But it sure didn't feel like no strings when I approached our little party to see Zeke cozied up next to her. In my spot. I clenched my hands at my sides and took the empty spot on the other side of Andy. Not getting invested was a good idea in theory. I closed my eyes and let the rhythmic strumming of the guitar weave itself around the soothing sounds of the ocean, wrapping around each other, pulling me gently into the waves and then pushing me back to shore. Pushing, pulling, pushing, pulling. Like the tentacles a certain Texan had managed to wrap around my heart almost from the first time I saw her. The pull I felt from her caused me to push her away or give in and be pulled out to sea without a lifeline, drowning, no escape, and carrying me away from myself to darkness.
Sophie
"You and the nurse looked awfully cozy tonight," Andy said in the car on the way back to Portland.
"Zeke is...I don't know what Zeke is, but I'm not worried. He'll lose interest in a few days when some pretty thing like Cafe Girl comes along."
"Or maybe he's the type that loves a challenge," James inserted himself into the conversation. "I'll talk to him for you if you want."
"Thanks, but no. I can take care of it myself. And besides, everything will be back to normal between us tomorrow." At least I hoped so. I tried to steer us to another topic. "I believe we were about to be favored with another hilarious, if mostly disgusting, story about Andy."
James took the hint. "Okay," he said by way of apology. "I'll back off."
Andy chimed in. "I will too. But I could take him if it became necessary," he reassured me. I laughed at their gallantry. "Enough about you, Sophie. Let's talk about me." Andy grinned and rubbed his hands together. I could tell he loved telling this story. Actually, talking about himself in general. He and James were as opposite as day and night.
"Let's go back about twelve years," he began. I turned in my seat so I could see his face. "James and I were in high school. I had asked the girl I was going to marry to the Prom." James snorted, but Andy continued. "Another Harry Potter movie was due to be released in theaters the following month. So, we decided to have a Harry Potter movie marathon to be up on all things Harry Potter by the time the new movie hit theaters."
"I'm surprised," I interrupted. "I don't see you as a Harry Potter fan."
"After all the time we’ve spent together, I'm beginning to think you don't know me at all," Andy faked offense.
"I think you’re right about that." And I really did. Shame on me for not getting to know him better before I broke things off. Had I ended it prematurely and made a mistake? I wondered. But it didn't feel like a mistake.
"You don't love the gym, so we could never work out," Andy told me. Well, there was that.
"Anyway, back to my riveting story. We were sprawled out with pillows and blankets all over one of my buddy's family room floor. I'd been stuffing myself with popcorn and candy for close to five hours when suddenly, I knew I was in trouble. I excused myself to go to the bathroom, but it didn't help. Things were getting serious, but I couldn't leave. We were going to be parting soon to get dressed for the dance anyway. I could wait it out, I thought, right?" I nodded. "Wrong." He pointed a finger at me for emphasis. I put my hand to my mouth to muffle my laugh. It wouldn't be so funny except Andy was one dramatic story teller.
"I could tell I was getting ready to blow. You know how it feels when it's creeping up your throat and you get the mouth sweats?" I nodded again, going for serious. "That's what was happening to me. I looked around frantically for a garbage can, a bowl, a bag, anything, but there wasn't one in that whole big room. Not even so much as an empty shoe lying around. I stood to make my way to the bathroom again, but all I could see stretched out in front of me was a sea of bodies. It was like that Frogger game where you have to jump on passing logs to get across the river. Except I had to find space between all our friends to get across the room to the bathroom. Wasn't happening. I turned to my date to tell her I needed to leave, but no words came out; only licorice, popcorn, soda-"
I fake gagged and held up my hand. "I get it, thanks."
"-All over her," he continued as if I hadn’t interrupted. "Man, the stench..."
