ALLISON

I start to sweat as we pull up to the hospital. I don't want to be here. I hate hospitals. They only remind me of my sister and how the healthcare system and insurance failed her.

When Meg was diagnosed with cancer, we went all out to fundraise after her insurance denied her claims. We raised tens of thousands of dollars for Meg's care but struggled to get her into a good treatment facility.

We scrimped and saved to afford her medicines. My parents took out a second mortgage on their house to help pay for Meg's treatment.

It wasn't enough.

The bills kept piling up and we were drowning in debt. We tried to not let Meg see the financial catastrophe we were in, but she saw it anyway. I will never forget the horrible day she told us she was stopping treatment.

"You can't do this," I say to my sister, feeling numb. Behind me, Mom is crying and the sharp smell of the hospital antiseptic burns my nose.

"Yes, I can," Meg says firmly. Even though she was a shadow of her former self, her stubbornness remained. "I'm stopping treatment, Allison. I'm choosing to die with dignity."

"You're choosing to give up!"

"Don't you dare accuse me of giving up," Meg says, her voice trembling. "I'm never going to get better, Allie. You, Mom, and Dad are in debt trying to pay for treatments that won't work. I'm not going to do any experimental treatments that will only prolong my pain."

"What about Lucy?" I try to grasp onto anything to try and change Meg's mind. "Don't you want to see her grow up?"

"Of course I do," Meg says fiercely. "Do you know how much it kills me that I won't be here for my baby? But I'm tired, Allison. I'm tired. You're not going to change my mind so stop asking."

Meg died two months later. I've never forgiven the health insurance companies and the billionaires who run them for killing Meg. Their greed is the reason my sister is dead.

And now here I am. At a fucking hospital.

How am I supposed to afford the hospital bills? It was only a stupid fall. I don't need to be here. I just need to rest at home.

"This is completely unnecessary," I say. "I want to go home."

"Absolutely not," Nick says firmly. "You could have a concussion. You need to be treated."

"I didn't even hit my head, Nick!"

"I will hear nothing further from you. Am I understood?"

There's authority and command in his voice and it's enough to shut me up.

It's clear he's a man used to getting his way. I wonder what it would be like to be dominated by him.

"You make me go to the doctor when I don't feel good," Lucy chirps from beside me. "So now Nick is making you go to the doctor because you don't feel good."

The driver drops us off at the emergency room doors. I open the door to get out but Nick is there in a flash, scooping me up into his arms and holding me bridal style.

I squeak, my face burning. This is embarrassing.

His muscular arms envelope me entirely, pressing me firmly against his body. I'm close enough that I can see the stubble on his face and see his Adam's apple bob as he swallows. He smells so good.

The automatic doors smoothly slide open and I close my eyes, unable to stomach seeing everyone stare at me.

Nick's gait is confident and even though my eyes are closed, I can tell we are moving quickly through the waiting room. Where's my purse? I will need to show my ID and insurance card.

"Wait for me!" Lucy calls, and I feel Nick pause.

"Sorry about that, Lucy," Nick says gently. I open my eyes to see her panting as she catches up.

We reach the front desk and the receptionist quirks an eyebrow at my position.

"We need to see Dr. Amelia Evercrest," Nick says. "And we need a private room, too."

And I would like a million dollars, I want to retort. He's asking for a lot of things in a busy emergency room. I wouldn't be surprised if the receptionist laughs at him for his demands.

To my surprise, the receptionist nods. She makes a quick phone call and then presses a button. The heavy double doors at the back of the waiting room swing open. "Down the hall and to the left. Room Six."

Wait, this isn't normal. Why didn't they ask for my ID? My insurance card? Why am I being seen immediately?

Maybe I really am concussed.

We enter Room Six and I'm surprised to see a beautiful young woman standing there, arms crossed. Her long, wavy brown hair is clipped back, showing off her heart-shaped face. She's stylishly (and expensively) dressed, her clothes showing off her petite figure perfectly.

I honestly would have thought this woman was a model if she wasn't wearing a white coat and if her name tag didn't have "MD" on it.

She raises an impeccably groomed eyebrow as Nick carries me in, Lucy trailing behind him. "What did you do to the poor girl? Did you say something so stupid it caused her to pass out from shock?"

What?

My mouth drops open at the woman's comment and I glance at Nick to see how he will react.

To my surprise, Nick rolls his eyes and gently deposits me on the bed. "That's pretty rich coming from someone who thought Argentina was a continent."

"Argentina is a country in South America!" Lucy chimes in.

The woman groans. "I was ten–"

"Old enough to know better," Nick shoots back, a teasing smile on his face.

The woman ignores him and turns to me, running an assessing eye over my body. "Hi Allison," she says as she snaps on latex gloves. "I'm Dr. Evercrest. Can you tell me what happened?"

