Kill me now

Athonia’s POV

“Wake up, sleepyhead!”

My eyes snapped open. Kezzy’s voice. Of course. I turned my head and saw her standing over me, arms folded, smirking like she already knew what I was hiding.

Thank goodness it wasn’t that random guy at the club.

I groaned and pulled the blanket over my head. “Kezzy… don’t start.”

“I won’t start, but you better talk. Because that face? That glow? That is not from a nap.”

My cheeks burned. Busted.

“What are you even doing here?” I asked, yawning. I’d knocked out after my shower, still exhausted from last night.

“I came to check on you!” she said, flopping onto the bed like she owned it. “I woke up at Prince’s place, asked where you were, and he had no clue. Said you were gone when he left the VIP lounge. I panicked! You were drunk, and I couldn’t remember anything. So I ran here to make sure you didn’t die or something.”

That pout of hers could win awards. Sometimes she’s actually sweet.

“You don’t remember anything at all?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.

She shook her head fast. “Zero. Don’t tell me I danced on a table or something?! Wait, no, I don’t want to know!”

I rolled my eyes. “Relax. You didn’t. But… because of your little dare, I lost my virginity.”

Her jaw dropped. “YOU DID WHAT?!”

“I’m not a virgin anymore.” I sat up. “You were drunk and ranting about how I should have a baby. Next thing I know, you drag me to the dance floor and say we need to find a baby daddy. Then you point to VIP Room 92 and say, ‘Whoever walks out of there, that’s the one.’”

She stared, frozen.

“No one came out, so we waited. Then this insanely hot guy walks up and goes inside. I followed him in… and things got real.”

“Real?!” she squeaked. “Like, you actually…?! With a stranger?! Did you even ask his name?!”

“Nope,” I said coolly. “Didn’t care. I just wanted his sperm. I left a thank-you note and left.”

Kezzy grabbed her head like she was about to faint. “You had a one-night stand and dipped?! What if you don’t even get pregnant?”

“I will. We went at it multiple times. No protection. I read somewhere it only takes once.”

She stared at me like I’d grown two heads. “Ath, seriously. You need to get checked, just in case.”

I gave her a look. “It literally just happened. His swimmers are probably still swimming. I’m not pregnant yet. Don’t be dumb.”

She smacked her forehead. “You’re actually crazy.”

I gave her a sly smile. “More like desperate.”

Kezzy groaned and buried her face in her hands. “I feel so stupid, Ath! I was totally against your crazy baby plan at first, and the second I got drunk, I’m the one who told you to go find a baby daddy?! Ugh! I hate myself! What if that guy had HIV?!”

I sighed and rolled my eyes. “Kee, chill. I made that decision myself, not you. If something happens, it’s on me. If I catch something, well, lesson learned. But if I get pregnant? Then hey, thanks for the push.”

She still looked freaked out. “Ath, promise me you’ll go get tested. And what if you run into him again?!”

I shrugged. “I’ll just smile and say hi. That’s all. And if I do end up pregnant? I’m not telling him. This baby will be mine, just mine.”

Kezzy’s eyes widened. “Athonia, are you hearing yourself?! This is already a mess and you’re making it worse!”

Riiing! Riiing!! Riiing!!!

We both turned to the phone buzzing on the table.

“Kee, pass me that,” I said.

She handed it over, and my chest tightened when I saw the name, Nurse Mae. I picked up fast.

“Hello, ma’am?”

“Athonia, I’m so sorry to bother you. Can you come to the hospital right now? It’s Yumi…”

My stomach dropped. “What’s wrong?” I asked, heart racing.

“She’s getting weaker. And she keeps asking for you.”

I was already up, grabbing my wallet. “I’m coming now!”

Kezzy looked alarmed. “Wait, where are you going?”

“Hospital. It’s urgent. Please lock up when you leave, okay? I’ll call you later!” I kissed her cheek and rushed out the door.

*******

Yumi had been our patient for years. Just nine, and already a warrior. Leukemia kept coming back, but she never gave up. We weren’t just nurse and patient anymore, she was like my little sister. Sometimes, even my own comfort when things got tough. She always found a way to smile, even through pain.

I had on black joggers and a plain white V-neck. My body still ached a bit from last night, but honestly, that was nothing compared to what Yumi went through every day.

I rushed down from the third floor and flagged a taxi. One stopped right away.

“St. Calisha Foundation Medical Center, please. As fast as possible,” I told the driver.

Thirty minutes later, we pulled up at the hospital. I tossed the fare at him, jumped out, and hurried inside. The security guard greeted me, but I barely nodded. My heart was racing, Yumi was all I could think about.

As I neared her room, I noticed a small group of nurses whispering and glancing toward the hallway.

Something was off.

“What’s going on?” I asked one of them.

She gave me a worried look. “Athonia… it’s Yumi. Her vitals dropped earlier. She’s still fighting, but... she’s been asking for you nonstop.”

My heart dropped. I didn’t say a word. I rushed straight to Room 308.

But before I got in, I saw more nurses gathered nearby, looking overly excited. I frowned.

“What’s with all the crowding?” I asked Nurse Abby.

“Oh hey, Ath! You should go see Yumi. She’s been waiting for you all morning,” she said, trying to act normal.

I raised a brow. “No, wait. What’s really happening? Why are you all gathered here like it’s a red carpet?”

“It’s Dr. Ethan Ezra Valemont!” Nurse Cath jumped in, her voice dreamy. “The Paris exchange doctor. He’s finally here! He’s so dreamy!”

I blinked. “And where is this heartthrob?”

“They’re showing him around with the hospital director,” Abby said, barely containing her squeal.

I nodded. “Right. Anyway, I need to see Yumi.”

Honestly? I didn’t care. Everyone had been going on and on about this doctor before he even landed. Some hotshot surgeon from Paris, supposedly the best and the most good-looking. Big deal.

I wasn’t into the hype. I didn’t care about hospital gossip or looks. I just wanted to do my job.

I was almost at the corner when the hallway suddenly erupted into giggles and gasps. The nurses behind me squealed like teenage fans.

I rolled my eyes. “Seriously?” I muttered, but curiosity won. I turned around.

And then I saw him.

The director led the way. Beside him walked a man in a black tailored coat, oozing confidence. Sharp jaw. Intense eyes. That mouth...

My whole body froze. No. No way. I stared, jaw dropping. It was him. The man from last night. The one I slept with.

The stranger I begged to get me pregnant.

“What the…” I gasped, blinking like I was losing my mind.

He looked completely different, clean, serious, and professional. But I’d know those eyes anywhere. That body. That face.

No freaking way. I turned around so fast I almost slammed into the wall. I didn’t care who saw. I needed to get out of there. Now.

I speed-walked to Yumi’s room like my shoes were on fire. This couldn’t be real. Why him? Why here?

Out of every hospital in the world, the man I seduced during a drunk night out had to show up here, as the most famous doctor from Paris?

Kill me now. Or at least let me borrow a time machine.