“You’re amazing, Bridge.” Eva hugged her tight.
“But first we have to get you out of that open back catastrophe they call a gown.” Bridget hurried to the oversized purse she’d dropped by the door. “Sweats or jeans?” She pawed through it before holding up the two options. “Which one do you think Olivia Pope would recommend for fleeing the authorities?”
“Seriously?” Eva asked, yanking off the thin layer shielding her from the cold hospital air.
“Jeans it is.” She tossed them to Eva along with a balled up T-shirt. “And I’ve got shoes in here somewhere.” Bridget shuffled through the contents and pulled out a pair of tennis shoes.
Eva scrambled to put the clothes on quickly before rushing to the door. “My mom and the doctor are still talking,” she said, peering out the tiny window. “Go along with whatever I say, and we might have a chance at getting out of here.”
She casually opened the door and walked into the brightly lit hallway.
“Eva, what are you doing out of bed?” Lori hurried over to them, studying Eva’s outfit. “And you changed clothes.”
“Yeah, I had to get out of that gown. It made me feel all exposed. Luckily, Bridge brought me something to wear.”
Bridget nodded enthusiastically. “Whoever designed hospital clothes should be arrested.”
“And where do you think you’re going? I thought that nice nurse, Maya, was in there with you.”
“She left a few minutes ago. She said she’d be right back, but Bridget has to leave, so I thought I’d walk her to the elevator,” Eva lied.
“Are you sure you’re okay to walk? You don’t want to wait for the nurse to come back and bring you a wheelchair?” The concern in Lori’s voice filled Eva with guilt.
“No, I’m okay. It’s just down the hall. You can see them from here, and I’ll only be gone for a second.”
“Okay, well, be careful. The nurses’ station isn’t far from the elevator. If you start feeling bad, just let one of them know.”
Eva wrapped her mom in a hug and buried her face in her hair. “I love you, Mom. Thanks for everything.”
“I love you too,” she said, returning her daughter’s tight embrace. “The doctor and I are almost done out here. I’ll be waiting for you in your room when you come back.”
She stifled her tears and forced herself to let go of her mom.
“It was good to see you, Ms. Kostas. I’m so glad Eva is doing so well.” Bridget eyes widened, and she giggled nervously.
Eva hooked Bridget’s arm with hers, and they rushed toward the elevators. “Don’t talk to anyone else. You sound like a crazy person,” she whispered.
“I guess I’ll have to work on how I act when my best friend wakes up from being unconscious for days with super powers, and we both turn into criminals after locking some innocent and really pretty nurse in a bathroom.”
“You have a point.” Eva stopped in front of the elevators and pushed the down button. “Tell me when my mom goes into the room, but try not to make it look obvious.”
Bridget fluffed her hair and glanced over her shoulder. “She’s gone.”
The elevator dinged, and they rushed in before the door fully opened. Eva ran the control panel and jammed the close button with her thumb. “Close, close, close,” she pleaded aloud.
The doors closed sluggishly, and Eva pushed the button for the first floor before collapsing against the cold metal of the elevator. “Please tell me you have your car.”
Bridget groped inside her large bag and retrieved a black key fob. “It’s getting reupholstered, so I’m driving a rental.”
“Thank God.”
The elevator opened, revealing lines of chairs and a set of sliding glass doors to the parking lot.
“I’m parked just a few rows back.” Bridget led the way as they hurried through the crowded ER waiting room and into the warm evening. “Where are we going?”
“I don’t know. I haven’t exactly thought that far ahead.” Anxiety twitched in Eva’s legs, and she quickened her step. “Know of any good hideouts?”
“My place? You have to sign in in order to see anyone who lives in the building. It’s definitely the safest place I know.” Bridget held up the key and a nearby car chirped. “This is it,” she said, jogging to a white SUV.
“It’s huge. You can drive this thing?” Eva asked, hoisting herself up.
Bridget let out a small cackle. “Not well. You better put on your seatbelt.”
Bridget carefully maneuvered through the parking lot. Eva buckled up and yelled, “They’re going to be out here any minute looking for us. Hurry!”
Bridget pulled up to a light and waited for it to turn green before slamming on the gas. The tires squealed against the pavement, and the car lurched forward onto the main road. “You don’t have to tell me twice. Just because I majorly suck at driving this boat doesn’t mean I don’t know how to drive it fast.”
Twenty-Five