His Assurance (Assured Distraction Book 3) (23 page)

When Lola walked in the room, it made me feel better immediately. She wasn’t gone a whole day, and I missed her already. I wanted to beg her not to go to Houston, but how could I ask that of her? If we were to get into a relationship, when the band left on tour, she would be alone here in Austin. Maybe living in Houston was a better plan for her.

She whirled around and studied me for a moment, then picked up her phone and typed.

Lola:
What are you thinking about so hard?

“How beautiful you are and how lucky I was to have you here in Austin with me for your vacation,” I answered.

She started typing again but didn’t take her eyes off of me.

Lola:
Bet you say that to all the girls. After this, you’ll be saying that to all the nurses.

“I don’t want all of those nurses. I want you for my nurse. Will you stay? You can go to work for me.” I gave her a little smirk with that statement, knowing full-well she was not going to work here.

Her head dipped to her screen as she typed this time.

Lola:
I didn’t come here to be your nurse, Gunner. I came here because I needed to see you were okay. I need to know you are going to be all right once you’re healed and… I missed you.

I crooked my finger for her to come closer and then took her hand and pulled her to me. I didn’t stop until she was lying beside me. “Now, I’m okay as you can see for yourself, and I missed you.” I pointed to the tent in the sheet.

“Gunner!” Lola didn’t have to type that because I read my name on her lips. It was a perfect moment to kiss her. That was a language I could understand with my eyes and ears both closed.

When we parted, she picked her phone up again and started typing.

Lola:
I don’t think we should be doing too much of that with your head bandaged. Doesn’t it hurt?

“Not when we’re kissing, that makes it feel better. That means you need to be beside me all of the time so I can kiss you when it starts hurting again. Besides, his head’s not hurt. ” She laughed, and I could feel her body shaking from the joy of the moment. “No, really. Please just lie here beside me and let me rest. I’m so tired, but I want to know you’re here, and I can touch you whenever I wake up. It calms my mind so I can sleep.”

She nodded at me as she kicked off her shoes, and then laid her arm across my stomach. I needed her closer, so I pulled the covers until she could get under them. “Now, sleep my little
chéri
.” She snuggled as close as possible, and we both slept.

The neurologist and another doctor came in early, but they weren’t the first ones to disturb us. Nurses came in and out all night long. I waited for the first one to make Lola move, but none of them did. She sat up when the doctors came through the door and moved off the bed realizing who they were.

They spoke and shook hands before she picked up her phone to communicate with me.

Lola:
Gunner, they have some questions to ask.

“Okay, fire away.”

Lola:
How are you feeling today?

“My head still hurts, but not as badly.”

Lola:
Good. That’s good. This is Dr. Clark, an ENT that we consult when hearing loss occurs from a head injury. She needs to examine you.

“That’s fine.” The doctor shook my hand and looked in both of my ears. Another person walked in with a packet of X-rays. She handed it off for the doctors.

Lola:
Dr. Clark said there are no significant skull fractures, but you do have a concussion or a TBI, traumatic brain injury from the fall.

“That’s good then, that it was not fractured, right?” I asked.

Lola:
Yes, that’s very good. With a TBI though we can’t plan for when the injury will heal, though. The brain has a way of healing itself in this situation. We have nothing to add from the other results.

“Well, what about my hearing? Am I permanently deaf?”

Lola:
That’s a tough question to give you a straight answer to. My first reaction is to say no, you won’t be permanently deaf, but honestly, we can’t answer that yet. Your brain will be the judge and jury on this. It can decide you’re healed, and one day soon your hearing will return. Or, it can decide it can’t heal you, and then you’ll have your answer.

“How long are we talking here, doc?”

Lola:
There is no exact science to tell us the truth. It’s more of a wait and see kind of thing. The brain is a miraculous organ. It has the power to reroute and repair problems.

