“I have some savings, and the hospital will work around my treatments. They said I may be able to work through them, on the rare occasion some people can, but if I’m at risk for infection, I’ll wait for a bit.”
Grabbing Kathy’s hand in hers, she opened her mouth to speak, closed it again, thought about her choice of words and then finally spoke.
“If I’m given a little while longer, just until Hannah graduates, honestly that’s all I want, that alone would be such a gift!” Looking down at the brochure so she wouldn’t lose it, she added, “To see my little girl, the beautiful young lady that she has become, walk across that stage after all we’ve endured, would be my dream come true. I can’t imagine a greater gift than to witness her starting her life as a young lady, ready to conquer the world, before I have to leave.”
“If you don’t tell Hannah and she finds out, she’s going to be furious with you.”
Gloria nodded. “I know.” Grabbing her sister’s hands in hers and squeezing them, she added, “but if I tell her, she’ll stop doing the things she needs to do to prepare for her senior year and make it to graduation. Not to mention, Hannah should enjoy her senior year.” Gloria let go of her sister’s hands, stood up, and walked over to look out the window. “I don’t want her to stop living because of me. I want her to enjoy every second of her junior and senior year. It’s only fair. It’s the right thing for her to do. Not to sit and worry about me.”
Kathy knew that Hannah would be furious if she found out that they had kept such news from her, but she wasn’t about to defy her sister, especially at a time like this.
That kid still had enough of Hank Gunner in her to be stubborn and to spit poison if she felt hurt. Gloria knew that Hannah didn’t mean the cruel words that she was capable of spewing when she was angry, but she might not have enough time for Hannah to cool off when that day came.
“Whatever you want, sis, I’ll do it. Just tell me what you need, and we’ll get it done.”
Gloria wrapped her arms around her stomach; queasy from the pre-meds for the treatment she had been taking. Chemo had not yet started, but they had implanted a port. Working at the hospital, she had a clear understanding of what to expect and how to handle it. She considered herself lucky in that regard. Her doctors agreed to implant the port while she was at work, hiding it from Hannah, and to wait until she could make all of the necessary arrangements regarding her schedule before starting treatment. If all went well and as she hoped, she could return to a light shift while on chemo. If too ill or at risk for infection, she could not. Her treatments would take place on her days off, and her schedule had been altered to accommodate the recovery period needed between treatments. The hospital had agreed to play it by ear, but Gloria was more concerned about keeping everything from Hannah. A little teamwork, a compassionate boss, and Gloria was going to do her best to keep her condition from Hannah for as long as she possibly could. Keeping secrets, that task, was becoming a beast of its own!
Chapter 16
Cash
Intrigued
Yes, he has my attention!
~ Hannah Gunner ~
As soon as the black Jeep Wrangler pulled up to the pump, Connor stopped what he was doing and nudged Hannah.
“Look at that!”
Hannah looked up from the magazine she’d lifted off the rack and stared across the parking lot to pump number seven.
“Looks like a Jeep,” she said playfully.
“Trust me, they don’t all look like that.”
Connor started going on and on about the silver trim, killer wheels with the slight lift, the badass sound system, and how he’d give anything to drive a Jeep like that! Hannah, half-listening, hadn’t paid much attention to the Jeep, but she sure had noticed the kid driving it. Standing up straight, ditching the magazine, and jumping behind Connor, Hannah watched him approach the store. She’d had a class with him and even had a brief conversation with him once, but hadn’t talked to him since. She was certain he wouldn’t even remember meeting her at all.
“Man, nice Jeep,” Connor said as soon as the kid walked up to the counter to pay.
“Thanks.” Cash smiled and threw down two twenties. “I’d wished I could say I bought it myself, sounds better than it was a gift, but I’d be lying. It was a gift.”
“Dude, hell of a gift!”
“Right!”
Taking Hannah off guard, the kid turned his attention to her, tipping his head slightly so he could see her around her coworker as he spoke. “I didn’t know you worked here.”
Embarrassed, Hannah forced a smile and stepped out from behind Conner. “I just started.”