At that point in the story, James started laughing. "I've never seen anything like it," he choked out. "One minute, we're all watching Ron complain about giant spiders or something, and the next minute Andy shoots to his feet, turns green, and erupts like a geyser. Stuff spews from his mouth and nose with a ferocity unlike anything I've ever seen before or since." That was saying a lot considering all he had probably seen in his profession. Their description was so real, I didn't know whether to laugh or do a dramatic reenactment and toss my cookies all over James' beautiful car.
"You okay, Sophie?" Andy asked earnestly, eyeing me.
James' head snapped in my direction, a look of horror on his face. "I'll pull over," he offered. "Just say the word."
I reached over and cracked my window, taking a few deep breaths. "I'm good. I promise. Keep driving."
"Skip to the end, Andy," James ordered in exasperation.
"Ah, come on. It would have been hilarious if she'd lost it all over the seats of your baby," he laughed, picturing the drama. "Look at us, making our own memories."
"Finish the story," James and I said together.
"Fine. So all the girls started screaming. It triggered a chain reaction and one after another, people started throwing up all over the place." Andy watched me closely and waved his hand. "But you don't need to know all the stinky details. I'll just skip to the end." I smiled when James rolled his eyes. "I apologized and made a beeline for the door. Needless to say, we didn't go to the dance later that night. The end," he finished proudly. I shook my head in amazement and laughed.
"The truly sad part of that story is I couldn't marry her. She never would have agreed to be stuck with me forever after that."
"A shame," I agreed. "Instead you are here regaling us with all the gory details so we can pass it on for generations to come." Andy sat back and crossed his arms over his chest, satisfied.
"Did you know that vomit produced by sperm whales is used in perfume?"
"Why am I not surprised you know that?" James laughed.
"Can you imagine how much paper this girl would rack up in Jeopardy or Who Wants to be a Millionaire?" Andy asked. "You could make us very rich, Sophie."
"I'll try to remember you when I become rich and famous."
"You owe us anyway," Andy said.
"How do you figure?" I frowned over my shoulder at him.
"We've taken you in as one of our own. Shown you our beaches. Given you play by play highlights of some of our most memorable life experiences."
"You two are true friends," I said humbly, pretending to get teary-eyed. "I don't deserve you."
"Well, no need to get all dramatic. We'll still let you hang with us." Andy patted me on the shoulder.
I dozed off sometime after that. James' voice startled me awake.
"San Antonio, we're at the hospital."
"Sorry I fell asleep." I smiled up at him groggily and rubbed my eyes. "Thanks for the great time." I turned to include Andy in my gratitude. I reached down on the floor by my feet and grabbed my bag. "See you guys." I opened the car door and stepped out. James quickly jumped out and jogged around the car after me.
"Did I forget something?" I asked, looking over my shoulder at his car and then down at my bag.
"No." He pulled something from his jacket pocket. "Give this to your nephew," he said, holding his hand out toward me where a sand dollar rested in his palm.
"How did you find this?" I whispered and took it reverently from his hand.
"I stumbled on it while you and Zeke were busy," he told me with a shrug. I felt my cheeks redden and was grateful for the dark night.
"Thank you, James. You have given me a perfect day." I went up on my toes and kissed his cheek.
"We'll have to go again. To Cannon Beach, I mean. But when it's low tide so we can study the tide poo
ls and get closer to the monolith," he stumbled over the words.
I smiled. "I would love that. Running Friday?" I asked.
"Yes. Good night, San Antonio."
"’Night, James." I watched him walk around his car to the drivers side. Andy waved as they drove away. I slipped inside my car and set the sand dollar on the seat next to me. As I brushed its scratchy surface with my fingertips, an odd sort of warmth wrapped itself around my heart.
Chapter 13
Sophie
Zeke cornered me just outside the NICU the next evening. "How is your balance?" he asked.
"How do you mean?" I had to admit my curiosity was piqued.
"A bunch of us are heading downtown to do one of those segway tours on Saturday. Do you want to come along?"
