Free Sweet Deception by Tara Bond Page B

left.
    â€œThere. All done,” the nurse said, as she finished fixing my IV. She turned to me and beamed. “You’re a lucky girl, aren’t you? Your boyfriend’s a sweetheart.”
    â€œNot boyfriend.” I probably should have been resting my voice, but that was the last thing I wanted people thinking.
    â€œOh, really?” The nurse’s eyes brightened with interest. “In that case, is he single? He’s one of the good ones, I warrant. He was here all night, making sure you were all right. I could do with a man like that in my life.”
    I wasn’t in the mood to hear about Richard’s virtues. So I clutched at my throat, and pulled a sad face, as though I was in too much pain to reply. Then I closed my eyes and feigned sleep.
    *  *  *
    â€œSo you’re alive, then?” Lindsay’s loud voice jolted me out of my doze. I opened my eyes to find her standing in the door of my hospital room, looking distinctly unimpressed—with me, I imagined. Frankly, the feeling was mutual.
    â€œYeah. I hung on long enough to scream at you for calling Richard,” I threw back at her, although my croaky voice unfortunately made my retort sound less sharp. “Seriously, Lindsay . . .”
    My friend rolled her eyes and walked over to perch on the end of my hospital bed. “I think the words you’re looking for are, ‘Thank you, Lindsay, for making sure I didn’t choke on my own vomit and die a horrible, premature death.’ ”
    I grunted. “After spending tomorrow with Richard, I’ll probably wish I had carked it.”
    Lindsay usually found my dark humour amusing, but this time she reached out and slapped my shin, hard.
    â€œOuch!” I wrinkled my nose. “What the hell was that for?”
    â€œDon’t even joke about dying.” Lindsay spoke through gritted teeth. “You have no idea how scared I was last night.”
    The anger in her voice drew me up short. I didn’t know what to say. Lindsay wasn’t the type to sound so serious.
    â€œOh, come on, Linny.” I used a pet-name she hated to tryto lighten the moment. “Don’t be so melodramatic. I’m fine. No permanent damage—I promise.”
    â€œYeah? Well, maybe not to you. But I lost years off my life last night worrying about your silly, drunken arse. So don’t you ever pull a stunt like that again. Because next time I might not be around to look after you.”
    â€œNext time I’ll make sure I’m with someone who lets me sleep it off instead of calling an ambulance.” I knew I should have kept my mouth shut, but I couldn’t resist the dig. So I’d had a few too many drinks? Where was the harm? I felt like everyone was making a big deal about nothing.
    Lindsay’s lips pursed, and she looked like she wanted to contradict me, but then seemed to think better of it. “Fair enough, you ungrateful cow. I came here to cheer you up, not give you a hard time. So let’s talk about something else.”
    I eyed the duffel bag she’d brought with her, which was now on the floor by her feet. “What’s in there?”
    â€œChange of clothes, pyjamas, magazines, toothbrush . . . Why? What were you hoping for? A bottle of vodka?”
    I managed a grin. “That’s right. Hair of the dog.”
    Lindsay started to laugh then, and I joined in, but unfortunately the motion hurt my throat and stomach more than I’d anticipated.
    â€œOw!” I stopped abruptly, my hand coming up to clasp the base of my neck, as though that might help ease the pain. “Remind me not to do that again. It hurts like hell.”
    â€œGood.” My friend smiled sweetly at me. “It serves you right.”
    *  *  *
    Lindsay stayed for another hour. After she left, I spent the rest of the day napping. Richard was as good as his word, and turned up at ten the