Read Online How to Save a Life by Kristin Harmel - Free Book Online Page A

way,” he says, reaching a hand out.
    I shake it. “Jill.”
    “That’s a really pretty name,” he says. He continues to smile at me as I withdraw my hand and the doors slide closed. I turn around in a daze to find Sheila staring at me with a knowing expression from behind the nursing station.
    “I have just two questions for you,” she says. “One, why aren’t you dressed for work? Two, when are you going to get a piece of that?”
    The gray-haired, grandmotherly woman in the waiting area harrumphs, and I give Sheila a look and hurry over to the nursing station.
    “Seriously, Sheila? In front of the patients’ families?”
    She bats her eyes innocently. “What? Are you telling me you don’t think she knows about the birds and the bees?” She nods toward the woman, who has returned to reading her AARP magazine.
    “And besides, the guy in the elevator? I just met him.”
    “Don’t tell me you’re above a little stranger sex.”
    “Sheila, everyone should be above a little stranger sex.”
    She shrugs. “Suit yourself. So why aren’t you dressed for work?”
    “Oh.” I force a sunny smile at her. “I have that appointment with Dr. Frost today. Remember? I was hoping you wouldn’t mind if I take the day off.”
    Her forehead creases. “Oh, honey, you’re worried, aren’t you? But I’m sure everything’s going to be fine. He’s going to tell you your headaches are just due to stress. Or maybe sexual frustration. Yes, I can almost guarantee that his advice to you is going to be that you should go out and get laid.”
    “Right. I’m sure that’s exactly what he’ll say.”
    She steps out from behind the nursing station and gives me a hug. “Look, I joke around because I’m worried about you. But you really are going to be okay today. You know that, right?”
    I nod into her shoulder. “Can you cover for me today?”
    “You got it. But make sure you stop by Logan’s room. That kid sure loves you.”
    “The feeling is mutual,” I say. “But first, I have a balloon delivery for Megan.”

    “ B ALLOONS ?” T HE RIGHT corner of Megan’s mouth twitches as she stares at me from her hospital bed. “I mean, really? Balloons? Like balloons are going to make chemo any better?”
    I smile at her. It’s exactly what she said two todays ago.
    “They’re just to celebrate your last treatment, Megan,” I tell her.
    She glares at me and crosses her arms. “You know I’m not a little kid.”
    “I know. You’re a full-fledged woman. Which makes me an elderly spinster.”
    She giggles. “You’re only sort of elderly.”
    I give her a look as I tie the balloons to her bed rail. “I’m going to take that as a compliment.”
    I head out of her room and duck my head into Frankie’s room first—he’s not there—and then Katelyn’s. She’s sitting up in bed, scrolling through something on her iPad. When she sees me, she hurriedly puts the tablet down.
    “Hey, Jill!” she says brightly. “How’s your third today going?”
    I smile. “It’s weird, isn’t it?”
    She shrugs. “I can’t say it’s normal. But you get used to it, you know?”
    “What were you looking at?” I nod toward her iPad.
    “Oh.” She turns red. “Nothing important.”
    I raise an eyebrow and wait for her to go on. Finally, she mumbles, “Fine. I was reading something about original sin on People.com.”
    I stare at her. “Original sin like Adam and Eve eating the forbidden apple?”
    She laughs. “No, silly! The band! Original Scin. Scin like short for scintillating . S-C-I-N.”
    I continue to look at her blankly.
    She rolls her eyes. “They’re, like, a huge boy band? Like the new One Direction? They sing that song ‘Should’ve Loved You That Way.’ ”
    “Oh.” I rack my brain. “I think I’ve heard that song. So you like them?”
    “I love them. My Make-A-Wish wish was going to be to meet them. But according to the tree, I’ll be gone in twelve days. There won’t be time. And it’s not