Never Doubt Me: Judge Me Not #2(62)

“She changed his ticket?” I ask.

“Nope, he’s not flying. He got a refund for his airline ticket and used that money to buy a bus ticket.”

“A bus ticket? This is weird, Chase. Why would Will take a bus back to Vegas?”

I imagine Chase shrugging his shoulders as he says, “I don’t know, Kay. Will claims the long ride will give him time to think.”

I am still perplexed, as perplexed as Chase sounds. Damn, now I know what Will was up to earlier. He must have been working on his flight ticket refund when I walked into the living room this morning.

And that prompts me to ask, “What’d he do with the extra money? I’m sure that bus ticket cost a hell of a lot less than the full-fare airline ticket he had.”

“I don’t know, babe,” Chase says quietly, clearly unfazed by the money aspect.

He’s just going to miss his brother. I hear it in his sad tone.

“Do you think your brother will be okay going back early?” I ask softly.

He clears his throat. “I hope he’ll be okay. I mean, he should be fine. The bus doesn’t arrive in Vegas until sometime Thursday. And Mom and Greg arrive home on Friday. That leaves Will only one day alone. I think he can behave himself for twenty-four hours.” Chase sighs. “Plus, I’m kind of hoping that long ride really does give Will some time to think. Maybe he’ll start seeing things more clearly when it comes to Cassie.”

“Yeah, I guess,” I concede, but truthfully, I have a feeling Will won’t be changing any of his behaviors when it comes to his girlfriend.

A beat passes.

“Do you need me to come to the hospital?” Chase asks, breaking the silence.

“No, you stay with Will,” I respond. “I’ll be back as soon as I get word that Missy is going to be okay.”

Just as I’m saying good-bye and disconnecting with Chase, I spot a familiar face striding purposefully toward the ER doors.

It’s Nick Mercurio, and he appears quite distracted. Even when I raise my hand to wave, he rushes past me without a second glance.

“Nick,” I call out.

Halfway through the open doors, he turns.

Seeing me, at last, he says, “Shit, Kay. I didn’t even notice you standing there.” He steps back outside.

“Hey,” I say. “Is everything okay?”

I can’t imagine why Nick would be racing into the hospital so determinedly, but it can’t be good.

“God, Kay, haven’t you heard about Missy? She was in a terrible accident.”

Wait, Nick is here for Missy?

Confusion sets in, and I respond slowly, “Um, yeah, I know. I rode with her in the ambulance.”

What am I missing here? Nick and Missy aren’t exactly close friends. They only met the night I introduced them at the Anchor Inn. Of course, Nick got to know Missy rather well that night, and rather quickly, though not as well as his cousin supposedly did.

Nick shoots me a weird look. “Well, have you heard anything? Is Missy going to be okay?”

“Uh, there’s no news yet,” I reply, still totally thrown as to why Nick is here for Missy.

He interrupts my thoughts when he asks, “Is anyone in there with her? She shouldn’t be alone.”

“Her mom’s with her.” I glance at the doors. “In fact, I should get back in there. Mrs. Metzger is supposed to update me when she knows more, and she’s expecting me to be in the waiting room.”

“Let’s get in there, then,” Nick says urgently as he cups my elbow and hurries me along.

As we’re rushing into the hospital, I still can’t imagine why Nick Mercurio feels the need to be here for Missy. Even taking into account the night at the Anchor Inn, it’s not like Missy had sex with Nick. At least, she claimed not to. In any case, if her claim is true, then Nick is little more than a stranger to her. If I expected anyone to show up for Missy, I’d think it’d be Tony, Nick’s cousin.

When we’re just outside the waiting room, I slow to a stop.

“What’s wrong?” Nick wants to know.

“I’m sorry, Nick, but I just can’t figure out why you’re here.”

He appears offended. “What the hell kind of question is that?” he barks.

“I’m sorry, really, and I don’t mean to pry, but I just don’t understand why you’re here and Tony isn’t.”

“Tony?” Nick isn’t angry anymore; he’s utterly confused. “Why would my cousin come to the hospital for Missy?”

Worried that I may have just blown Missy’s secret, I gather my thoughts to formulate a response. But then realization dawns in Nick’s deep-brown eyes.

“Oh, I get it,” he begins. “You think Tony is the father of the baby, don’t you?”

“You know about the baby?” I whisper.

“Of course I know.” Nick peers at me like I have two heads.

“Well, then you must know Tony is the father,” I state.

Nick shakes his head sadly. “Oh, Kay, you have it all wrong. Tony isn’t the father of Missy’s baby. I am.”

What? “But Missy said—”

“Look,” Nick cuts me off, “I don’t know what Missy told you about the night at the Anchor Inn, but I was the one who ended up with her. I f*cked her. My cousin was there, yeah, but he just, uh, watched.”