Текст книги "Cardinal"

Автор книги: Sara Mack

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Текущая страница: 4 (всего у книги 20 страниц)

Chapter Seven

Nervous, I glance around the bar. “Now?  We’re really busy. I can’t leave Gwen.” And I’d rather avoid you if you’re mad.

Latson looks past me to see my coworker with her hands full. He nods. “Fine. But you’re not leaving tonight until we talk.”

I’ve never seen him this serious before. Hoping to break the tension, I salute. “Yes, sir.”

He almost cracks a smile before walking away.

The rest of the night flies by. Riptide plays until the bar closes, and I’m running the entire time. When the last of the patrons are ushered out the front door, Gwen and I start cleaning up the bar while the band breaks down their equipment.

As I return from taking a trash bag to the kitchen, Gwen surprises me by shouting, “Round up!” to no one in particular. Seconds later Carter appears, followed by Felix. They take seats at the bar as my brother wanders over, along with most of the other staff. Pete sits down in front of me, and eventually Latson appears and joins a group opposite us. He glances at me before one of the band members taps him on the shoulder to ask a question. I give my brother a curious look. “What’s going on?”

“End of the night tradition,” he says. “Time to unwind before heading home.”

I walk over to Gwen. “What do I do?”

She hands me a stack of plastic cups. “Fill these with ice water. Most people just want something wet while they talk.”

I do as I’m told and place the cups on the bar top. Carter takes one. “We didn’t get our shift drink.” He fake pouts.

“We were too busy,” I say. “I don’t think anyone got a break.”

“Did you see this girl?” Gwen drapes her arm over my shoulders. “She knows her stuff. I’d like to learn a few of her fancy tricks.”

“Tricks?” Felix gives me a sly smile. “What kind of tricks?  Queridos sexy?”

My brother elbows him. I laugh and clarify, “No, no dirty tricks.”

“Lemme guess,” my brother says. “You went all Tom Cruise in Cocktail.”

“Had to.” I grab a cup of water for myself. “I needed to prove I knew my job.”

“And that’s why I recruited you.” Pete smiles. “How’d you do?”

“You mean money-wise?” I think of the stack of bills in my back pocket. “I’m impressed.” I know I made close to three hundred dollars.

“Good. Now you can’t be mad at me for asking you to work during your vacation.”

“True. But I can be mad at you for telling Carter my nickname.” I stick my tongue out at him. “I’d be careful while you sleep.”

“Your nickname is cute,” Carter chimes in. Then, he looks at Pete. “Frances though…”  He makes a face.

Pete rolls his eyes, then asks for a draft. Gwen gets it for him. As I sip my water, I look around the room. Everyone looks so comfortable; no one is rushing to go home. People joke with each another; the valets talk with the waitstaff who hangs out with the kitchen crew. No one appears excluded. I always wondered why my brother never considered another line of work. Now I know. Even though I’m an outsider, it feels like a big family here at Torque.

Half an hour later, when Pete finishes his beer, he asks, “You ready to go?”

“Yeah.” It’s late. Standing still for the first time in hours has allowed exhaustion to creep in. “Let me get my bag.”

I walk over to where I stashed it beneath the register, and Gwen finds me for a hug. “Thank you so much for helping tonight. There’s no way I could have done it without you.”

“You’re welcome,” I say into her shoulder. “I had fun.”

“Me too!” she exclaims.

Pete and I say our goodbyes to Carter and Felix, and I duck under the bar to join my brother on the other side. We start to leave when he gets distracted by another coworker who wants to say goodnight. I decide to keep walking until, about half the distance from me to the door, Latson steps into my path. He sets his feet and crosses his arms, like there’s a problem. My walk slows. He notices and smirks, then crooks his finger for me to come here.

My knees go weak. How can he make that gesture look hot?

Putting on a confident mask, I make my way over to him. He cocks an eyebrow. “Were you going to leave without talking to me?”

“Nope,” I lie.

“Huh. It sure looked that way.”

“I was just about to find you,” I fib. “What is it you wanted?”

