The Ill-fated Lovers

Chapter 8

The dark circles due to my lack of sleep were becoming more prominent. It was showing through the concealer and as much as I hated wearing makeup I had to if I didn't want to look like a ticket taker at Zombieland.

I was becoming desperate for a peaceful night's sleep. Something so simple as a good night's rest I'd trade my soul to have what everyone else had.

I walked up to the elevator and saw Nick waiting for it to come back down. I hadn't seen him yesterday. I stood by the other side of the wall keeping a respectable distance as I patiently waited.

I was exhausted and couldn't help the disgraceful yawn that escaped from me. My head was cracking. Advil and coffee were barely helping. Nick looked at me with an expression on his face I was too tired to make sense of.

"Valerie," I heard Ben call and I turned around. He jogged up to me with my bag in his hand. "You left your bag in the car."

"Oh," I smiled and I could feel Nick staring at us. Ben handed me my bag. "Thank you."

"No problem have a great day at work. I have to run before I'm late," he said and quickly kissed me on my forehead before turning on his heel and rushing out the building.

The elevator dinged and Nick and I stepped inside. "So when you said you were never interested was it because of your boyfriend?" Nick asked and my eyebrows scrunched.

I had to wonder if he was one of those men that couldn't handle rejection. Before I could answer him my phone rang and I pulled it out to see Vanessa's name flash on the screen.

"Hold that thought," I told him and swiped my finger across the screen. I brought the phone to my ear. "Nessa," I answered and I couldn't handle the surprised tone in my voice. Vanessa never called. She would usually text me if she needed to tell me something.

"Val," she answered and she was crying. "It's dad. He passed out in the bathroom this morning and now the ambulance is here to take him to the hospital."

"Which hospital?"

"Northwell," she choked out.

"I'll be there." I hung up the phone and hit the ground floor button on the elevator panel hard.

Tears began to prick my eyes and I hoped my father was okay. "Is everything alright?" Nick asked.

"No my father is going to the hospital." The elevator doors parted and I ran out.

"Valerie," Nick called after me.

I decided to call Ben and tell him I was going to the hospital. I put the phone to my ear and tried to compose myself as it rang. "Hello, hello can you hear me?" Ben's voice came out calm.

"Hey, Ben-"

He suddenly started laughing. "I'm kidding I can't come to the phone right now but please leave a message and I'll get back to you."

Fucking voicemail message! I could kill Ben for that stupid message. I fall for it all the time.

"Ben I'm going home. My dad is in Northwell hospital," I informed him so he didn't panic when he didn't find me after work. I cut the call and walked out of the building.

"Valerie," Nick grabbed my arm and it was a literal electric shock.

I saw images of horses and heard gunshots ring in my ears. I shut my eyes tightly and he pulled his hand away. My breathing was ragged as I stared at him and there was something grave in his eyes as he flinched away from me and clenched his fists at either of his sides.