20. Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Nineteen
Weston
January
“Share the road, asshole!” Why were people such jerks?
A fucking cab cut me off in the bike lane as I pedaled toward Superior Courier’s storefront, then the dickhead made an illegal U-turn and nearly ran over a woman in the crosswalk. As he headed in the opposite direction on Fifth Avenue, I flipped the fucker off, which made him laugh.
Such was the world of a bike courier in Manhattan the week after New Year’s—dodging lost tourists, cabs, and delivery trucks on wet streets.
It had snowed a couple of inches the day after Christmas and thankfully, most of it had melted off the next day, but traffic and pedestrians were a trial for a cyclist, even on a good day.
My coworkers and I were back at work after signing up for short shifts the week between Christmas and New Year’s to provide coverage for the few businesses working between the holidays.
We were lucky that Andi decided to close the store from Wednesday, the thirtieth until Monday, the fourth, so everyone could celebrate the new year and nurse their hangovers without worrying about work.
Bridges and I stayed at his place over the bike shop for Christmas, putting up a small live fur tree in his living room with colored lights for atmosphere. On Christmas Eve, we biked to Rockefeller Plaza for ice skating and hot chocolate, which was fantastic.
We went to lunch on New Year’s Eve at a small restaurant near his apartment, and later that night we had a private celebration with Chinese carryout and champagne at midnight, after which we went to bed and worshipped each other’s bodies—though still no anal action, much to my disappointment.
New Year’s Day, we went for a ride around Manhattan, stopping at a pizza place to get a slice before going back to the shop where Bridges surprised me with a stand he’d made so I could ride my bike inside on the winter days that weren’t fit to ride outside.
I dropped to my knees and blew him right there in the shop.
When I got back to Superior Courier Service’s building, I was fucking freezing. I wore layers to stay warm, along with the hand warmers Bridges bought me for Christmas, but I was still a popsicle.
“Yo! Aames! Messge and next assignment.” Andi was in the office and yelled through the glass, her angry demeanor shining through like the fires of hell.
I walked into the office and fell back against the door when she thrust the two papers at me. We’d never warmed up to each other, and I didn’t care why. From everything I’d witnessed, she hated all of us with equal measure.
I glanced at the phone message to see it was from Uncle Edmond.
I pulled my phone from my pocket to see it had died at some point, and I hoped I hadn’t missed a call from Bridges.
Alexis and he had gone to Taipei to meet with a manufacturing company that was going to mass produce the ultra-lite bikes they’d created, and I was dying to know what had happened at the meeting.
I crumbled the message note and tossed it into the trash, not surprised to see my next pickup was at Chaney & Associates, Uncle Edmond’s law firm. That figured.
I headed toward the kitchen to heat my handwarmer’s in the microwave before heading back to midtown where Edmond’s office was located. It wasn’t a coincidence he’d called my employer. It was funny that Edmond knew I wouldn’t return his call. Our family was definitely fucked up.
“Is anyone else around that I can trade with?”
As I walked by the office, Andi gave me a nasty snarl. I couldn’t help laughing at her. “There’s nobody here to trade with you, Aames. Besides, a woman named Jean asked for you personally.” The phone rang and Andi waved a hand at me to go, so I did.
I unlocked my bike and hopped on, heading to Midtown. It had started to rain, and I knew the temperature was dropping, so I didn’t speed through the streets as I usually did. God knew a wreck at this stage would fuck me up for the Pride ride, so I forced myself to be cautious.
Central Park was the best bet for getting around traffic during the rain, so that was the way I went, though it was slower because there were folks running in the rain. How fucking stupid were they?
I made the turn out of the park and into Midtown traffic, gliding across the street toward the Chaney Building. Just as I got to the far-right lane to go into the parking garage, the tale of my bike was clipped by a taxi, sending me over the handlebars where I crashed into the building.
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
What the fuck happened? What’s that beeping sound? Is that a heart monitor?
Shit! The crash. Over the handlebars and into the building where I splattered like a ripe watermelon dropped from a bridge. Ambulance ride. Shot of happy juice. Fun times.
I didn’t think I passed out, but when I opened my eyes, there was a very hospital-looking curtain surrounding the bed.
I glanced around to see there was someone sitting in the shadow of the window at the end of the bed.
I stared for a moment before finally figuring out it was Jean, Edmond’s assistant.
“Jean?” My voice was scratchy like I’d slept for days. Then the pain hit like a baseball bat to my right shoulder and across the right side of my chest. The drugs I got in the ambulance must have worn off. It hurt like a motherfucker.
Jean stood and walked to the bed, sitting near my feet but away from the machines on my left. “Why are you here?”
“Edmond is trying to reach your mother in Vermont, and I’m here to keep you still until they come to take you to get some tests. What do you remember, Weston?”
Jean was a very nice lady who had worked for Uncle Edmond for a long time. Other than that, I knew nothing about the woman.
“It was raining, and I decided to cut through Central Park to stay off the street. When I came out of the park and wanted to cross the street to get to the Chaney Building, someone clipped my bike and I went over the handlebars and slammed into the building on the corner.” Hopefully, remembering what happened meant I didn’t have a concussion.
“Your boss should be beaten with a wet noodle for sending you out in this weather. I called her when you didn’t arrive to pick up the package, and she didn’t answer.” Jean sounded a little pissed, and I couldn’t hold back the smile.
“Aw, are you worried about me, Jean?” A little teasing never hurt anyone.