He tips his head and eyes me skeptically. He knows I’m lying. I hold his gaze because I don’t want him to see me sweat, which turns out to be a bad idea. Those eyes are criminal.

Seconds pass before he finally says, “I want you.”

I think my heart stops. “What did you say?”

“I want you,” he says again and steps toward me. “I want to hire you. I know the best when I see it and I need your skills here at Torque.”

“Jesus.” I let out an exaggerated breath.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” I’m quick to recover. The last thing I need is for him to know I misunderstood his words. “Thanks for the offer, but I’m not looking for work.”

He frowns. “Why not?  Pete told me about your job and the apartment.”

He did?  “Then you know I’m only in the city for a little while. As soon as I can go back home I’m leaving.”

“But, you don’t know when that will be,” Latson says. “I think you could do well here. Pete said you need to replace your things.”

I can’t help my twisted expression. “My brother has a big mouth, doesn’t he?”

Latson ignores my question. “I’m not talking about a full time job. We’re closed Mondays and Tuesdays as it is. After watching you tonight I thought –”

“You thought what?” Pete walks up behind us.

“I’m trying to give your sister a job and she’s being difficult.”

“You what?” Pete scowls at Latson. “No way.”

I stare at my brother in confusion. Why would he care?  “Excuse me?  You’re the one who told him about my personal life.”

“Only to explain why you’re here and why he’s never met you before.” He looks at his boss. “Jen can’t work here.”

“Why not?” Latson and I ask in unison.

Pete turns to me. “For the same reason I told you earlier. This was a one-time thing. I don’t need anyone messing with you.”

I didn’t plan on getting a job while in Chicago, but having my brother deny me the opportunity is annoying. “Like I said before, I can hold my own. Who says I’m going to get messed with?”

Just as I utter those words, Carter playfully pulls my ponytail as he walks by. “See you around, Little J.”

The three of us look at him as he sends a smile in my direction.

“See?” Pete complains.

Latson looks lost. “What’s the big deal?”

“I don’t want her to get hurt,” Pete says.

“Who would do that?”

My brother pins Latson with a stare, as if he knows something I don’t. Then, he elaborates, “Jen needs a break. On top of the fire and her job, she just broke up with her prick of a married boyfriend.”

Gah!  How embarrassing!  “Shut up!” I whisper-yell at Pete.

My reaction doesn’t faze him. Instead, he keeps talking. “She shouldn’t work here.” He turns to me. “If you want a job maybe Jules can help you find one.”

“I never said I wanted a –”

“Is it true?” Latson cuts me off.

“Is what true?”

“Your boyfriend was married?”

I let out an exasperated sigh. “Unfortunately, yes. Can we not talk about it?  I’m trying to forget.” I narrow my eyes at my brother. “Thanks for bringing it up.”

“Sorry,” Pete mumbles, although he doesn’t sound apologetic.

Latson’s expression morphs into one of concern. Whether it’s true empathy or a farce, I can’t tell.

“You need a distraction,” he says.

“Well, yeah,” I concede. “That’s why I left home.”

He takes a step, then another and another, until he closes the distance between us. If he moves again, we’ll be breathing the same air. He stares down at me, and I feel myself getting lost. Is this his idea of a distraction?

Because it’s working.

“You’re not the kind of girl who is easily swayed,” he says. “You’re going to do what you want to do.”

I nod. He’s right.

“You just admitted you need something to take your mind off things,” he continues.

“I did.”

“You want a distraction.”

“That’s what I said.”

“Something to keep you busy.”

“Yes.”

“To forget about him.”

“Right.”

“So, you’ll work for me.”

“Okay.”

Wait. What did I just say?

Latson’s face lights up. “Excellent.”

My eyes grow wide. “Hang on. I –”

“Dude. What the hell?” My brother steps between us.

“You heard the lady,” Latson says. “I’m trying to help. She accepted my offer.”

My brother faces me. “You honestly want to work here?”

Do I?  I mean, I just agreed out of the blue. My eyes jump between Latson and Pete. My brother looks stressed while his boss looks satisfied. It’s too early in the morning to deal with these two.

