Chapter 19 - Diana
“Oh, late night?” Ashley asks with way too much enthusiasm for a morning shift of restocking rooms.
“Please. Your yawns are contagious.”
“Ugh, I’m so tired all the time these days.
I go home and sleep only to wake up and feel like I need more sleep.
I’ve been more tempted than ever to call out sick just to sleep the day away, but I keep reminding myself that it could be worse.
And I’d rather get those days off than just sleep. Besides, I’ll sleep when I’m dead.”
I hum at her ranting, used to it after working beside her for the past two years.
We’ve gotten as close as people who only see each other at the office can get, so she knows most things about me and I about her.
We might not have a relationship outside of work, but if we weren’t so exhausted all the time or actually wanted to spend time with someone from here, we might actually do it.
If one of us quits or transfers, I’d like to think we’d remain friends. But probably not. Most people connect when they share the same job, anger, and stressors. Once one is removed from it, it’s hard to stay connected. I guess those who do are true friends.
“At least tell me you’re getting some.”
I snort. “You’re the one who’s married.”
“You’d think that would get me a free pass, but not with Barry’s schedule lately. He seems to be at the firehouse most times I get off work.” She’s pouting, and not the fake kind she usually gives when she wants someone else to change out a pee bag or something.
“The babymoon worked out for you two?” I know Barry said it was good, but I wanted more out of her. What I saw between them the last time still weighs heavily on my mind. This is as close as I’ve gotten to bringing it up. She hasn’t offered me much at all.
She shrugs, glances at me, and then away. “It was okay. We spent time together, but mostly we just argued.”
“About what?”
“Nothing and everything. I didn’t pack something he wanted to have. I took too long getting ready. I ate too many cookies and not enough salad.”
I raise my eyebrows at the last one. “Just how many cookies are we talking?” Barry can be many things, but I don’t see him being controlling on the food topic, especially since she’s pregnant.
Hell, when he found out he was going to be a dad, he sent a cupcake sheet to her at the hospital, saying something about needing to eat all the sweets to make sure his little beans would be as sweet as her.
She purses her lips out and moves them side to side before wincing with her eyes closed. “The entire bag in one sitting.”
“Ashley,” I call out in shocked surprise and can hardly hold back my laughter.
Her eyes flash open and she leans forward a bit. “I know, I know. But I just couldn’t stop. They were sooo good. Since then, I’ve put myself on a strict one-cookie-a-day limit.”
“Surprised Barry let you have any after that.” I huff and go back to the checklist in front of me.
“What can I say? Babies have cravings, and I’m not going to deny them.
But I’m trying to limit them. Well, now I am.
” She leans back, puts her hands behind her head, and props her feet up.
It’s the only chair on this floor with a lever broken enough to lean back more than the others.
Usually Nurse Vicky gets it, but she doesn’t start work for another two hours.
“So I eat, I sleep, and I work,” she continues. “That’s all I do. Tell me you’re doing something fun. Or someone fun. You still seeing that biker friend of yours—what was his name? Lawyer or something?”
“Law. It’s a club name. And yeah, we’re still together.”
“Pretty sure that’s what the big kids call ‘in a committed relationship.’” She even puts up air quotes.
“Shut up,” I say but can’t keep the grin off my face.
“Oooh, someone likes him. And likes him a lot based on that blush. Diana, you wouldn’t be falling for the older gentleman, would you?”
I glance at her but say nothing, and she dissolves into a fit of giggles as if I just told her the juiciest gossip she’s ever heard. Her feet hit the floor, and she scoots the chair closer.
“Tell me everything.”
“No.”
“Oh, please? Pretty please? I just told you that my life has zero going on.”
“You’re growing twins. I hardly think that counts as zero going on.”
She waves off my words. “Yeah, yeah, yeah, I’m knocked up.
Old news. Tell me the good stuff. Please.
I’m dying for some romance in my life other than what I read before I fall asleep.
Give me something. Anything. I’m desperate.
” She grabs my arm, forcing me to stop writing to prevent scribbles going all over the form I’ve been working on for the past ten minutes.
Her eyes are as big as saucers, and her bottom lip is so far out in a pout, you could put a plate on it.
If her kids get any of her traits, I sure hope they don’t get her begging face.
One is bad. But if they both do it? They’ll be spoiled rotten, and there’ll be no way to punish them because they’d do it again and get off scot-free.
“Fine. One thing.”
“Yay!” She releases my arm with a flourish and spins the chair on her tiptoes.
“Is the sex good? Does his thing have a curve to it? New moves because of his age or just basic? Do you guys have orgies with the other bikers? Has he given you to a friend to share? Does he make you give him blowies every time you see each other?”
