Chapter 15
Chapter Fifteen
Unknown Number: What hospital are you at?
Santos: Who is this?
Unknown Number: Halsey. I tried to go and check on you and no one has a record of you. Did they register you under a different name to keep the fans and media away?
Santos: Are you in Oregon?
Halsey: You’re not in Dallas?
Santos: Nope. They moved me the morning after the accident to Portland. The team physician wouldn’t let just anyone touch me.
Halsey: I take it Dr. Aldridge is your surgeon then?
Santos: Your guess is as good as mine. Do you think I was paying attention when I was high on pain meds and fear?
Halsey: Do you abuse pain medications?
Santos: Like Dust? No. My addictions are different. Run away, pretty lady. Don’t get stuck with the broken men of your past.
Halsey: Is that what you want? For me to leave him? I can’t just leave Dust like that, he had a rough night.
Santos: Is he using again?
Halsey: No, but the cravings hit him hard.
Santos: I wish I knew how to help him.
Halsey: We’ll figure it out.
Santos: Don’t say “we” if you don’t plan to stay.
Halsey: You want me to leave?
Santos: I don’t want you to be around out of obligation.
Halsey: You’re being a pretty lousy moon, Santy.
Santos: Fuck, it’s been years since anyone called me that.
Halsey: Probably more than twenty.
Santos: I never wanted to be the moon.
Halsey: You have to be.
Santos: I’m too broken for that.
Halsey: It’s just your ankle. Have you spoken to your surgeon? The team physician? Anyone who might know more about your recovery plan?
Santos: I thought you were doing that.
Halsey: I can’t, it’s unethical. I shouldn’t be involved in your case like that.
Santos: Then what can you be?
Halsey: I don’t know yet. But since you’re in Portland, I can call Dr. Aldridge. I spent some time in Baker’s Creek, working with him and his rehab center. He might release some information if you approve, also, if needed, he might have a job for me.
Santos: You can always move in with Dustin in Happy Springs.
Halsey: He lives there? Interesting . . .
Santos: He has a farm there but doesn’t live there all year around. However, that place makes him happy.
Halsey: Listen, I have to arrange things around here before we can leave for Portland. Can you hang tight for a day or two?
Santos: It’s not like I can fucking run anywhere.
Halsey: Aren’t we in a great mood this morning?
Santos: It’s six in the fucking morning, I don’t know what’s going to happen to my career and my woman is miles away from me.
Halsey: Oh, so, you’re seeing someone?
Santos: Well, according to Dustin we never broke up, baby. He’s right, you were dragged away but we never said it was over. Also, you’ve always been mine. I agreed to share you with him because you love him and I love him too, but . . . you’re still mine.
Halsey: Your logic is pretty twisted. I . . . We’ll just have to take this one day at a time. There are too many loose parts and too much to figure out.
Santos: Listen, last night I was pretty shocked and couldn’t articulate well, but today I know what I want to ask.
Halsey: What is it?
Santos: Can you stay?
Halsey: I knew that’s what you wanted. The answer is still the same as last night. I don’t know if I can.
Santos: I fucking miss you, Hals.
Halsey: Miss you too, but it seems like you and Dusty moved on without me, you just haven’t realized that yet. Text me if you hear anything from your surgeon or the team’s physician.
Santos: You’re wrong about Dust and I, but I’ll hang tight as you requested.
Halsey: This time, I need you to pay attention to what the doctors tell you, don’t tune them out.
Santos: :salute emoji: