Been There Before Read online

  Saige snorted. “You better keep that to yourself.”

  “Yeah, I guess I better do.” Aurora sighed. “I’ll see you later, all right? I gotta go shower, that fucking dust is all the way up my ass crack.”

  Saige laughed. “Now you see why I didn’t wanna ride in this shithole.”

  “Fuck off.”

  A door slammed, making Lea jump. Then Saige flicked a cigarette over the railing that landed in the dust at Lea’s feet. A second door closed above.

  Lea frowned. What had that been all about? They couldn’t have been talking about her. Or could they? Nonsense.

  She had to get back to Ricco. She’d been gone a long time. Who knew what he’d gotten up to in her absence.

  She picked up pitcher and ice and hitched her bag higher before hurrying up to their room. She let herself inside awkwardly.

  There came a low groan from the bed, followed by a chesty, painful-sounding cough.

  “Ricco?” Not turning on the light, she moved into the room. After depositing everything on the table by the door she hurried in the direction where Ricco was still coughing.

  He sat on the side of the bed, head hidden in his hands. The coughing stopped, only to be replaced by some low, frantic cursing. His hands felt for the trash can. Lea grabbed it for him. “Here.”

  She sat next to him and put a hand between his shoulder blades as he retched. The back of his shirt was soaked with sweat. He coughed again and wrapped his arm around his chest. "Oww."

  “Come here, love.” Lea took the can from his limp fingers and scooted close so he could rest against her while he got his breath back. Lea reached for the washcloth on the bedside table and wiped his face and neck with it.

  When his breaths came in a more normal way again she said, “That’s the damn dust, making you cough like that. I brought ice chips. They’ll soothe your throat.”

  “Okay.”

  He sank onto the bed and she brought the ice and some tea in a water glass from the bathroom. Ricco’s eyes were closed but he hadn’t turned away from her. Lea got the rescue pills from her bag, then perched on the bed. “How’re you feeling?”

  He squinted at her. “Like shit.” Tears still beaded his lashes, but he was calmer now.

  "I've got Lioresal here if you think you can keep something down. And Zofran, for the nausea."

  “Sounds great.” He sounded exhausted, and Lea’s heart went out to him. Even when she was mad with him, she hated to see him in pain.

  She helped him swallow the pills and drink the tea, then gave him some ice chips.

  “I’m sorry.” His voice was a whisper and sounded sore. Lea stroked his neck and face. She wanted him to be well again, but he had to understand that it was he who had to do the work.

  “Will you take your pills from now on?” she asked quietly but firmly.

  “If you think they’ll make a difference.”

  “I do.” She considered. “Let’s make a deal. If they don’t work in two weeks we’ll try something else. But you gotta be honest with me.”

  He tensed. Lea got ready to retrieve the trashcan. But he just sighed and nodded. “Okay, I will, promise… Lea?”

  “Yes?”

  “I love you. Don’t leave me.” He sounded like he would cry again. She took his hand. He gazed at her with bloodshot eyes, looking more dejected than she’d ever seen him. Lea squeezed his fingers. “Course I won’t leave you. We’ll get through this together." She tucked the sheets around him. "Get some sleep now, you'll feel a lot better afterward."

  He didn't argue and dropped off within minutes. Lea sat and watched him for a long time.

  If only the main problem could be solved with a nap, too.

  2

  “How was Nevada?” Kathy asked.

  “Sandy and hot.” Lea had stopped at Ricco’s place to shower, then hurried onto the subway and to work, trying to make it in time for her shift. She couldn’t afford to be late, they’d already had had to rearrange her schedule for several days. She was grateful to her supervisor and the amazing ER team. They’d made sure she could fully focus on getting Ricco back on his feet before flying home. She rubbed her eyes, which felt like they were still full of dust.

  They’d stayed at the motel for an extra two days since Ricco was in no condition to travel. He couldn’t be upright for more than a couple of minutes, and he’d been in so much pain. Even now he was weak and doped off his head with pain meds. He was resting at home under Nick’s watchful eye, and Lea had made him cancel everything for at least another three days.

  Ciaran would drop by after school and stay the night. Lea hadn’t wanted to pick another fight so she hadn’t said anything about that plan, but she thought it inappropriate that Ricco’s teenage son would once again be expected to look after his dad.

  Lea had told Kathy why they’d been delayed, but the nurse didn’t ask any questions about it. Lea was grateful that she was spared more gossiping.

  “Your guy was in the gossip column again the other day.”

  Lea sighed. Rejoicing too soon. “What d’you mean?”

  “Betty, the new day nurse reads these magazines.” Kathy was trying to be off-hand, but it was clear she was enjoying this. “She showed me this article. She recognized him from when he was here with you after—”

  Kathy was trying to avoid mentioning her miscarriage. So she doesn’t like talking about that. Lea didn’t understand people sometimes. “Why are you saying he was in there again?”

  Kathy looked uncomfortable. “Last year, there was an article about him and that actress, the German one. And they were in that magazine again a few days ago.”

  Lea’s frown deepened. That rumor was so old. It must have been a really slow news week if the tabloids had dragged that up again. “Well, he wasn’t with her. I was in the desert with him the whole time,” she said acidly. “I would’ve noticed if he’d disappeared for a quick rendezvous. And it’s all bullshit, anyway. Now excuse me, I’ve got patients to see.”

  As she walked away Lea shook her head in disbelief. Was that really how some women chose to spend their time, reading these dishrags and spreading the lies they found in them?

  As she entered the examination room where her next patient was waiting Lea put Kathy and the ridiculous rumors out of her mind. “Jerome Anderson?”

  “That’s me,” a deep voice replied.

  “Hi, I’m Dr. Holm.” Lea read her clipboard. “You’ve hurt your hand, Mr. Anderson?”

  “Call me Jerome, doc. Mr. Anderson’s my gramps.”

  Lea looked up for the first time. The deep, silky voice belonged to a very handsome African American man. He wore a firefighter’s uniform, sitting on the examination bed, and looking at her with beautiful dark eyes. Lea blushed.

  What was this? She was never so easily impressed by a handsome face.

  To cover her confusion Lea stepped closer. She pointed at his right arm which he cradled against his chest. “All right then. Can I take a look?”

  Jerome extended his arm. Lea made the mistake of looking into his warm, brown eyes again. There was some emotion there that she couldn’t quite decipher. With some difficulty, she focused on the arm. The wrist was swollen, and he winced when she touched the skin lightly. “How did this happen?” She palpated his wrist, and Jerome gave a small hiss. “Sorry.”

  “A beam fell on me. I was pulling this guy out from under the rabble of his garden shed, and bam. He’s fine, that‘s all that matters.”

  His voice was tense. Lea slowly flexed each of his fingers. “Sounds like an exciting day at work. But it was probably a fairly dull one for you?”

  “I try to keep the mangled limbs to a minimum,” Jerome said through clenched teeth. “But yeah, it can be quite the ride. Bet yours is too, huh, doc?”

  “Oh, you know.” She turned his hand as far as she could before he grimaced again. “Mangled limbs are fairly common, but I see to it that it’s not my own.” His chuckle made her feel inordinately pleased. “Move yo
ur fingers for me?”

  He did with a wince. Lea picked up her clipboard. “I don’t think it’s broken, but I’d like to do an X-ray anyway. It might take a while, though, radiology is backed up. I’ll call down, put a bit of heat on them.”

  “Don’t worry about that,” Jerome said, smiling that amazing smile again. “Chief said not to show my face at the station again today. I think he’s getting sick of us showing off our injuries. I got all day.”

  “Don’t let them hear that downstairs,” Lea warned. “You will be there all day if they think you’re not fussed.”

  “As long as you keep me company, doc, I don’t see how that’s a bad thing.” He grinned. “Sounds like a great way to spend my day.”

  Lea’s heart beat faster. Her face felt hot. She had to look away from his handsome grin.

  Was he flirting? He was way too gorgeous to be flirting with her. She had rings under her eyes from three sleepless nights and her hair was a complete disaster zone. And why the hell did he have to call her doc? Ricco at home in bed, feeling wretched, stole to the forefront of her mind.

  She gave Jerome a non-committal smile. “I’ll send my favorite nurse, she’s much better company than me.” She headed for the door.

