“You could not have known it,” I insist.
“Yes I could and I did and here you are.”
“Is there something you want to add to the discussion, Mary,” our teacher, Nurse Hurt asks.
Really, a nurse with that last name would scare the hell out of me if she showed up by my sickbed.
“No. Sorry.”
“This week we finish up with orthopedics. Next week is break and when we come back, you’ll be assigned to different areas of the hospital to complete your term. Fill out your five choices, number one being where you really want to. I can’t promise you’ll get your first choice, but I’ll do my best.”
I already know that Mary and I will both list the ER first. Others prefer pediatrics, some labor and delivery, and others really liked ortho. Of course, there are about a dozen other areas, but there are a few I’d rather not be assigned to, like the dementia floor. It’s just too heartbreaking. Not to see the patient’s like that, but the pain and loss in the family members’ eyes. I get why they call Dementia and Alzheimer’s the slow death. Nothing is quick and you watch your loved one slip away a little more each day until there is nothing left of them, only a face you recognize when they have no clue who their husband, wife, son or daughter is. Oh, I hope I don’t get assigned there.
Mary keeps glancing in my direction. She is not going to give up but I’m also not a kiss and tell kind of girl either.
When it’s time to head to our assigned floor she links her arm in mine.
“You should have seen the guys this weekend when Christian didn’t come home.” She laughs.
I thought she was joking when she called on Sunday.
“Christian doesn’t not come home, ever, and he hasn’t dated anyone in like ages. Even then, he came home.”
“Seriously?”
“I was serious when I said they were acting like a bunch of mother hens whose chick had wandered away and foxes were on the hunt.”
“He is an adult,” I point out.
“You don’t know these guys. I didn’t get it at first either, but they are tight. I don’t think blood siblings are as tight as those six. So, when he didn’t come home, they got concerned.”
It’s good to know. Not that I want them in my business, but it’s still great to have people who care so much, especially since he had nobody to care for him, not really, until he was about twelve or thirteen.
“So, how was it?”
“I’m not telling you. All I’m going to say is that we had an incredible few days. We talked a lot and other things.”
Mary grins. “What other things.”
My face is heating again. I don’t have to spell it out for her because she knows perfectly well what they are. “Let’s just say that I’m glad I took that left over box of condoms home instead of storing it at the office.” Condoms that break. I hope the whole case isn’t bad or we could have an epidemic of surprise pregnancies, or nasty STDs, after spring break.
No. The others worked just fine. It was that last one that broke.
“I knew it,” she practically yells. “Dylan will be happy.”
Hell no. She is not going to be blabbing my business. “Hold up.”
“What?”
“What I tell you is between you and me. Not between you and me and then you and Dylan and then Dylan and the guys.”
Mary blinks at me.
“I’m serious. I don’t know what is happening. It’s new and so far good. I don’t want my business known.”
“He might say something.”
I shrug, though I’d like to think he’d keep details to himself. “That’s up to him, but as my friend I hope you keep my confidence.”
After a moment she nods. “I get it. If they press, I’ll just tell them it was a good weekend and that’s all I’ll say.”
20
Sean: Still not dead?
I probably should have answered that text a lot earlier, but I really didn’t look at my phone until I headed down to the subway.
Me: Nope, or yes. Bad question.
Sean: You answered. See you later.
Sean will probably be at work by the time I get back to the brownstone. It’s weird thinking that I won’t see the guys for a couple of weeks. I don’t think I’ve ever really gone a weekend without being around at least a few of them. Instead, the company I will be keeping is with the idiots who make up the rest of the band. It’s going to be a fucking long two weeks. But, if I can find Scarlett and bring her home, it will all be worth it.
I step inside the brownstone and stop. So, I haven’t been here since I left Saturday night to go play, but that isn’t any reason for all of my roommates to be sitting in the living and dining room staring at me. Sean’s at the dining room table drinking a cup a coffee. I know he should have left for work by now.
Alex is on the other side of the table sketching something. Shouldn’t he be at the tattoo shop he owns? Has Alex started letting the guys who rent space from him open the place up?
Dylan is at the far end of the table working on his laptop. Actually, he doesn’t need to be anywhere since he’s a writer and does that from home, unless he’s visiting a restaurant to review. On the couch is Ryan, with his laptop, scrolling through photos and Zach’s at the other end of the couch eating a bowl of cereal.
Every one of them is looking like a parent who has sat up all night waiting for their kid to come home. Or at least what I imagine they’d look like and what they look like from some movies I’ve seen.
“What?”
“You tell us,” counters Sean.
I look at them, one after the other. “Are you guys really mad that I didn’t come home?” This is unbelievable. We may share a place, but since when did we approve the comings and goings with each other?
“Dylan made a really nice roast yesterday with all the fixings, so we could have a nice dinner before you left on your tour,” Ryan says.
“The girls came over because they are going to miss you,” adds Zach.
“Joy even brought a flower arrangement.” Alex nods to the vase in the middle of the dining room table that is overflowing with pink, white and red flowers.
“Oh, and those cupcakes Alyssa brought.” Zach groans. “The best.” Then he looks at me. “We didn’t save you any.”