"I—"

"She ran into a couple while ice skating and she fell and hit her head—"

"I'm sorry, I didn't realize you were also named Allison," Dr. Evercrest says sarcastically to Nick as she inspects my head. "Butt out, will you? Can you try to keep your bossiness to a minimum? Thank you."

Lucy climbs onto the bed and lays her head on my shoulder. Her presence comforts me and gives me some much needed calm.

"Do you two know each other?" I blurt out. This is just too confusing.

Dr. Evercrest rounds on Nick, surprise on her face. "You haven't told her everything?"

Nick's glare also confuses me. Why does he look so mad?

"No," he hisses before he turns away from her toward me. Behind him, Dr. Evercrest looks at her brother and me and smirks, a knowing look on her face.

I'm not even going to try and figure out what that means. This is all making my head hurt.

"Allison, Lucy, you've had the unfortunate pleasure of meeting my sister, Dr. Amelia Evercrest."

Oh. Well that explains the banter.

Wait. Evercrest?

"Like the owners of SelectMart Evercrest?" I ask faintly. Is this the owner's daughter? Is Nick somehow related to the Evercrests?

The doctor bursts out laughing and slyly glances at Nick. "It's my married name and no, I'm not. It's just a funny coincidence. Isn't that right, Nick? It's a good thing, too, because I hear the CEO is a real asshole."

I exhale in relief, missing Nick's murderous look toward his sister.

"Hi!" Lucy says. "Are you going to fix my aunt?"

Dr. Evercrest smiles at Lucy. She has the same dimple as Nick and her eyes crinkle the same way. I'm surprised I didn't pick up on the resemblance earlier.

"That's my job," the doctor says. "We are going to run a few tests, just to rule out a concussion. A nurse will be here shortly to take you to get a CAT scan."

A CAT scan? Oh no. That's going to be expensive.

"I insist," Dr. Evercrest orders, seeing my hesitancy. "You're under my care and we need to make sure everything is okay."

Not only did Dr. Evercrest look like Nick, but she also seemed to have his confidence as well.

There's a knock at the door and a nurse pokes her head in. "We're ready for her."

Nick leans in and picks Lucy up. His arm brushes my breast, making my stomach flip. What I wouldn't do to feel his actual hand there.

"Why don't you and I go check out all the vending machines and see what snacks they have?"

Lucy's eyes light up. "Can I have a candy bar?" She asks eagerly.

"You can have all the candy bars," Nick laughs. He sets her down and turns to me. His eyes soften as he grabs my hand and squeezes it. His calluses scrape against my fingers and the warmth of his skin seeps into my own.

"Everything will be okay," he says, staring deeply into my eyes. It suddenly feels like he and I are the only ones in the room.

Dr. Evercrest clears her throat. "All right, enough of this. My patient needs her testing done. Out! Shoo!"

***

After an hour of testing and being poked and prodded with needles, I'm returned to my room. Nick and Lucy are there waiting for me.

Lucy clutches a card in her hands and the bedside table is full of flowers, a teddy bear, and a mountain of candy. A balloon floats above the table bearing the words 'Get Well Soon!'

"Allie Cat!" Lucy yelps. She waits until the bed is returned and locked before she deftly climbs up and thrusts a card into my chest. "I got this for you! See? It says, 'You're One Tough Cookie. Get Well Soon!'" She sounds out the words flawlessly and I smile at her.

"That was some good reading!" I praise and she beams.

"Nick helped me pick it out," she says, turning to the man. "He let me buy whatever I wanted at the gift shop and we went to all the vending machines for candy!"

I wince. That must have cost a fortune and he's only a seasonal worker. "You shouldn't have," I murmur.

"I wanted to."

"I'll pay you back," I state. "It just might be a while as I'll need to pay for these co-pays–"

"You're not going to pay me back," Nick says firmly. "And you don't need to worry about the hospital bill. I've already taken care of it."

He did what?

How can he afford this? He's a warehouse worker, for God's sakes!

"You shouldn't have done that," I manage to say, sputtering. "That is completely inappropriate. I'm your manager and I can pay–"

"Say, Lucy," Nick says loudly, interrupting me. "Are you excited to see the Christmas tree lighting ceremony tomorrow?"

Asshole.

"Yes!" Lucy cries out. "Allie Cat and I go every year! Last year, Grandma and Grandpa got me a Lego Christmas tree. I love those building blocks. Do you?"

"I do," Nick confirms.

My stomach churns uncomfortably at Lucy's mention of the Christmas tree lighting ceremony. I haven't had the heart to tell her we won't be able to go this year.

There's a knock at the door and Dr. Evercrest pokes her head in.

"Oh, you're still here, Do—Nick. I'm surprised Allison hasn't kicked you out yet."

Nick sighs loudly and raises his eyes to the ceiling. "What did I do to deserve such a wicked sister?"

Jealousy creeps in me as the siblings banter. Meg and I used to have similar conversations.

Dr. Evercrest ignores Nick and turns to me. "I have your test results."