She touched my ankle and grinned. “You might not remember this, but when you were little, your father used to bring you into the office when he wanted to talk to Edmond. You would sit at my desk and type messages on my computer to email to your uncle. I could hear him laughing in his office when he opened the emails, and then the printer would start churning out paper. Edmond would come get them and the next day he’d have them hanging on the wall in his office in the frames that he could easily change when you drew pictures for him. ”
I had no memory of any of it. “He actually liked me back then? I didn’t remember.”
Jean stared at me for a moment before she spoke.
“Weston, Edmond loves you like you’re his own son.
He’s trying like hell to be sure you succeed in anything and everything you attempt.
He’s upset with your father for the will and he wanted your mother to contest it, but she refused.
She said she had faith in your ability to succeed in whatever you decide to do. ”
Her take on the situation didn’t match what I’d heard from Uncle Edmond. “Why didn’t she tell me the apartment was for sale? Why didn’t Mom tell me that the rent I was paying wasn’t going into a trust?”
“But it is. It’s going into the trust you’ll get after your ride. Look, Weston, the way I understand things, your mother might have been trying to motivate you to continue your training and while I can’t speak on her behalf, I don’t believe she’s only looking out for herself. She loves you, honey.”
That was good to hear. “Could someone else have given Mom bad information?”
“You mean Elise, CJ, or Claudia, don’t you? I’m sure they’d like to try, but I can’t imagine any of them being able to pull it off.” I agreed with Jean on that one.
“Do you know if she came to see Uncle Edmond, or did they speak on the phone?”
“I don’t remember seeing your mother in the office recently. We have a call log, but Edmond doesn’t always record the who and when if he answers and I’m not around. When he gets here, we’ll ask him.” Jean gave me a motherly smile, which I appreciated.
“I don’t guess anyone has my phone?” I reached down to the phone pocket of my leggings to find it missing. I vaguely remembered that it was dead before my accident, so the damn thing could be anywhere.
“Let me check with the nurse. Maybe the paramedics found it and gave it to one of them.” Jean stood and hurried out of the room, leaving me alone.
Why the fuck had everything gone to hell? I wanted to at least talk to Bridges. I always felt as if things were under control when he was around.
Thirty minutes later, Jean hadn’t returned with or without my phone. I was going stir crazy.
“Weston?” The feminine voice was familiar, and when Stephanie parted the curtains and came into the area, I released a relieved breath.
“Hi, Stephanie. How’d you end up here?” I noticed she was wearing a set of pink scrubs with a jacket that had little blue teddy bears on it. It was cute.
“I work at the hospital in the NICU. Lexis called me and asked me to check on you. Bridges got a call from your uncle at midnight and immediately tried to get a flight back to the States. They have another meeting in the morning with the suppliers that Bridges needs to attend, but he wants to leave Taiwan as soon as possible to get home to you.” She gave me a sweet smile.
“God, can you get Alexis on the phone so I can talk to Bridges. It’s probably a broken arm or something. He doesn’t need to rush back.” If I fucked things up for their deal I’d never forgive myself.
Stephanie glanced at her watch. “It’s two in the morning. How about you send him a text that you’re fine?”
“I lost my phone somewhere in the chaos.”
She pulled hers from the pocket of her scrub jacket and unlocked it. “I have his number. Go ahead.”
When she handed the phone to me, I saw she’d already sent a short message.
Bridges, Weston is fine. He’s using my phone to text you.
I gave her a smile and pecked in a message with one hand since the other one was too painful to move.
Daddy—I’m fine. Waiting to go to x-ray, but I think it’s just a simple broken arm or collarbone. I lost my phone somewhere so I’m using Stephanie’s. Don’t cut your meetings short because I’m okay. Do your deal and I’ll be waiting at home for you. Good luck.((Hugs))
I started to hand the phone back to Stephanie when I thought of something.
Don’t sext me on Stephanie’s phone. Wait until I get another one and then sext away!
I handed the phone to Stephanie, who shoved it into her pocket. “Do you need anything? Where’s your bike?”
“That’s a good question. I was going to the Chaney Building when I got clipped by a taxi, the fucker, and smacked into the damn wall. I didn’t pass out, though the EMTs gave me something that knocked my ass out.”
Stephanie nodded and walked to the computer terminal mounted on the wall beside the bed. She typed in a bunch of numbers and then she began reading. I stared out the window for a few minutes until she cleared her throat.
“The paramedics reported there were no signs of a concussion, but they did give you a strong pain killer before transport, and that’s probably why you passed out if you’re not used to meds of the sort.
They should be coming to get you for x-rays and a CT-scan to ensure there’s no internal damage to your noggin.
The paramedics diagnosed you with a broken clavicle and a scapular fracture. The x-rays will confirm it.
“I get off at five, and I’ll come check on you. I can take you home if you need a ride. Lexi told me you’re living with Bridges now. That’s fantastic. You two make an adorable couple.” Stephanie clicked the mouse a few times and pushed the computer tray back into place.
“Great. I know you’re not a bone cruncher, but any idea how long that will keep me sidelined?” I could see my world imploding.
“You’re young and healthy. As long as the bones aren’t displaced, they should heal in a few months. Now, your arm will need to be immobilized for two weeks, and then you’ll have to slowly do PT to rebuild your strength. It’s January, so you should be able to get back on the road by early April.”
“Shit. That only gives me two months to get ready for the ride. No way is that long enough. Fuck.” My eyes stung with unshed tears.
Why was the Universe fucking with me?