“Cool! Now I know where to find ya.” He turned and walked toward the door. “Later.”
“Bye,” Hannah replied, grabbing her phone so she could text Lindsey.
Connor never once took his eyes off the black and silver Jeep, while Hannah watched him walk out, jump up into his vehicle, and leave the lot. He’d looked taller than Hannah had remembered from their first introduction; in class, he was always sitting down, and cut out early before she had a chance to even get near him. His dark eyes were intoxicating, especially combined with his dirty blond, messy but cute hair. His clothes of choice weren’t anything out of the ordinary: jeans, Vans, and a heavy plaid shirt over a black T-shirt. As soon as she couldn’t see his Jeep anymore, her fingers started tapping away on her phone.
Hannah: Damn!!!! Cash came in, looked freaking hot, and he even remembered me!
Lindsey: He is hot! You should so go for him. He must like you, to remember you.
Hannah: You think? Likes me, I mean. Go for him? LOL… What does that even mean?
Lindsey: You’re hopeless; never mind. And yes, why else would he remember you? He’s got girls chasing him all the time.
Hannah: Thanks! Not sure I need someone like that… know what I mean?
Lindsey: They chase him; he doesn’t chase them. He and his girlfriend broke up. Not too long ago, but he is available. (
Hannah interested Cash, and girls rarely caught his attention in that way. He’d been watching her since she’d arrived at school, and had asked around about her. Now he knew where she worked. Commanding Siri to call Donavan, he waited for his friend to pick up.
“Hey, what’s going on?”
“Not much.”
“What do you know about the new girl, the one who hangs with Lindsey?”
“She’s hot, that’s about it. Why?”
“Just ran into her; she works at the QuickMart.”
“Oh, really! Guess I know where I’ll be buying gas from now on!”
They both laughed—boys, amused by the simplest things at times.
“She’s kinda hot, no?” Cash asked, as if double-checking his taste in girls.
“Is that a real question? She’s really hot. Why, she off limits now?”
Cash started laughing. “I don’t know yet. I’ll let you know.” They laughed again. “But I think she’s hot and there’s something about her, I don’t know what, but I think I’d like to hang out with her.”
“Well, shit! You pulled the there’s something about her card and not the I’d like to hook up with her… they’re different.”
“What?! What the hell’s that supposed to mean?” Cash grinned. “Nah, man, I just, I dunno, she seems different, that’s all.” He turned down his music. “I guess because she’s just moved or something. She’s probably really just like everyone else.”
Donavan didn’t care. He had a girl and was quite amused that Cash hadn’t started the conversation with I’d like to hook up with her. “Guess it’s a good thing I’ve got a girlfriend. She’d never go for me over you. Go for it!”
Laughter ended the conversation. Cash did like Hannah, but did she like him? He needed an excuse to see her. He started to text his friends to find out what was going on that night. Jackson texted him back almost immediately: Party tonight, my house, parents gone.
Cash: Bringing a couple f
riends.
Jackson: Cool. Anyone I know? BTW, my brother’s supposed to be housesitting and watching me. LOL. He’s going out. Standard rule: no damage.
Cash: LOL. Danny. Love that dude! See ya later, and it’s a maybe on you knowing them.
Lindsey had known Cash since grade school, acquaintances, but not exactly from the same crowd. He didn’t know her well enough to invite her to a party, but he knew someone who did. Kennedy Hanson. Lindsey and Kennedy used to be best friends, but Kennedy drifted once she started dating Adam Davidson, and now Lindsey and Hannah seemed to be close. He’d flirted on and off with Kennedy for years, and she still liked him. It had become a game that they both knew would never end, but at the same time, it would likely never go anywhere. Cash, unfortunately, just didn’t see Kennedy like that—especially after she dated Jackson, and that pissed him off! Little sneaky, but he didn’t care; Cash had a plan. He’d get Jackson to ask Kennedy if she and Adam wanted to go to his party, and all she had to do was invite Lindsey. Lindsey inevitably would drag along a friend, and that friend would be the Hannah girl. Cash made the call to Jackson.