“You know what?  I’m tired. I’m leaving.” I start to walk away and Pete follows.

“Jen.”

I turn around at the sound of Latson’s voice.

“I’d like an answer.”

The confident way he looks at me tells me he knows the answer. He’s certain I can’t refuse. The responsible part of my brain I’ve been trying to repress while I “do me” is fighting to take over. The part that says I’d be an idiot to turn down a good paying job. My reason for saying no was because my time in the city is limited. If Latson knows that and doesn’t care …

I meet his eyes. “When do I start?”

~~~~

For the last few minutes, I have been mesmerized by jellyfish.

I didn’t plan to spend my day this way, but I can’t say that I regret it. Hundreds of delicate, deadly creatures float in front of me, and I am in awe. They look fragile, but they’re not. They are transparent, yet complex. They have survived for more than 500 million years without brains or bones or blood.

At least that’s what the sign at the Shedd Aquarium says.

When I woke up this morning, I decided to get out and be a tourist. I had no idea where to go, other than away from Pete’s apartment. Since I accepted Latson’s job offer my lazy days are numbered.  I start work in forty-eight hours. I should have known my personality couldn’t handle an undetermined amount of worry-free time.

As I continue along the glass wall that separates the sea life from myself, I’m thankful for the advertisement that brought me here. I never considered visiting an aquarium before, until I saw the sign on the side of a passing bus. The illusion that I am underwater with these creatures is relaxing and just plain cool.

“Um, excuse me?”

A small voice and a tug on the back of my shirt make me turn around. A little boy with a faux hawk and an Iron Man t-shirt stares up at me.

“I can’t find my uncle,” he says.

I glance around the area. “Where did you see him last?”

He points over his shoulder. “Back there.”

I scan the exhibit space, expecting to see a frantic adult. Instead, I find relaxed people enjoying the display. His uncle must have gone to find security. At least, that’s what I would do.

“I’ll tell you what.” I crouch down to the little boy’s level. “Let’s walk and find a nice security guard. I bet they can help us. Sound like a plan?”

He hesitates, then nods.

I don’t want him to be scared, so I hold out my hand to introduce myself. “My name’s Jen. What’s yours?”

His fingers wrap around the tips of mine. “Oliver.”

“Nice to meet you, Oliver.” I smile and shake his hand. “I like your name.”

He looks shy at my compliment before I stand to begin our search. There are exits at both ends of the exhibit, but I’m not sure which one will bring us closer to the main lobby. I decide to head in the direction Oliver pointed. Maybe we’ll run into his uncle along the way.

“So, how old are you, Oliver?” I ask as we start to walk.

“Seven.”

“Have you been to the aquarium before?”

He looks up at me. “Uncle Gunnar brings me every week.”

Impressive, I think. “You two must really like fish.”

“Yeah. The sharks are my favorite. Do you have a favorite?”

I think for a second. “I like the jellyfish. Oh!  And the glow-in-the-dark seahorses.”

Oliver crinkles his nose. “The sharks should be your favorite.”

I smile. “Why?”

“They’re like the superheroes of the ocean,” he says. “There’s good guys and bad guys, but mostly good.” He looks serious when he gives me his reason.

“You’re very persuasive,” I say. “Maybe I’ll change my mind when I see the sharks.”

“You haven’t seen them?”

“Nope. This is my first time here.”

Oliver’s soft brown eyes consume his face. He can’t believe it. “You have to see them!  I’ll take you after we find my uncle. I can tell you about all the sharks, even the Great White. They don’t have any Great White’s here, but I know all about them. They’re just like the one in Jaws.”

The kid knows his predators. “You’ve seen that movie?  Wasn’t it scary?”

“Nah.” He shakes his head. “All the blood was fake.”

Alright, then. The music alone creeps me out.

We make it to the exhibit exit and head up the stairs to the next level of the aquarium. When we reach the top, I immediately spot two security guards having a discussion and point at them. “Let’s go ask for some help.”

Oliver walks with me over to the guards. When we get close, he grabs my hand, almost like he’s nervous. I squeeze his fingers to let him know everything will be okay.

“Hi,” I interrupt the men. “This little boy is lost. He can’t find his uncle.”

One of the guards leans down to look at Oliver. “I bet we were just talking about you. Is your name Oliver?”

“Yes,” Oliver says.

The security guard smiles and then speaks into the radio on his shoulder. “Tell Mr. Latson we’ve located his nephew.”

Wait…what?

A woman radios back. “What’s your location?”

“Abbott Oceanarium North. At the stairs.”

She responds. “He’s on his way.”