  "Oh, I doubt that very much."

  Lea did her best not to look at him as she left the room in a hurry, trying not to feel envious of Kathy who would get to spend time with this gorgeous man.

  “You look very nice, doc.” Nico came up behind her.

  Lea was in the process of climbing into her new shoes. He put an arm around her middle.

  “You think?” Lea pointed at the pointy heels of her shoes. “If I fall over with these, will you catch me?”

  “Every time, babe.”

  Lea regarded him in the full-length mirror on the wall. He smiled, and she smiled back. They looked nice together, smartly dressed and ready to go out on the town. But Ricco was still pale from last week’s migraine attack, and there were lines around his eyes that hadn’t been there before Nevada.

  “Is your head feeling okay?”

  He nodded. “It’s fine. And I took my pills, too.”

  Lea patted his arm still lying around her middle. His hand rested on her stomach for a moment, but then he paled, and quickly let her go. He stepped over to the bed and picked up his suit jacket, no longer meeting her eye. There was a pained expression on his face.

  He was remembering her miscarriage. She picked up the Love necklace from the dresser with shaky fingers. They hadn’t talked much about that night. Was it on Ricco’s mind more than she’d realized?

  Ricco stepped close again. He took the necklace from her and fastened it around her neck. He stroked the nape of her neck, and when their eyes met in the mirror he gave her a smile. Relieve surged through her. He’d decided not to let that moment ruin the evening.

  “You ready?” he asked.

  “Yep. I’m looking forward to it!” She shrugged into her jacket. “I haven’t seen any plays since I moved to New York. In London, I went to the theater whenever I had the time. Not that that was often. But I much prefer it over cinema.”

  Ricco looked crestfallen. Lea suddenly realized what she’d said. Movies and TV were his career. Her heart sank again. The evening seemed bound to go badly before they’d even left the penthouse. “Uh, I didn’t mean—”

  He waved away her awkward stuttering. “Don’t worry about it.” He held out her hand. “Come on, we don’t want to be late.”

  He didn’t look too upset, but Lea could’ve kicked herself nevertheless. They left the apartment in silence.

  Ricco hailed them a cab and held her hand all the way to Times Square. He didn’t reference what she’d said, and she hoped he’d forgiven her.

  Her thoughts turned to the event ahead. Ricco’s friends and colleagues would be at the theater tonight. Many of them had come to New York especially to see Miyoko’s play. Daniel would be there, and Lea was looking forward to seeing him again. Maybe, if all else failed he’d take pity on her and talk to her while she hid from the famous strangers.

  A few people hung around outside the theater, just as Ricco had predicted, clutching cameras and posters. But he’d worked it all out beforehand. “We’ll drive past, I get out on the corner. Stay all the way over in the shadow. The driver goes around the block. When you’ve circled back you get out right by the entrance. I’ll wait for you inside. If you don’t see me, wait by the big staircase. I’ll come and get you.”

  It had sounded awfully complicated, but it worked as planned. When Lea got into the lobby Ricco waited halfway up the big staircase. He gave her a wink and climbed the stairs. Lea followed him into a small, private bar, where a security guard stood by the entrance. There were about twenty people in the room. Lea hoped that the other theatergoers had access to another bar.

  Ricco waited just long enough for them to get out of sight of the entrance before he took her hand. “You’ll finally meet my friends!” His eyes shone with excitement, and Lea felt butterflies in her stomach like she hadn’t in weeks.

  He approached a group of people, who gave Lea curious looks. The butterflies fluttered harder.

  Ricco made the introductions, but most of the names rushed straight over Lea’s head. She smiled and shook hands, trying to hide her nerves.

  They chatted for a few minutes, then Ricco pulled her away, anxious to show her off to the next group of people. Lea waved at Daniel, who smiled at her from across the room and came to join them.

  Ricco addressed a beautiful Japanese woman. "Hi, Miyoko! Wow, what a night, congratulations!” He tugged Lea closer. “This is Lea. Lea, this is Miyoko Hayashi, our resident playwright.”

  Miyoko extended a hand. Her smile was warm and her handshake firm. She was stunning, and Lea’s nervousness ratcheted up again.

