CHAPTER FIVE: Three Musketeers and a Push-Mobile

“So.... you three were in the habit of sharing your women." Myla blurted out before she could stop herself. "And what am I? Chopped liver?”

Those were the first words she said to them immediately they stepped into her room this morning. The doctor had kept her behind for observation because he was worried about her slurred speech and the large bump on her head. Myla had not seen them since the nurses chased them away, around 10pm last night, after visiting hours.

Myla started laughing so hard she could barely catch her breath at the shocked look on their faces. “Oh my God, you should see your faces,” she said through laughter. “I’m so glad the painkillers have finally kicked in, or I’d be in agony right now. Whew! Your faces, man.” She let out another stream of laughter while pointing at their faces.

She finally managed to catch her breath and wiped her eyes with a tissue. Just as she was dropping the tissue, Myla looked up and caught a strange look pass between the three men. Oh, boy, seems like I could be in some trouble here.

.

“Sorry, guys, the ridiculous things Scott said yesterday have been echoing in my brain through the night, and I couldn’t resist pulling your legs." Myla looked from face to face with all of the fake innocence she could muster. "So, have you boys come to take me home?”

The suspicious look Hayden gave her made her think maybe her acting wasn't all that good. Fuck seems like the painkiller was the type that made one act drunk.

“Uh, Dr. Sorensen said I could leave. You’ve come to take me, right?”

Damn, that didn’t come out quite right.

She cleared her throat. “Home. I mean, you’ve come to take me home, right?” Myla could feel her face heating up as her three musketeers stared silently at her like there was something strange on her face.

“Come on, guys!” she said with exasperation. Oh, for God's sake, why did every word out of her mouth suddenly seem to have a double meaning?

“Okay, never mind. Just leave and I’ll get dressed and call a cab... I have put my foot in my mouth enough this morning. Go on, out!” she shouted, covering her head with the bed cover.

They left silently, but their faces had an odd, pinched tightness that puzzled her. She rang for a nurse to help her dress.

It was a few minutes before one appeared, and she was laughing as she came into Myla’s room. “What on earth did you say to those three men?” the nurse asked with a grin.

“Why? What do you mean?”

The nurse helped Myla to the window and opened it as far as it would go. Myla could hear the sounds of masculine laughter. She looked out onto the park-like setting in the front of the hospital.

There, the three men were holding their sides and roaring with laughter. Hayden let out a belly laughter that nearly tipped his wheelchair over. Jared caught the chair before it could fall, and they erupted into fresh bouts of laughter.

Myla shrugged at the nurse in confusion. She had no idea what she had said that was so funny, but she was very happy to see them so lighthearted.

Ever since Hayden’s accident, they had all seemed so sober, so filled with responsibilities and problems. It was a sight to behold, one she wanted to see again and again.

With the nurse’s help, Myla dressed in the clothes Hayden had brought to the hospital. The doctors had given her a clean bill of health after the extensive round of tests, which Hayden had insisted on. No serious concussion, no internal problems, just a sharp headache and a very sore lump on the back of her head.

The nurse insisted that Myla get into the wheelchair to be wheeled to the hospital doors because she’d taken a strong painkiller earlier and would probably be very dizzy and light-headed soon.

Myla reluctantly agreed, but she did get a kick out of it when Hayden maneuvered his big motorized wheelchair beside her smaller, dainty one as the nurse pushed her down the hallway.

“You look tired,” he asked worriedly as they rode towards the exit. “Are you in pain?”

“No pain, but I’m suddenly exhausted and more than a bit light-headed. I don’t even know if I can stay awake until we get home. The hospital is not a restful place, especially when they’re waking you up every hour or so and asking questions.”

“Don’t worry about it. We brought the larger van with plenty of pillows. You can sleep until we get home.”

“Will you hold my hand?” she asked him uncertainly.

“Myla, you do take my breath away at times. Of course, I’ll hold your hand. I know I've been an ass recently, but Mine, you are everything to me. Always remember that.”

Myla took in a breath as she felt her eyes sting with tears. it has been a long since he called her Mine.

Hayden reached across the space between them and held her hand. And they rode down the long hospital corridor with their hands clasped tightly together.

“Good grief. Would you look at how sweet they are? It’s enough to make you cry, or gag, or just smile,” Jared commented to Beck as they got close to them by the hospital’s front doors.

“Try the smile. It’s the most appealing of the alternatives. You are one ugly crier.” Beck responded with a grin.

Outside the hospital doors, Beck carefully scooped Myla out of her wheelchair, and before he could turn around, Myla looked at Hayden’s wheelchair and the wheelchair she’d just left.

“She’s going to miss you.”

“What on earth are you talking about, Myla?” Hayden’s brow wrinkled in concern.

“My delicate little push mobile really liked your big, beautiful electric monster there.”

Jared chuckled.

Hayden rolled his eyes as he smiled faintly. "The medication they gave you must be the premium one.

The nurse let out a giggle before she gave them an apologetic smile. "Sorry, it was necessary for the headaches. The effects will fade once she has rested well."

Myla waved at her and snuggled into Beck’s arms as he carried her to the van.

By the time they got Myla and Hayden settled in the van, Myla was almost asleep. She looked up to see all three faces looking at her worriedly.

“I’m okay, musketeers. Don’t worry. I’ll be fine when I wake up. But I can’t remember, is it one for all, or is it all for one? I can’t remember...”

“What the hell is she talking about?” Jared said, looking at Hayden and Beck. “Musketeers? Push-mobiles and electric monsters? Let’s get our girl home where we can take care of her.”