“Shit. I was afraid you were going to tell me that.” I looked away, trying not to be too emotional while they were all staring at me. Deaf, how would I handle this? I had to be able to play my drums. I didn’t want to live in this lonely place inside my head for the rest of my life. How do people who are born deaf, or go deaf, deal with it? The idea of never hearing music again is something I’m not sure I can do. I can feel the dark cloud hovering over me getting darker by the minute.

Lola:
Now, Mr. Wallace, we want you to stay positive about your prognosis. Your hearing could return tomorrow. There is no reason why you should be deaf except the trauma caused by the fall. Once your brain can process that trauma, your hearing could be completely restored.

“Could be? Completely? What does that mean exactly?” I felt the panic rising again. The cuff on the blood pressure chose that moment to tighten for a reading.

Lola:
Your hearing could be one hundred percent restored, but I’m not going to leave out that it’s possible your hearing could come back partially or different. Sounds you were used to might be different now.

“I can deal with different. I need my ears. How will I play my drums with the band?”

Lola:
For now, the band is going to have to wait and see just like the rest of us.

With that comment, the ENT turned and spoke to the doctor and then left.

Lola:
Okay, Mr. Wallace. We are going to keep you here for one more night, and then if all is well, we’ll let you go home and work with you as an outpatient.

He turned to Lola and spoke, but naturally, I couldn’t hear it.

“Miss, let’s talk in the hallway.” I followed the doctor out.

“Yes?”

“Mr. Wallace can be released to go home, but he will need someone with him. We can get home health care to come in daily to see to him, administer meds, change his bandage, etc. It would be better if he weren't alone, though. He’s going to have an adjustment period until his hearing returns. I can tell it’s going to be rough on him from the things he’s said.”

“Dr. I’m an RN. I’ll be with him until he doesn’t need me anymore.” If he wanted me. I suppose I needed to clear that with him first.

“That’s even better. He’s a lucky man. I feel like working with him isn’t going to be an easy job, though. If the hearing doesn’t return soon, he’ll be suffering symptoms similar to PTSD. He’ll go through phases of depression, anger, and anxiety. Are you up for dealing with this? It’s sometimes harder working with the ones we love.”

“Of course, I am.” I was not in love, though. Neither of us was, but I didn’t say that out loud.

“Okay. We will monitor him for twenty-four hours, and I will write up the orders for his release tomorrow. The follow-up visits will be in my office. If there are any changes either of you notice, please call my office or Dr. Clark’s office. I’m sure she’ll want to see him as well.” He picked up the chart and left me standing there.

I had to go back in and explain this and make sure Gunner wanted me to stay. If not, I would return to Houston after I made sure he was comfortable. I put my best smiling nurse face on and opened the door.

Lola:
Isn’t it great? The doctor says you can go home.

“No, it’s not great, but it’s better than being stuck in here.” Wow. What a fun patient he would be.

Lola:
Right. You’ll be more comfortable at home.

“I’ll be more comfortable when I can hear again.”

Lola:
He said it would be better to have someone staying with you until you’re one hundred percent. I volunteered for the job if you want me. Otherwise, we’ll have to set up home health to come in or hire a private nurse.

Gunner looked at me and then his face broke into a genuine Gunner smile. “This means you’re going to move in with me?”

Lola:
Yes, I guess it does, but only until you’re better and can take care of yourself.

“Okay. I’m good with that.” He reached out. “I think I’m sick, Nurse Goodbody. Can you step a little closer, please?” I laughed at the name he chose and moved closer until he pulled me to him.

Lola:
Hey, did you fall on purpose so I would have to come back?

“Hell no. I wouldn’t do that, but if it gets you with me, I might be good with it. It’s definitely a plus.”

Lola:
You say that now. I’m a regular Nurse Ratched when it comes to my patients.

He laughed at my message on the phone. “Oh yeah, we’ll be talking about your patient ‘coming’ all right, but I think it’s best if we save that for home. I’m not sharing with Dr. Dickhead.”

I laughed too, but I was still rolling around in my mind what the doctor had said. His recovery would involve more than fun and sex.