Waiting for Midnight Read Free

on his chest, while the other was cradling her cell phone next to her cheek.  “You’re awake,” she sighed, smiling with relief.
    “I didn’t pass out.  I was…the wind was knocked out of me.  I’ll be fine.  Just…give me a minute.”
    Everything about her seemed to relax, but she didn’t move from her perch on top of him.  The hand holding her cell phone lowered, but her other hand stayed firmly on his chest.  “Are you sure you’re okay?  You seemed to hit your head pretty hard.”  Then, without asking, she put her cell phone down and used both hands to reach behind his head to feel for injuries. 
    Noah understood her concern but her new position pretty much had her breasts in his face.  Not that he was complaining, but it certainly wasn’t helping the situation.  “I need to get up,” he snapped and winced as he moved.  Maddie instantly moved off of him and stood – holding her hand out to help him up.  Noah wanted to laugh at the absurdity of it.  He was twice her size and she thought she was going to help him?
    Ignoring her hand, he stood. 
    And nearly fell right on his face. 
    Everything around him spun and when Maddie wrapped her arms around his waist to steady him, he grabbed onto her with both hands.
    “It’s okay,” she said softly.  “I think we need to get you to the emergency room and let them look at you.”
    Noah shook his head.  “I’m fine.  I…I need to go inside and relax.  Really.”
    But Maddie wasn’t listening.  She walked him over to the front steps and positioned him so he was leaning on the exterior wall of her apartment.  “Wait here.  Give me a minute to grab my keys.”  Before he could answer she was gone, and in a flash she was back.  Her arms instantly went around him again as she led him toward the parking lot.
    “My bag…”
    Stopping, Maddie picked it up and handed it to him.  Noah slung the canvas duffle over his shoulder and let Maddie lead the way.  Somewhere in the back of his mind, he knew he should be putting up more of a fight, but everything was spinning and he was feeling a little nauseous. 
    Not a great combination.
    And it had him feeling more than a little foolish that such a short fall had literally knocked him on his ass. 
    They stopped walking and Noah looked at the compact car in front of them.  “I’m not getting in that,” he said flatly.
    “Why not?”
    “I won’t fit.”
    Maddie looked at him and then the car and then back again.  “Oh…I hadn’t thought of that.”  The two-door Toyota was all fine and well for his petite neighbor, but there was no way he was squeezing his six-foot plus frame into it – particularly in his current condition. 
    Fishing his hand into his pocket, he pulled out his keys and handed them to Maddie.  “We’ll take my truck.”  The words seemed to surprise her as much as they did him.  No one drove his truck.  Ever.  It was a guy thing.  But right now, there weren’t any other options.  Together, they walked over to his black pickup and climbed in.  When several minutes ticked by without Maddie starting the engine, he looked over at her.  “Problem?”
    “You mean other than the fact that I can barely see to drive?” she chuckled.
    Taking a minute, Noah helped her to move the driver’s seat and position herself so she could drive.  “Better?”
    “Yes.  Thanks.”  And then they were on their way.
    Luckily the hospital was only a short, ten-minute drive, but Maddie chatted nervously the entire time.  Thanksgiving, Christmas…the holidays in general...Noah didn’t say a word.  He simply let her talk and by the time they parked and walked into the emergency room, some of the nausea had subsided.  He was just about to suggest they go back home and he’d put ice on his head when Maddie put a clipboard in his hands with forms for him to fill out.
    Well damn.  Maybe it wasn’t such a bad idea to get checked out.  Head injuries were tricky and as much