“Your uncle will be here soon,” the other security guard tells Oliver. “Can you do me a favor, though, buddy?”

Oliver steps closer to my side.

“The next time you’re anywhere with a crowd, make sure you stick by your uncle or your parents, okay?  Not all people are as nice as this lady here.” The security guard looks at me. “Thank you for your help.”

“Of course,” I say.

While we wait, Oliver starts to look around. He tugs on my hand. “Those seahorses you like are over there.”

I turn around. “They sure are.”

“Can we go see them?”

I look at the security guards. “Is that okay?”

They agree since we’ll be in their line of sight. Oliver leads me over to the display and just as we get into a conversation about which color seahorse is the best, I hear a voice call out “O.”

This is crazy, I think.

Oliver lets go of my hand and takes off. He runs toward Latson, who scoops him up and holds him tight.

“I told you never to wander away from me,” Latson says against the top of his head.

“I know,” I hear Oliver say, “but I was bored at the river stuff.”

Latson closes his eyes and hugs his nephew. Tension leaves his body and relief takes its place. As I watch the two of them, my heart melts. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything so sweet.

When Latson opens his eyes, his brow furrows. He sets Oliver on the ground and crouches in front of him. “You scared me, O. You have to tell me when you want to see something else. If you run off again we’re not coming back. Understand?”

Oliver looks at his shoes. “Yes.”

Latson waits for his admonishment to sink in, then holds his fist out to Oliver. “Hey,” he says.

Oliver looks up. He bumps his uncle’s fist with his own, and all seems right again.

When Latson stands, he notices me. He does a double take and smiles. “Who’s your friend?” he asks his nephew.

“That’s Jen. She helped me. I told her I would take her to see the sharks. She has to like them better than everything else.”

“She does?”

“Yes!”

“The kid is adamant when it comes to his favorite,” I say.

Latson takes Oliver’s hand and walks over to where I’m standing. “It sounds like you have a date with my nephew.”

I smile. “I guess I do.”

“How is that possible?”

“He’s passionate about sharks. Besides, who could say no to that face?”

He chuckles. “I meant, how did he find you?”

I shrug. “Coincidence?”

“She looked nice,” Oliver says. “That’s why I picked her.”

Latson tips his head and studies me. Then, he confers with Oliver. “I agree. She looks very nice. Not like a kidnapper at all.”

I roll my eyes.

Latson steps toward me and asks, “Are you here alone?”

“Yeah. I figured I should see the city. You know, before I start my new job.”

He gives me half a smile. “You’d better not be late.”

Oliver pulls on his uncle’s hand. “Can we go now?”

“Sure.” Latson looks at me. “You ready?”

“Yep. I’m ready to be scared by Jaws.”

The two of them lead the way and I follow. As I walk behind them, I can’t help but notice how similar they look. They have the same hair color, almost the same style, and they hold themselves in the same way. Their family genes are strong. An image of the kid’s room I accidentally found at the party least week flashes in my mind. They obviously spend a lot of time together.

Latson looks over his shoulder. “Are you coming?”

“Absolutely.” I catch up and ruffle Oliver’s hair. “I don’t make a habit of letting handsome men down.”

“Really?” Latson grins. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

I shoot him an annoyed look. “I was referring to Oliver.”

He covers his heart with his free hand. “That hurts.”

Oliver laughs.

We make it to a set of elevator doors and stop walking. Oliver pushes the down button, and while we wait, Latson takes the opportunity to lean close to me. “Am I not handsome enough for you?” he whispers.

His breath warms my ear, and I try not to react. I refuse to swoon over his voice, his body, or his scent … which happens to be amazing. It’s crisp and woodsy, with a little citrus thrown in. What cologne is that?

Focus, Jen.

“You know you’re covered in the looks department,” I admit.

“Then what’s the problem?”

He can’t be serious. “Does the name Heidi ring a bell?”

“Yes,” Oliver pipes up. “She’s Uncle Gunnar’s friend.”

Whoops. Apparently I said that a little too loud.

“Thank you, Oliver,” I say, satisfied. “Uncle Gunnar seems to have forgotten.” It dawns on me that I now know Latson’s first name.

More people join us to wait for the elevator, and Latson moves Oliver closer to us. He leans over again and says, “Why do you keep bringing up Heidi?”

I glance at him. “Because you’re together.”

“Who told you that?”

“No one. I saw the proof at your party.”

Latson’s confusion turns into a cocky grin. “I’m not with Heidi.” He steps closer and brushes my arm with his fingertips. “Never have been, never will be.”

Holy shit. It’s hard to concentrate. I clear my throat. “Well, still.” I look forward. “I’m your employee now, so … ”