“Got a favor, and I’ll owe you big time.” Explaining his plight, Jackson resisted for a second, citing that his current girlfriend would kill him.
“Blame me. Tell her why. I don’t care.”
“I don’t know. Kennedy’s crazy!”
“But she’s with Adam now, and it might be funny to watch those two together, but seriously, it’s either that or call Lindsey direct.” Cash threw in the friend card. “Man, I’d do it for you if the roles were reversed. You don’t have to have anything to do with her, just ask her to invite Lindsey for Zack, don’t say me; I sure don’t want that to get around the Hannah girl.”
“Cash, I would! But she is CRAZY. She will honestly think I really want to see her. You don’t get it. She’ll think I want to get her back, break her and Adam up. She thinks that crazy shit! Then, if I ask her to bring friends, she’ll go nuts, jealous shit, ’cause she’s crazy. I’m telling you. C-R-A-Z-Y!”
Cash started laughing. “I get it! No problem. But you’re not off the hook. Tell her the damn truth. Tell her I want to see the Hannah girl, and she’ll only come with Lindsey. Damn, that is the actual truth!”
“I’ve got to admit I’ll to do it just to see you make a fool out of yourself. I’ve never seen you act like this… you’re acting crazy! Have you ever spoken to this girl?”
“A couple times, but just small talk. I’d just like to get to know her.”
“Damn. This isn’t like you, but you’ve got to call Joslyn and tell her why I’m inviting this crazy girl to my party, so I’m not in trouble over you!”
Cash responded immediately. “Done!”
Satisfied they would be there that night, and picturing Hannah’s face, Cash was excitedly nervous about seeing her that evening. It was her eyes. They were a beautiful shade, though maybe not even a perfect shade of blue, yes, but they seemed so eerily distant, detached somehow, and that made her attractive and interesting to him. He couldn’t quite put his finger on it, but the curiosity it stirred within him was a feeling he hadn’t experienced before. For some reason, the way she broke one stick of gum in half before shoving it in her mouth, and flipped her hair out of her face with her pen when she thought no one was looking was cute.
Twenty minutes later, Cash received a text from Jackson. As soon he read it, he smiled.
Jackson: She’s coming, but if I get stuck with Kennedy you’re DEAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Cash: I owe ya!
Jackson: YES, yes, you do!
Lindsey showed up at 8:30 to pick up Hannah for the party. Gloria, feeling ill, was relieved for the first time ever that her daughter wasn’t coming home that night.
“Call me when you get back to Lindsey’s from the party.” She pulled the blanket over her. “Where did you say it was?”
“We’re going over to one of my friend’s, Kennedy’s. Hannah has met her before, and then we’re going over to her friend’s house for a small get together. His name is Jackson, and his older brother will be there as well, housesitting, while his parents had to do something.”
Lindsey rushed the last part of the sentence, but Gloria quizzed them a tad more anyway. Once she was satisfied, she gave them the usual rundown. No drinking. No smoking. No drugs, and NOOOOO sex!
“OMG, Mom! I can’t believe you just said that!” Hannah screeched.
“Be in by midnight,” was her last demand. “Text me or call, please.”
“Got it!” The girls said in unison, laughed out loud, and headed out the door.
Hannah’s long, dark blond hair hung down her back in gentle waves. Her makeup was on point and her attire included jeans, a big cream sweater, and brown boots, basically an understated casual cute look. It was a perfect look for a party at the house of a person’s she barely knew. Spritzing her favorite perfume on her neck and wrists, she glanced in the visor mirror one last time.
“How do I look?” Hannah asked.
“Like you always do. Amazing!”
“Me?”
“Beautiful as usual. Let’s grab Kennedy. Do we want to drive with her or follow?”
“Honestly, your call, you’re driving and Silver is alllll yours.”
“Let’s follow, then if the party’s lame, we can leave.”
Hannah agreed. “Great idea!”
They followed Kennedy to Jackson’s house. He lived out in a nice neighborhood, and by the time they’d arrived, the party was well underway. Hannah spotted Cash’s Jeep. It was parked right in front of the mailbox.