  “Ricco tells us you’re a doctor?” Her voice was smooth, and she had a hint of an accent. When Lea nodded, Miyoko added, “It’s so good to finally meet you. Ricco talks about you all the time.”

  Lea blushed. “If that’s so, I must try and be less interesting.”

  Miyoko laughed. Lea relaxed. If Miyoko found Lea’s stupid nervous banter funny then they’d get on just fine. She grinned at Ricco, who looked at her proudly. Lea wondered, not for the first time, why he’d be with her if he was surrounded by beauties like this all day long.

  “I can’t wait to see your play,” she said to Miyoko. She’d read some early reviews and they had been full of praise.

  “Thank you!” Miyoko looked genuinely pleased. “It was already on in London. Ricco said that’s where you’re from?”

  Lea nodded. “Shame I missed it.”

  Miyoko glanced at Ricco. “Whatever winds of fate brought you to Ricco’s doorstep, we’re grateful.”

  Ricco grinned, embarrassed. Did he seem fidgety? Lea wasn’t sure. Before she could ruminate on that, he waved at someone behind Miyoko. “Doc, let me introduce you to our doctor.”

  The blonde woman who walked toward them seemed familiar. It took Lea a moment, then the penny dropped. “You’re Nurse Suzie Simmons, oh my god!” She clapped her hand to her mouth. The woman laughed, and Ricco nudged Lea, grinning.

  “Wow, doc. That’s the first time I’ve seen you star struck.”

  She was trembling, but she shook the woman’s offered hand. “Doctors and Nurses is the only thing on telly I ever watched religiously…this is so unreal. I love that show! I used to watch it all the time in London. And you’re amazing in it.” Lea drew a deep breath, reddening. “I’m sorry I fangirled all over you.”

  The woman grinned. “Don’t worry about it. I’m Siobhan. I don’t mind if you call me Suzie though. I miss that gig!”

  Before Lea could say anything else Daniel tapped Ricco on the shoulder. “My apologies, but I need to steal Ricco for a minute.” He held up his phone. “It’s Stuart. He and Sondra came on the subway, and now they’re lost. I don’t know New York well enough to direct them, could you give it a go?”


  “Sure!” Ricco took the phone and they moved toward a window.

  “So you’re a doctor on the show?” Lea asked Siobhan.

  “Yes, but I’ve only been in a few episodes this season.”

  “I’m not at all caught up,” Lea said. “I should watch it all, but things keep getting in the way.”

  “I wouldn’t worry about it. Ricco says you’re an actual doctor?”

  “Yes, I work at Bellevue ER.”

  “Well in that case you get enough excitement at work, no need for apocalyptic gore.”

  “That’s what I keep telling people.” Lea grinned. “And we’ve been so busy.”

  “Keeping up with Ricco is a full-time job in itself.” Siobhan glanced in Ricco’s direction. Then she leaned close. “I don’t really watch TV either, and it pays my bills. But for my entertainment, I prefer live music or the theater.”

  “Me too.” Lea thought back to earlier when she had said she preferred the theater. She pushed the guilt away. “In London, I used to go to as many plays as I could fit around work. Which wasn’t all that many, but still. I just don’t know people here yet who can keep me in the loop about must-see plays.”

  “My friends and I go at least once a month,” Siobhan said. “You have to come with us sometime.” She pulled out her phone “Give me your number and I’ll let you know when we book the next one.”

  Lea reeled off her number and Siobhan saved it in her phone. She felt dazed. She’d just been offered to join this famous woman’s theater club. Finally, Ricco had brought her to an event where she was making interesting new friends.

  The theater bell rang. Ricco came back, grinning broadly and shaking his head.

  “What’s tickled you?” she asked.

  He snorted. “Stuart and his wife got so lost!”

  “Did you sort them out?”

  “Hope so. We’ll see if they turn up. Quick, let’s get a drink before we find our seats.”

  He pulled Lea to the bar and they ordered G&Ts. Then they hurried after the others, laughing. It was a relief to see Ricco in a good mood. This was turning into a really fun night. They snuck into the last two seats in the box reserved for their group, behind Miyoko and Daniel. Ricco made the most of the fact that they were invisible to the rest of the theater and pulled Lea close. She leaned into him happily.