Love Came After the Crash

"Ian, how long are you going to keep this up?"

A voice message from Ruby popped up, thick with frustration.

After drifting out of the ER, I somehow ended up in front of her.

I couldn't touch anything anymore, but every call, text, and notification tied to me still reached me.

"Getting a nurse to text me for you? That's a new one."

Another voice message came right after.

"But Ian, your phone's locked with your fingerprint. How could anyone else unlock it? If they can still use your fingerprint, how are you suddenly in critical condition?"

She frowned on the words "critical condition."

From under the blanket, Steven reached over and lightly tugged her sleeve.

"Ruby, don't be so hard on Ian." His voice was weak. "What if something really happened to him? Maybe you should go check on him. I'll be okay here alone."

Ruby looked down and brushed the back of her hand across his forehead. "Steven, you're too nice. That's why he keeps bullying you."

She cut up an apple and held a piece to his mouth.

"The last time he saw me answer your call, he smashed my phone. Before that, when you came over to help clean, he threw your shoes out the front door. How many times have you defended him already?"

Steven lowered his eyes and took the apple slice.

"Maybe Ian just cares about you too much..."

Ruby let out a short, cold laugh. "So caring means threatening to break up with me every other week? We've never done anything wrong, but he twists everything. We're supposed to get our marriage license tomorrow, and now he pulls this? Does he seriously think I can't see through it?

"He's mad I've been spending time with you and is trying to drag me away on purpose."

She held down the record button.

"Ian, nothing has ever happened between Steven and me, and you know that. If you don't want to get married, just say it. Stop making everyone miserable."

She paused.

When she spoke again, her voice softened a little.

"Take a few days to cool off. Once Steven's feeling better, I'll come see you."

I rushed toward her and grabbed for her arm.

My hand passed straight through.

A string of new messages popped up on her phone.

Ruby's group chat with her friends lit up.

Hailey sent:

[Ian pulling another stunt? Ruby, your life is exhausting. You're not even married yet, and he's already trying to keep tabs on you.]

The replies flooded in.

[I heard he even got a nurse to text for him. That's such a pathetic cry for attention.]

[Steven actually cut his wrist and never made a big deal about it. Ian has one little problem and makes sure the whole world knows.]

[Don't worry, Ruby. Ian's just trying to control you. The more attention you give him, the worse he'll get.]

More than thirty likes.

Not one person questioned whether the hospital's message could be real.

They automatically took Ruby's side.

Because in their eyes, Ruby was never wrong.

Steven tilted his head and leaned closer.

"Has Ian calmed down yet? Maybe you should call him."

"No need."

She tossed the apple core into the trash and picked up her phone.

Opening our chat, she read the message again.

[The PATIENT is in critical condition. Please come to the HOSPITAL immediately.]

The caps on PATIENT and HOSPITAL practically screamed at her.

She sighed. "He's probably fine. This is just jealousy."

Her thumb hovered over the display.

Two seconds later, she turned on Do Not Disturb.

For me.

Steven gently covered her hand with his.

"Why's your hand bleeding?"

Ruby glanced down.

She'd nicked her finger while peeling the apple.

"It's nothing. Just a small cut."

She curled her hand into a fist and slipped it into her pocket.

Three minutes after putting me on Do Not Disturb, her phone rang.

Caller ID:

[Nordica PD Traffic Division]