The elevator door opens and we wait for the riders to file out. When we step inside, Oliver pushes the button for the lower level. More people enter the small space, and the three of us move over to make room. By the time the door closes, we’re squashed in the corner. My back ends up pressed against Latson’s chest while Oliver stands in front of me. I set my hands on the little boy’s shoulders in an attempt to distract myself from the feeling of his uncle’s hard muscles against my back.

As the elevator descends, Latson finds my ear again. “Do you have any more reasons to avoid letting me down?”

His breath against my skin causes heat to slide down my neck and leave goose bumps in its wake. I don’t want him to notice, so I turn and peek over my shoulder.

“You’re wearing another plain white tee,” I sniff. “Obviously you don’t own any other clothes. I can’t be seen with you. Other than professionally, of course.”

Latson laughs and I feel the vibration through my shirt. “You’re going to have to do better than that,” he murmurs.

His words sound like a dare.

Chapter Eight

Two days later, my brother leans over the bar above me. “Are you feeling any better?”

I finish tapping a keg and stand, holding my stomach. “Not really,” I say. “What was in that pizza?”

Last night, Jules and Pete decided to forego the health food and introduce me to the world of Chicago-style deep dish pizza. It was all they promised it would be: thick, covered in chunky tomato sauce, and dripping with cheese. I’m not ashamed to say more than one piece went down without a problem.

“Just your standard stuff,” Pete says. “Are you sure you don’t want me to take you home?”

I know he would like that, seeing as how this is my first day as an official employee at Torque. “No.” I shake my head despite feeling like my gut is digesting itself. “I don’t want to make a bad impression.”

My brother gets sarcastic. “I know the owner. You do, too. Latson will understand.”

“Pete.” I’m agitated because no matter what I do I don’t feel good. “I’ve been lying around all day. Maybe if I move I will feel better.”

Ever since I woke up this morning I’ve had this gnawing sensation under my ribs. It started out as a dull ache but got worse the longer I laid on the couch. Food doesn’t usually bother me, so I’m not sure what is going on. All I know is that I’d like it to stop.

“Well, tell me if you change your mind,” my brother says. “Carter can handle the door and the girls can handle the bar if you need to leave.”

My eyes dart to my coworkers. Mina and Maggie talk while they set up. When Pete introduced us tonight I got the typical “new girl” once over. I’ve been in this situation before and I expected it; the last thing I need to do is leave early. I have to prove that I deserve the job I was given, even more so since I’m Pete’s sister. Three main bartenders have been the status quo at Torque since it opened. Now that I’m number four, even for a brief time, I have to pull my weight. People don’t like to have their hours threatened, especially when they rely on tips. Also, Pete let me in on some behind-the-scenes information: both of the girls calling off the other night didn’t sit well with Latson. I’m sure they think he’s looking to replace one of them, which makes my presence even more awkward.

I turn my attention back to my brother. “I’ll be all right. This thing will pass sooner or later.”

Pete looks uncertain. I shoo him away with a wave of my hand. “Don’t you have somewhere to be?  We open in, like, twenty minutes.”

“Fine,” he says and heads toward the main doors. Satisfied, I walk over to the register to count the change in the drawer. Just as I grab the stack of one dollar bills, a sharp pain flashes across my stomach. I double over as much as I can without anyone noticing.

Ouuuuuuch, I mentally groan. What is this?  On my first break, I’m calling my mom. She’ll know what to do. I know I’m an adult, but you never get over the need for motherly advice. Moms know everything.

“I’ve been thinking.”

My head snaps up. Latson is standing opposite me wearing half a grin. “Did it hurt?” I ask.

“Funny,” he says. He moves to the other side of the register, so he’s closer to me. “Don’t pretend like you didn’t have a good time the other day.”

“Who’s pretending?  Your nephew is adorable. I had a great time.”

“Good.”

After I got my full tour – and I mean full tour – of the shark exhibit, Oliver asked me to have lunch with him and his uncle at the aquarium cafeteria. While we feasted on chicken fingers and French fries, Oliver quizzed me on all the shark facts he taught me earlier. Then, we spent some time in the gift shop where Oliver tried to talk Latson into buying him a book about whales. Apparently he has all the books about sharks. When Latson said no, I fake pouted alongside Oliver until his uncle caved. When it was time to leave, Latson made a big deal about me following them home, which Oliver thought was hilarious until he learned I really am staying in the same building. When he found out I was neighbor Pete’s sister, he hugged me. When that little boy’s arms wrapped around my waist, my heart puddled for the second time that day. I don’t think anyone has ever been that excited to be near me.