I blink, then blink again. I look up and down the hall and then back at her. We aren’t slammed, but we aren’t dead either. Patients and other nurses, even doctors, are walking around. And she isn’t exactly being discreet or quiet, even if she’s whispering. A stage whisper at that.
“I said one thing. Never said I’d comment on my sex life. And damn, you need to get laid. That was all smut questions and not an ounce of substance.”
She flops gently back in her chair, sinking lower and sneering at herself. “I know. I told you it was bad. I would think Barry was stepping out on me or something with all the late nights and the constant arguing, but I know how busy the firehouse gets.”
“Barry would never cheat.” Or at least I don’t think so.
I met him almost at the same time I met Ashley.
They’ve always seemed so in love that when she told me she was preggers a few months ago, I didn’t even bat an eye.
It was just something you expected with someone that in love with another person.
And he was so sweet with how he took care of her at first.
But—not that I’ll admit it to her—I’ve seen less sweet from him and more annoyed recently.
Like the last time he was here, with his side comment that Ashley did something wrong.
And now to hear they’re arguing constantly?
Pregnancies can cause stress for a lot of people, and most don’t handle it well.
Very few welcome the idea of becoming more than just two easily, even when expecting and hoping for a kid.
The pressure of raising a human these days is crazy high.
I’d be more shocked if he wasn’t acting out a bit.
Still, he seems off. And the sadness descending on Ashley makes my heart hurt. I like her, and I don’t want her to pout, fake or real, anymore today.
I lean over the counter and whisper loud enough for her to hear, “The sex is the best I’ve ever had.
He has a slight curve, and it hits all the right spots.
Not sure if it’s the age or just being in a biker club, but there’s nothing basic or boring about his moves.
No orgies or sharing. And I’m usually the one begging him to go down on me because he does this awesome thing with his tongue that hits right every time. ”
“Wow.” Her look of wonder has me laughing softly as I pull back and finish the report. For once, she’s dumbstruck, and I remind myself of this little trick if I ever need her to stop talking long enough for me to think.
I shut the door to room 4 and lean against it for a second. My feet ache, which is normal, but my head is starting to as well.
“Hey, lady, you doing okay?” Ashley waddles over with a warm smile and her bag in hand.
“Yeah, just taking a minute. You headed out?”
“Yup. Hoping to catch my man before he goes to work. I called the station and found out he isn’t due in till six tonight. That should give me time to have my wicked way with him before he takes a shower and heads out.”
“Good plan.” I smirk as I push off the door and then stumble.
“Whoa, I got you. You okay?”
I shake my head and push myself up. “Yeah, just dizzy. Never had that happen before.”
She looks at me with concern, more from a friend than a nurse. “I hope you’re not catching something from around here. As much as I don’t want you sick, I also really don’t want to talk to someone else all day if you call out.”
“Gee, thanks.”
I hold the wall for support and slowly make my way back to the nurses’ station. Ashley hovers beside me, arms out just in case I fall. Not that she should catch me in her condition, but I know not to argue the point. She’ll do it no matter what I say. The girl’s headstrong to a fault.
We make it to the nurses’ station, and I drop into the vacant chair. I make it a habit not to sit down when I’m on shift if I can help it. It’s easy to take a seat. The hard part is getting back up again.
I fold my arms on the desk and rest my head on them, taking steady breaths to slow the dizziness and nausea.
“What’s wrong with her?” Vicky’s voice is like nails on a chalkboard, and I groan.
“Think she’s catching something,” Ashley supplies with a steady hand rubbing my back.
“If that’s the case, you might not want to get too close. You’ve got two little ones who need you healthy.” See? Nurse Vicky can be sweet. “Now get. Your shift ended, and you aren’t approved for overtime when we’ve got enough staff on hand. Save it for when we need you.” Well, sweet to a point.
“See you, Diana. Hope you feel better,” Ashley says softly.
I force myself to take a deep breath and rise tall in my chair.
“Yeah, I’m sure I just need something to eat.
I didn’t have much for breakfast.” Which is completely true.
Only a banana nut muffin, and that worked out of my system hours ago.
Not that I haven’t been able to muster through on that alone before.
She gives me one last look-over and then heads out.
“You going to be able to finish your shift, or do I need to find someone to cover?” Vicky’s already looking at some of the patients’ files. I doubt she’s cast me more than a glance to ensure I’m still breathing.
I shake my head and stand. “I’m good.”
I take two steps, grab the trash can, and puke.
“Or not,” Vicky mutters, then leaves to go back to work.
Hopefully she’s calling someone to come in because I’m definitely taking a sick day now.
I’ve never gotten sick at work before, but I should have known my luck would run out sooner or later.
You don’t work in a petri dish of germs and not catch something.
You’d have to be immune to everything for that to work, and I’m obviously not as I dry heave again into the trash.