I laughed in surprised delight. "How many years have you guys lived here? What don't you know about Portland?"
Zeke grinned. "We know everything there is to know about Portland. We just haven't ever seen it by segway. You game?"
"You better believe it," I told him and laughed again as Zeke swiped his badge and we pushed through the NICU doors. "I've never been on a segway, so I'm not guaranteeing we'll all come out of this alive. But if you feel like living dangerously..."
"Dangerous is my middle name, right Doc?" Zeke raised his voice so James could hear us across the room.
"What?" James looked up from an incubator. I felt myself blush when a smile lit his face at the sight of me.
"I was just telling Ms. Sophie that dangerous is my middle name. We are doing a segway tour Saturday afternoon. You and your cousin should come."
James glanced at me and then back at Zeke. "I'll check and see if Andy is game, but count me in. Thanks."
Saturday would be a little more fun now. I grinned and turned to go feed Dylan.
James
“So, what are your plans Sunday?” I glanced quickly behind me as we ran the Marquam Nature Park Loop the next day.
“Uh, well, church,” she puffed.
“My sister wondered if you wanted to join her and her family for dinner on Sunday.” I felt a little prick at the way I made it sound. “Passing on the left,” I called to an elderly man up ahead.
“I’m not sure how to answer that,” she finally said. “That’s really nice of your sister, but I don’t want to be in the way. You know, if you weren’t planning on an extra person tagging along.” Yup. She had taken it exactly how I’d intended it to be taken. I felt like there was a constant battle going on inside me. Let her in a little, don’t let her in at all. Friends or not?
I stopped off the side of the trail and pulled her to a stop next to me. “Sorry for the way I made that sound,” I said around a huge intake of air. “I would really like a friend to go with me to my sister’s house for Sunday dinner.” I squeezed her hand. “Please don’t make me face her alone.”
“She doesn’t seem that frightening, but if it will help you out,” she sighed dramatically. “I guess I could go.” She looked at our hands, the beginnings of a smile peeking from the corners of her mouth.
I bent forward to make eye contact. “I appreciate you condescending to spend time with me. That’s really generous of you.” I smiled.
She grinned and shrugged a slender shoulder. “That’s just the kind of person I am.”
“No wonder my sister wants to get to know you. The more I’m with you, the more I realize you’d be good friends. You both are all sorts of humble and stuff.”
“Yeah,” she laughed and then smacked my shoulder. “Beat you back,” she called sprinting up the trail.
Sophie
"Thanks for letting me hitch a ride with you," I told James and Andy as I jumped into the car Saturday afternoon.
"You've become quite the freeloader. We expect you to drive next time," Andy said from the back seat.
"So like tomorrow for dinner?" I asked.
"He's kidding," James beat Andy to a response. "I'll pick you up around four if that's okay."
"Yes. Now tell me about these segways. I've suffered through the movie Mall Cop, but that's my only experience with them. Did you know that in some hospitals, admission rates for segway injuries are higher than that of pedestrians being hit by cars?"
"I was wondering when you would favor us next with some off-the-wall-meant-to-be-helpful-but-actually-isn't trivia that makes me fear for my life just a little bit more." Andy leaned between the seats and glared at me.
"I'm sorry," I apologized sheepishly. "You guys know how I get when I’m nervous. I don't even know how I remember such ridiculous and unhelpful information."
James grinned at me. "It's not all unhelpful information, San Antonio. Andy is more scared about this adventure than you are. He just doesn't have enough brain power to make his fear interesting for the rest of us."
I laughed, a little more at ease now with the teasing, as Andy growled behind us.
"We won't let anything happen to you, San Antonio," James assured me.
"James won't, but I'm not promising anything," Andy still glowered in the back seat.
"Come on, Andy," I laughed and turned around to look at him. "Just think, if something does happen to us, we have a doctor on the premises and you can tell us 'I told you so' for years to come. That will be fun, right?"
