The Millionaire's 'Friend' - Natasha's Story

Chapter 27 - Natasha's Room

My heart missed several beats as I stared, unblinking, into Evan's stunning face. He looked severe but, as his eyes ran over me finally coming up and meeting my gaze, they softened. My heart sprung back to life with an almighty lurch that made me gasp for air.

He walked forward into the room, Ziggy and the doctor parting either side of him like the red sea, and slipped his fingers beneath mine. I looked into those deep blue pools, a comfort to me like no other, but then I remembered – he was the reason I was in here. I snatched my hand away and looked down; though, not before I saw the flood of confusion wash over Evan's expression.

Dr. Knowles shuffled towards the door, catching my attention. "I'll go and write that prescription for you." He smiled and scuttled out the room, clearly sensing the impending World War III.

"Where are my clothes?" I asked Fliss, blanking Evan as though he wasn't even in the room. Fliss picked up her rucksack and dropped it on the end of the bed.

"It's just my gym kit but it's better than going home in that hospital gown."

"Thanks. And thanks for the offers you guys but the doc's gone now and I just want to go home."

My friends exchanged glances but Evan was the one who spoke.

"You've got to be kidding me. You're not in a fit state to be left alone, Nat."

"I'm fine. I don't need anyone's help." To prove my point, I threw back the bed sheets, swung my legs off the bed and hopped down to the floor. I yelped as pain seared through my body from my injured ankle. It gave way beneath me and for the second time that day I was heading for the ground. Before my knees crashed into the tiles below I felt my body wrapped in two long, powerful arms that plucked me out of the air.

I whimpered as the pain continued to slice through me. My stomach turned and nausea crept over me; tears burned behind my eyes.

"Shhhhhhh, it's ok, I've got you." Evan whispered against my ear. He soothed my hair and held me gently as I whimpered waiting for the pain to ease. A part of me wanted to just sink further into his chest and stay there forever but that wasn't an option. As soon as I could manage it, I shoved him back and held onto the side of the bed for support.

"You're pushing it, Nat." Evan said, his voice low with an edge as though he was barely holding onto his temper.

"I didn't ask for you to come, Evan."

"No, I came because my friend was in trouble and needed me."

"And now you can see she's fine and doesn't need your concern. Sod off." Evan huffed in frustration and rubbed a strong hand across his forehead; his old, deep frown line made a sudden appearance.

There was nothing from Fliss and Ziggy. They were still in the room, but they must have thought the safest thing to do was to stand by the door and wait for the storm to pass.

I dived into the bag of clothes and pulled out a pair of balled running socks.

"So, who's driving me home?" I asked, breaking the heavy silence. No-one answered, three pairs of eyes were on me as I tried to balance myself on the side of the bed and bend down to pull on one of the socks. But I couldn't bend. I could barely get passed my knee before my ribs started to complain. The pain was excruciating.

With a huge sigh, Evan stepped forward, lifted me from the floor like I was nothing more than a feather, and sat me on the edge of the bed. Then, without looking me in the face, he plucked the sock from my grasp and started rolling it over the end of my toes. I sat and sulked as he repeated the action on the other foot and then dived into the rucksack for a pair of shorts.