Best Dating Rules, Tamie Dearen [literature books to read txt] 📗

Spencer grinned before heaving an exhausted breath. “I’m so tired. I’ve hardly slept in two nights. And then today’s marathon...”

“I agree, but I’m okay to drive if you want to sleep on the way home.”

“Awesome. Thanks.”

He fell into a restless sleep, fighting images of Emily careening down a rocky chute.

Chapter Eleven

“That was Charlie. They’re on their way up,” Anne told Steven as she hung up her cell phone. “All of them.”

“All of them?”

“The whole crew. I’m excited to meet Spencer’s other sisters.” She was munching on a cracker, relishing the sense of relief both of her girls would be home safe again.

“What about the guys? Are they coming up as well?”

“I don’t know. She said everyone, but weren’t they planning to drop the guys off to take showers?”

“We’ll find out,” said Steven as he walked to answer the doorbell. Anne was thinking how nice it was to be a part of something fun after being locked away in the apartment all week. Going to the hospital for Emily’s emergency didn’t count as an outing.

The doors opened and chaos erupted. Charlie came in, laughing, followed by three girls, about her height. All were excited and giggling as they rushed into the penthouse checking out the interior with curious glances. Then came Grace, conversing with a young man with close-cropped hair and a goatee. Next came a tall, broad-shouldered fellow with blond hair, cradling the limp body of Emily in his arms. Spencer, who was obviously fuming, followed right behind him.

Anne struggled to stand up. “What’s wrong with Emily?”

“She’s okay,” said the blond man with a smile. “She’s just sleeping.”

“Because you drugged her!” accused Spencer.

“I didn’t drug her. I gave her some pain medication.”

“Like I said, you drugged her. And you should’ve let me carry her.” Anne could almost see steam coming out of Spencer’s ears. “What did you give her, anyway?” he demanded.

“I gave her some acetaminophen with hydrocodone. Where should I put her?” he asked Anne.

“Please, lay her here on the couch.”

“Okay, but you should know she’s pretty dirty.” He nodded to Anne. “Hi, I’m Josh.”

“He saved Emily’s life today,” said Charlie. “Him and Brad.”

“I saved her first,” grumbled Spencer.

“Hi, I’m Brad.” The other young man walked over to offer his hand to Anne.

“I’m Anne, Emily and Charlie’s mom, and this is their father.”

Steven moved through the crowd to offer his hand to the young men. “Hi. I’m Steven.”

Brad and Josh stared with wide eyes at Steven.

“Steven Gherring? Are you Steven Gherring?” asked Josh, pumping his hand.

“I’m afraid so.” He chuckled.

Brad grabbed his hand and shook it. “Nice to meet you, sir. Charlie didn’t tell us who her dad was.”

“Technically, I’m their stepdad, but today I think I deserve to be called Dad.”

“I agree,” said Anne. “You definitely get dad status.”

“I’ll give you dad status for letting us use the limo,” said Charlie, giving Steven a hug and kiss on the cheek.

“Nice to meet you,” Josh said to Steven. “And thanks for the ride home.”

“Thanks to both of you for taking care of Emily for us and bringing her home,” said Steven.

Spencer added sullenly, “And for giving Emily illegal drugs.”

“It wasn’t illegal,” Josh growled.

“Codeine—without a prescription!” He spat back.

Josh’s smile didn’t reach his eyes. “But you see, I’m a doctor and so is Brad. So it was perfectly legal for us to give her hydrocodone.”

Spencer’s face deflated and he stomped into the kitchen.

“You’re both doctors?” asked Anne.

“Yes, Ma’am,” said Brad. “We’re third year residents at Mercy General.”

“She needs that foot elevated, and she needs to take some anti-inflammatories for the sprain,” Josh said. “But, I’m pretty sure nothing’s broken. Icing it would also be good—twenty minutes on, twenty minutes off.”

“What about dinner?” asked Charlie. “Can you wake her up?”

Anne frowned down at her sleeping daughter. “If you gave her hydrocodone, she’ll probably be out cold until tomorrow morning.”

Josh chuckled. “Well, she warned me she had a strong reaction to drugs. But I didn’t know she was that bad.”

“Mom,” said Charlie, “I told the guys they could shower off and change here, so we could go eat. Is that okay?”

“Sure,” said Anne, glancing at Steven for confirmation.

“No problem,” Steven said. “Follow me. We’ve got a couple of showers available.” He led Josh and Brad into the back.

Grace dragged her sisters over to the couch. “Mrs. Gherring, these are my sisters. Olivia, Hannah, and Claire.”

“Nice to meet you,” said Anne. “They’re so tall! What happened to you, Grace?”

“We think her dad was the mailman.” Olivia waggled her eyebrows at Grace, who whacked her sister on the back of her head.

“My Grandma was short, too. And she tells me what we lack in height is made up for in beauty.”

“I think it’s made up for in mouth. Ow!” Olivia giggled as Grace whacked her again.

“Are you in school, Olivia?” asked Anne.

“Yes, ma’am. I’m in nursing school.”

“And what about you, Hannah?”

“I just finished my first year of college—majoring in undecided.”

“Way to go Hannah. Keep it up and you can come be a ski bum with me.” Charlie gave her a high-five.

“Claire? What about you?”

“I’m a junior in high school next year. And I’m going to be an accountant.”

“Claire, you can’t even keep up with your purse. How will you keep track of people’s money?” Olivia stifled a laugh.

“Easy—it’s all virtual. I’m great with virtual stuff, like video games.”

“What about you, Grace? Are you still in school?”

“No, ma’am. I teach first grade, but I’m off for the summer.”

“The bad thing is she’s the same size as her students,” teased Olivia.

Spencer wandered back into the room and sat down across from the couch, staring at Emily, his mouth downturned.

Anne cleared her throat, catching his attention.

“I’m sorry she’s asleep, Spencer. Are you going to dinner? I know you’re starving, and she’s not likely to wake up tonight.”

“You should come to dinner, Spencer. It’ll be fun.” Charlie walked behind him to nudge his shoulder.

“With the two fabulous doctor heroes?” he asked sarcastically.

“I think you should stay home, you old grump,”