Another weird pain hits my stomach and I try to ignore it by shutting the register drawer. “So, about your thoughts?”

Latson steps back and takes off his leather jacket. He holds his arms out to the side. “Your reason for not letting me down has been negated.”

Huh?  I look at his shirt and it clicks. Instead of his usual plain white tee, he’s wearing a navy blue one with white lettering.

“No pants are the best pants,” I read, then raise an eyebrow.

“It’s the truth,” he says with a sexy smile.

I wish I didn’t feel so shitty. I can’t banter with him in this condition. All I can muster is a sarcastic, “Classy.”

“You said nothing about class.” Latson lowers his arms. “All you said was I couldn’t wear white shirts.”

“No. I said you shouldn’t wear them all of the time.”

“Stop trying to come up with loopholes.” He walks up to the bar and sets his hands against the top. “You’re out of reasons. Admit it.”

I point at the word Torque scrawled across my shirt. “Still your employee,” I say.

He smirks.

People start to enter through the front doors and they grab my attention. “Looks like I have a job to do.” I glance over at Mina and Maggie to see if they’re ready and catch both of them watching Latson and me. They have confused looks on their faces.

Great. Not only am I their manager’s sister, it’s obvious I know the boss.

Ugh.

I step to the side so Latson is out of my way. When I do, a horrible pain shoots across my belly. I clutch the edge of the bar for support as it crawls under my ribs and burns its way up into my chest. It hurts so much, I can barely breathe.

“Jen?”

I try to answer but I can’t. All I can do is concentrate on taking short breaths as my body breaks out in a cold sweat.

“Jen. What’s wrong?”

I have no fucking clue,but I think I’m dying. I try to send the message to Latson telepathically, because there’s no way I can talk. A wave of nausea washes over me and suddenly the floor seems like a good place to be. My vision blurs as my knees buckle and I land on my hip behind the bar.

“Jen!”

I hear the scuffle of feet and feel someone grab under my arms before my head hits the tile. “Get Pete!”

I think that was Maggie. My eyes close. God, I hurt. Make it stop.

The next thing I know, I’m floating. At least it feels like I’m floating. I don’t have the energy to open my eyes. I’m still trying to take little breaths, to try and keep my stomach and my chest from burning. It doesn’t work. Nothing works.

“What happened?” It’s Pete.

“I don’t know. She passed out.” Latson’s voice is muffled and I realize he’s carrying me. I hear a door. “Felix!  Get my car!”

“Shouldn’t we call 911?” Pete sounds panicked.

“Dorothy is faster,” Latson says.

“You and that damn car. Jen!”  Pete’s voice is next to my ear. “Can you hear me?”

I nod because I can.

“What’s wrong?  Can you breathe?  Open your eyes!”

I squint. “Stop yelling,” I croak out. “My stomach is killing me. It hurts to take a deep breath.”

“Is it the same thing as this morning?”

“Only a thousand times worse.”

Latson holds me tighter, and I clench his shirt in my fist in response to the pain. Leave it to me to feel like I’m birthing an alien in his arms. I can’t even enjoy the feeling of being held in them.

Before long I hear the rumble of an engine. Latson starts to walk and Pete stops him.

“Give her to me,” my brother says. “I’m riding with you. Are you going to Mercy?”

“Yes,” Latson says before handing me over.

I open my eyes as I’m jostled from one person to the next. Felix jumps out of a black muscle car and rounds the front, drawing my attention to the white stripes that run the length of the hood. “Is she going to be all right?”

“Estare bien,” I mumble against Pete’s chest. I’ll be fine.

“Let’s hope so,” my brother mutters.

Latson opens the passenger door and pulls the seat forward. Pete sets me in the backseat. As he buckles me in he says, “You’re killing me, Little J. You know that?  You should have stayed home.”

“So I could pass out all alone?  No thanks.” I wince. Damn pain.

Pete gives me a worried look. He knows I’m right.

The guys jump into the front seat and as soon as the doors slam shut, Latson tears away from the curb. “We’ll be there in twenty minutes, tops,” he says as he maneuvers through traffic.

I try to settle against the soft leather of the seat beneath me and pull my legs up to the side. Latson steers with one hand as he pulls his cell from his back pocket. He pushes a button and tells it to “Call Dad.”

His phone responds. “Calling Dad.”

“Are you sure?” my brother asks. “When’s the last time you talked to him?”

“Two years ago,” Latson answers.