“I’m assuming you had breakfast with Bethany, but I can fix you something if you want,” says Dylan, though by the tone of his voice, he’d rather not, like he’s hurt.
How the hell was I supposed to know that Dylan cooked a big meal and that everyone was going to be over? Nobody told me. They could have said something when we talked, hell, when I asked for a restaurant close to Bethany’s that delivered, but he said nothing. Not that it would have made a difference. But to be hurt?
Man, I feel like shit, but kind of irritated too. But it’s their fault for not telling me and it isn’t like I haven’t missed dinner, a lot, and I never told them ahead of time. What’s the big deal about this?
“You know I’m going to be gone a few weeks, not going off for months.”
“We haven’t exactly been separated from each other since we met at Baxter either,” Zach points out. “We wanted to spend some time with you before you disappeared.”
“I’m not going to vanish like Scarlett. She’s the reason I’m going.”
“I hope Bethany’s worth it since she’s wiggled her way between you and us,” Sean says before taking a drink of coffee.
I narrow my eyes on one of my best friends. Something is up because that doesn’t sound like Sean at all. Not one bit.
I glance at the rest of my friends again, but this is the first time I’ve not been able to really read them. Are they really hurt and pissed that I didn’t come home? What the hell? If this is how they are going to be, I’m going to be on their ass each time they don’t show up when I think that should. Like every time Dylan spends the night with Mary.
“Are you at least going to introduce us?” Ryan asks.
“You met her on Satu
rday.”
“That was before she kidnapped you. We didn’t know how dangerous she was then.”
“Jesus…” I’m not doing this.
“So, is she at least good?” Zach asks. “She’s got to be.”
“That, I am not answering and it’s none of your business.”
“You guys are a bunch of shits,” Nina says. She’s Dylan’s younger sister. He spent twelve years looking for Nina, as well as Noah and Jade, his other siblings, after they were separated after being taken from their parents and put into the black hole of the foster care system. If Dylan had it his way, they’d all live here and the only reason that they don’t is because Noah is in the army and Jade is still in foster care, a minor, and Dylan’s not in a position to fight for custody
Dylan shoots her a warning look and suspicion seeps into my gut.
“Tell me about that roast?”
Nina snorts. “You mean the pizza he ordered because he didn’t want to cook, but after talking to you wished he would have gotten Chinese.”
“The flowers?” I eye Dylan suspiciously.
“Those were from some guy that took them to the bar. Alyssa didn’t want them and sent them home with Alex to give to Kelsey, in front of the guy who gave them to her,” Nina answers.
“I don’t remember you being an annoying little sister,” Dylan complains.
“I’ve been waiting years to be annoying and you just gave me the opening.” She laughs as she comes down the stairs. “Any coffee left?”
“Not for you,” Dylan grumbles.
All this may have been a way to give me a hard time for disappearing for over day, which I’ve never done, but something else is going on because Sean wouldn’t miss work otherwise. “You guys okay?”
“Well, we were going to give you a lot more shit until the brat ruined it.” Sean chuckles as he gets up and then finishes his coffee. “You like her?” His eyes meet mine.
“Yeah, I do.”
“Then you better bring her to dinner when you get back,” Dylan warns. “I’ll make a roast for her.”
“Not for me?”
Dylan snorts and heads back into the kitchen. Then he stops. “You know, Bethany and Mary are friends, there isn’t any reason why we have to wait for you to get back. I’ll have Mary find out when she is available.”
“Hell no.”
They all straighten and look at me.
“I kind of want her to still want to see me when I get back.”
“We’ll be gentle,” Zach assures me with a wink.
I do want her to meet the guys, but I want to be with her when she does. Plus, I need to be there to run interference on any embarrassing stories. “I promise to bring her over when I get back. Don’t scare her away before I get that chance.” I say it in a joking way, but I hope they get it.However, there isn’t much I can do if Mary does bring her over.
Sean comes forward and gives me a quick hug. “Glad you met someone and good luck in your search.”
“Thanks.” He heads out the door and I look at the rest of the guys. “Any more shit.”
“Nah.” Alex closes his sketch pad and heads for the door, patting my shoulder on the way. “Have a good trip.”
Ryan shakes his head and goes back to doing whatever it is he’s doing. Probably editing photos. Zach just grins at me.
They are shits. But they’re mine and I love them.
Who the hell is calling me so late? Rolling over I check the clock. It’s one in the morning and I grab for the phone, praying that my parents are okay. “Hello.”
“Were you asleep?”
“Christian?”
“You sound groggy.”
“It’s one.”
“Oh shit! I forgot the time change. It’s only ten here. I’ll call you tomorrow.”
“No,” I say quickly. I hoped he would call and he said he would, I just didn’t think it would be so soon.
“I’ll let you go. You need sleep. You have school.”
I can’t even keep my eyes open, but I’m still glad he called. “My pillow isn’t as comfortable.”
“What was that?”
“The pillow. I sleep with a body pillow. You’re better.”
“Glad to know that.” He chuckles. “I’ll try and call earlier tomorrow, before you go to sleep.”
“Okay.”
“Night Bethany.”