"Heart doctor," Andy grumbled.
"Well, heart doctor or not, we're here. Strap on your courage, boys. Let's go see Portland." I jumped out of the car and hurried over to Zeke and his friends. I recognized some of them from the beach the other night and greeted them with smiles and hellos.
We moved into the tiny office and listened with rapt attention to the safety spiel. I tried to listen, anyway, but Zeke's constant whispering about keeping me safe accompanied by his hand moving slowly up and down my arm and then my back in a possessive way affected my ability to listen closely.
"Hey, Zeke, keep it down," someone called from behind us.
"Yes, please," the middle-aged worker paused in his instruction giving. "This is the most important part of the tour. Safety first." There were a few snickers as the worker smoothed down his comb over and continued.
What before had seemed life threatening with the segways was looking to be a reprieve from Zeke and his hands now. I looked around the group, wondering how difficult it would be to navigate the people in these close quarters in order to make my escape. I shifted away from Zeke and eyed the door.
"You're that anxious to get started, huh?" a voice whispered close to my ear from behind me, sending chills all the way to my toes. I could feel the slight pressure of his strong chest pressing against my back as he leaned in to keep from interrupting the safety instructions. I grinned on the outside and sighed on the inside. James.
"It's a little crowded in here. My bubble is being invaded," I turned slightly to whisper back, nodding casually in Zeke's direction.
James' eyes flicked to Zeke and back to me with a knowing grin. "I think the instruction part is wrapping up. As soon as you can show you can keep your balance on one of those things, you should be good to go."
"No problem. I'm all about balance. Let's get going."
Although I wouldn't beat any land speed records on a segway, I held my own. What a delightful way to see the city. I was really glad Zeke had suggested this. The weather was perfectly overcast, but not too cold. A slight breeze coming off the Willamette had me putting on my hoodie, but no rain fell. I laughed as Andy zoomed in and out of the group, almost crashing numerous times.
"I was kidding about using the on-site doctor," I called to Andy as he went barreling past. He turned back to grin at me and veered into a enormous planter filled with flowers, throwing himself over the top of it and into oncoming traffic. I screamed out a warning and James increased his speed to get over to Andy. Cars honked and swerved around him as he rushed into the street to stop traffic and helped Andy off the ground. Andy seemed a little dazed as James directed him to a bench nearby. Zeke and some other guys got the segway out of the street an
d traffic continued on with a few disgruntled looks and single finger waves from the drivers.
"We should probably take him to the hospital just to make sure he doesn't have a concussion or something," someone called out.
"I'm fine." Andy shrugged James off. "That's why they make us wear helmets. Once I get the rocks out of my palms, I'll be good as new."
"They can remove those at the hospital while they do a CT," James said, hauling Andy to his feet. He turned to Zeke and asked, "Can you guys get the segways back?"
"No worries, bro."
I watched Andy from the back seat on the way to the hospital. He said he was fine, but he favored his left hand and rode with his eyes closed. James met my gaze in the rear view mirror and offered me a weak smile, but I could see the worry in his dark eyes. I'm sure they reflected the worry in my own.
Four hours and a finger splint later, we pulled up to James' apartment building and helped Andy inside. He fussed the whole way up to their apartment about not needing anyone to hold his hand, but when he half stumbled to his bedroom, I was glad James had insisted. I watched from Andy's bedroom doorway as James threw a blanket over Andy and told him he'd return in a while with his prescription. I liked that they took care of each other even though to me they seemed like a very unlikely pair.
I stayed in the car while James ran into a pharmacy and paid for the prescription. We stopped for Chinese take-out and pulled up to Trevor's house soon after.
James put the car in park and turned to me. "Sorry I can't stay to eat this with you."
I grabbed my order out of the bag and opened the door. "Please don't apologize. We didn’t even need to stop for the food anyway.”
"Andy needs to eat to take the pills,” he reminded me.
Matters of the Heart Page 11