~~~~

The lighting in the hospital room is dim. I blink to focus and search the walls for a clock. Hearing the slow tick, I find it by the television. It’s almost two a.m. I’ve been here for seven hours.

My head rolls against the flat pillow and I look down. I still have my IV. I silently thank the nurse who injected the morphine into the tube to kill my pain. After that, I didn’t care how many vials of blood they had to take. I didn’t care that I had to put on a backless hospital gown. And I didn’t care when they used the same tube to inject dye into my body for a CT scan. All that mattered was finding out what was wrong.

I look in the opposite direction and find Pete asleep in a chair beside my bed. His head is tilted at an odd angle, which makes his mouth hang open. If I had something to throw, I would totally try to make a basket. I lean over and tap his knee. “Hey.”

His eyes fly open. “What?” He blinks. “You’re awake.”

“Yeah. Why are you still here?”

“Like I’d leave you.” He straightens his body and yawns.

“Pete. I really appreciate it, but you can’t sleep in that chair. You’re three times its size. Go home. I need you to pick me up after surgery later.”

He runs his palm over his tired eyes. “Nothing’s changed, has it?”

“Not that I’m aware of.”

I can’t believe I have to have surgery. Stupid gallbladder. How can such a tiny organ cause so much pain?  Apparently mine is inflamed and full of stones, one of which is blocking some sort of duct. It needs to come out. Thankfully the procedure is outpatient, and I won’t have to stay in the hospital very long.

I smile innocently at Pete. “You’re going to have to wait on me for the next five days. Instead of sitting here, you should make yourself useful and go to the store. I’ll need plenty of apple pies and coffee.”

“Nope.” He leans forward. “You heard Latson’s dad. You have to watch what you eat, at least for a while.”

I frown. After my problem was diagnosed, I got a visit from my surgeon. Latson’s father drew a diagram of what was happening, explained laparoscopic surgery, and told me how long it would take to recover. He was patient and reassuring. He also looked like an older, gray-haired, more distinguished version of his son.