“Night, Christian.” I press the little phone thingy to hang up. “Love you.” I whisper.
“Bethany?”
It’s like I can still hear him.
“Bethany!”
My eyes pop open and I look at my phone.
“Didn’t I hang up?’
“Um no.”
Crap, crap, crap. Now I am wide awake.
I didn’t just say love you. I just thought it right? I know I didn’t mean it. How the hell could I? Where the hell did those words even come from? Please let them only have been a stupid thought.
Damn groggy brain.
I bury my face in the pillow and wish the bed would swallow me whole. I don’t even know why I thought it, and I couldn’t have said it. It is way too soon. Way, way, way too soon.
“You okay?”
“Ummm, yeah.”
It’s over. He’ll never talk to me again and can I really blame him? If some guy mentioned the “L” word after two days I’d be running for the hills.
“Get some sleep. I’ll call later.”
“Okay. Bye.” This time I stare at the phone and make sure I hang up. Then, turn the phone off for good measure, wait ten seconds and then turn it back on.
I am such a fucking moron.
Note to self, when Christian calls again, if he calls again, be awake, or wake up and call him back, but do not talk to him without being fully alert, ever again.
21
Long days make for longer nights. We had to set up the equipment, do a sound check, then grab a bite to eat. I would have called Bethany then but she was still in class. Then it was one thing after another and I didn’t get a break until it was nearly midnight here, making it 3 a.m. in New York. As much as I want to talk to Bethany, I’m not going to wake her up again.
Music blares from the other part of the suite I’m sharing with the guys. End of concert and beginning of a party. All I want to do is sleep, but that’s not going to happen. Not with all of that noise and the dozens of people the band invited up.
I’d go to the lobby and find a comfortable chair to sleep in, but this is Las Vegas, it’s not going to be any quieter down there than it is in this room.
“Hey, Christian, open up.” Someone pounds on my door.
“It’s locked for a reason.” I shout. That last thing I want is anyone wandering in and falling in bed with me. Unfortunately, I’m sharing a room with Jason. He better not want to bring a girl in here. There is no way I want to be in this bed while he’s fucking in the other.
“Come on man.” It is Jason.
I get out of bed and head to the door and open it.
“I need the room.” He pushes past me. A bleached blonde wearing a short skirt and bikini top follows him inside.
“I was trying to get some sleep.”
Jason looks me up and down then smirks. “In your clothes?”
That’s because I didn’t want to be naked in case someone did end up in my bed after I was asleep. Instead, I use Bethany’s excuse. “Fire. Don’t what to be forced out wearing nothing but my boxers.”
Jason rolls his eyes.
“I need some sleep,” I argue. “Find someplace else.”
“You sleep somewhere else, dude. Bitsy and I are going to party.”
“Fine!” I grab my bag and my horns. The trumpet and trombone are locked up with the other equipment. However, I always keep my saxophones with me. It will be awkward hauling all of this, but I’m not about to leave my stuff unattended in a suite filled with strangers.
“Where are you going?”
“To get another room.” Hopefully the
y have one and it isn’t too expensive.
I can’t wait to be done with these guys and I’ll be more than ready by the time the tour is done, because I have no doubt that every night is going to be a party.
“Whatever, old man. You’d think you were 64 instead of 24.”
Sometimes I do feel that old when I’m around these asswipes.
I ignore him and push my way through the crowd.
By the time I make it to the front desk I find out there are a few rooms available, but not within my budget.
Instead, I haul my crap to a bar and take a seat at a corner table. It’s kind of like a booth and comfortable. With my bag between my feet, I put a hand on each horn case and just relax, and watch the people. From where I’m sitting, I can look out on a good portion of the casino. At least this part of it, since I think it goes off in different directions. At least Las Vegas is entertaining and there are certainly a number of characters here.
A waitress stops and looks at me. “Tall glass of orange juice and strong cup of coffee.”
It’s not exactly the types of drinks she’s probably used to serving, but I don’t dare risk dozing off. Not with all of my belongings with me. I learned a long time ago how to protect my stuff, and stay awake when I had to, and I’ll just need to draw on that until the party is over, whenever that will be. Then I can go back and crash in my bed again, after I kick any strangers from the place, including Bitsy.
Two days and nothing.
He’s running and I don’t blame him.
Why the hell was I even thinking I love you? That thought shouldn’t have even been in my brain yet, let alone say it.
On top of that, I never got a chance to talk to a doctor and then I was so upset by what I said to Christian that I totally forgot and now it’s too late for the emergency pill. All I can do is hope and pray that my calculations were correct and I don’t have anything to worry about.
“What’s wrong?” Mary asks as we head to the cafeteria for lunch.
I just shrug. “Tired, I guess.”
“Missing Christian,” she teases.
“It was one weekend,” I remind her. Maybe if Mary wasn’t dating one of Christian’s roommates I’d confide in her, but Mary and Dylan are really tight, from what I can tell, and I’m afraid that whatever I tell her, she’ll tell him, and then he might tell the others. No, I’d rather avoid all of that humiliation, thank you very much.
Shake, Rattle and Roll: The Baxter Boys #4 (The Baxter Boys ~ Rattled) Page 12