Xander, but I don’t think I’m up for shower games tonight.”

  I chuckle and grin at her. “Don’t worry. Your virtue is safe. But you can’t go in there alone. You’ll fall, and even the shower pressure will hurt your bruises.”

  She smiles at me. “So, you’re going to scrub me down?”

  “Yep.” I undress her, trying to avoid her bruises and lead her to the shower. After I test the water, I step between her and the spray. I hold her against me. “Tell me if you get too hot or dizzy, okay?”

  She tips her head back and kisses me on the lips. I try to contain my growing erection, but it’s pointless. I can’t stand next to Charlotte naked and not have one.

  Taking the sprayer, I wet her hair, shampoo and rinse it, then do the same thing with her conditioner.

  “The answer is still yes,” she mumbles.

  “What’s that?”

  “That you want to shower with me.” She grabs my cock and sways.

  Realizing her drugs have kicked in, I soap her up, rinse her clean, and turn the water off.

  After I dry her, I wrap a towel around her and have her sit on her bench so I can comb her hair. Then, I dress her in pajamas and tuck her into bed.

  I climb in next to her, and she giggles then runs her finger down my nose. “Are you sure you remember me?”

  I put my face on the pillow, next to hers, and stroke her hair. “Yes. Don’t worry about that.”

  “Do you remember you’re a doctor?”

  I kiss her. “Yes, I remember I’m a doctor.”

  “Are you still searching for Billie?”

  My face falls. “No. I only love you, Charlotte.”

  “Good. It’s about time you remembered me.”

  “Yes. I’m sorry I took so long.” I kiss her again.

  She pushed up on one elbow. “Let’s play dirty doctor.”

  Amused, I lower her to the pillow. “Dirty doctor?”

  “Mm-hmm.”

  “And exactly how does one play dirty doctor?”

  She grabs my cock. “You’re the doctor, and you get to be dirty while you examine me.”

  “Yeah? How dirty does the doctor get to be?”

  Her eyes light up, but I know it’s the medicine. “You get to be very, very, dirty.” She squeezes my cock, and I know I’m going to have blue balls all night. “And I have to do whatever you say.”

  “I’ll tell you what. Let’s start now.”

  She claps. “Yay.”

  “The first thing you have to do is go to sleep.”

  She pouts. “That’s not dirty.”

  “I’m the doctor, and I’m in charge. My patients who do what I ask get very dirty exam
inations when they least expect it.”

  “Hmm. I feel like you’re tricking me.” She squints at me.

  “Oh, but I’m not. Filthy, full-body, examinations are only for my patients who go to sleep.”

  “And you sure you aren’t tricking me?” She yawns.

  “I’m not tricking you.” I will definitely cash in on this when she’s not all drugged up and in pain.

  She smiles at me. “Okay. I’ll go to sleep, then. But I want you filthy.”

  “I’ll be really filthy with you.”

  She closes her eyes and says, “‘Don’t forget, I love you, Charlotte,’ you told me. Then I said, ‘I won’t. Don’t forget, you love me.’ But then you forgot me.”

  I don’t know if this is the drugs talking or something that happened, so I ask her, “What are you talking about?”

  But she’s already asleep, so I wrack my brain all night wondering if it really happened or not.

  “Xander, I can’t move. Can you move?” Charlotte says in a panicky voice.

  I wake up and realize she is talking in her sleep.

  “Xander, talk to me. I can’t move. Please. I’m scared.”

  Putting my hand on her cheek, I stroke it. “Charlotte, wake up.”

  “Xander,” she cries out louder, and tears fall down her cheeks.

  “Sweetheart, wake up.” I wipe her cheek with my thumb.

  “Xander, please, say something,” she sobs.

  “Charlotte, wake up.” I raise my voice and rub her shoulder.

  “Xander,” she sobs louder.

  I pull her into me. “Charlotte, come on. You’re dreaming.”

  She slowly opens her eyes and relief fills them. “Xander,” she sobs and wraps her arms around me.

  “Shh. It’s okay. Everything is okay.” I kiss the top of her head and hold her tighter, trying not to hurt her bruises.

  “I can’t get it out of my head,” she cries.

  “What’s that?” I whisper.

  “The accident. I can’t get it out of my head.”

  “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.” Guilt shoots through me that she remembers it, and I don’t. Not that it would stop her nightmares, but it doesn’t seem fair.

  I scoot back down on the bed and hold her in my arms, stroking her hair until she falls back asleep. I glance at my phone to see what time it is and see she has another few hours till her next dose of medicine. My alarm is set, but I don’t sleep.