“Oh my God!”
“What’s wrong?” Lindsey asked.
“Nothing’s wrong. Look.” Hannah pointed to Cash’s Jeep. “He’s here. Cash. Cash is at this party.”
Lindsey grinned from ear to ear. “Well, that’s not a bad thing; maybe you’ll get a chance to get to know him.”
“Yeah. Maybe.”
Hannah didn’t see him immediately, though her eyes scanned the room that they stood in. Someone walked over and she wondered if he was the host, Jackson, but he introduced himself by another name.
“Hey, welcome. I’m Josh. There are snacks and drinks in the kitchen, help yourselves, standard rules, no damage, and most people are hanging out in the game room.” He turned to walk away, then turned back around and added a semi-disclaimer. “Oh, hey, by the way, just so you know, you don’t have to participate in the drinking, it’s totally by choice. Trust me, no one here cares either way; there’s no such thing as peer pressure at any of our parties!! We don’t care what you choose, if you do or if you don’t, it’s one hundred percent up to you. And of course, it goes without saying, everyone these days knows not to drink and drive. Catch a ride, or crash on a piece of carpet.”
“Thanks, and nice to meet you. I’m Lindsey, and this is Hannah.”
Lindsey pulled Hannah into the kitchen, where the usual stash could be found. Beer in the fridge supplied by Jackson’s older brother, a variety of liquor, no doubt stolen from parents’ liquor stashes, sodas, and the usual snack foods including a variety of chips, pizza, crackers, cookies, and random packets of things, some opened and some still in plastic shopping bags.
“Do you want a beer?” Lindsey asked.
Hannah shook her head. “I can’t stand the taste. But I’ll take a tiny bit of that,” she pointed to the vodka, “mixed with Sprite.”
Lindsey started to pour the vodka. Hannah stopped her. “Just a tiny bit. I’m not a big drinker. It’s more for show.” Both girls laughed.
“I get it. Wish I didn’t like beer.” Lindsey pulled out her vape. “Do you think anyone will mind?”
Looking around, Hannah spotted others vaping in the house. “Well they are…”
“True. I think we’re good. Let’s scope out the house.”
Cash was in the game room. It was huge! Ideal for any party, complete with its own bar, card table, pool table, multiple gaming consoles, a big-screen TV, ev
en an old PacMan ghost machine, and a dartboard on the wall! Hannah had never seen such a room inside a private house. She spotted Cash, but he hadn’t seen her yet. Poking Lindsey, she pointed to him. They hid behind several people and watched him unnoticed for a while.
He was hot, for sure! Surprisingly, he didn’t act cocky like some of the guys Hannah had met over the years. Lindsey had given her some additional information about the infamous Cash. Grayson Parks, his given name, was the shortstop for the varsity baseball team. He was a good ball player, making varsity his freshman year, and had been offered a full ride to multiple universities, including out of state schools as far away as Texas. He was often surrounded by his friends, girls and boys, but wasn’t loud, obnoxious, or conceited, considering how popular he was.
“Oh, and remember he and his girlfriend did just break up.”
“Not sure I want any baggage issues,” Hannah responded to her last statement.
“True. But I don’t think so. I heard it was mutual. The relationship had kinda run its course.”
Hannah raised her plastic Solo cup, and Lindsey raised her beer can.
“Cheers to that!” Hannah giggled.
“What would you do if he asked you out?” Lindsey whispered as they continued to watch his interactions with the other people in the room.
Hannah grinned. “I don’t know. It’s too soon. I don’t even know him.”
“Well, I could be wrong, but I’m sensing this whole thing was a set-up.”
“What?”
“This. The invite to this here party has got set-up written all over it!”
“What are you talking about?” Hannah laughed. “You’re crazy!”
“Seriously, think about it!” Lindsey took one last drink of her beer before setting it down on the bar countertop. “I don’t hang out with her anymore, Kennedy, we don’t even really speak, not to mention why would Jackson ask her here? He has a girlfriend!” She laughed. “I’m betting this has something to do with you!”
Captain Fin Page 12