Chapter 10
ten
. . .
Eden
I wake up briefly when Felix leaves, saying he needs to go to work. He left my medication and food by the bed, so I won’t have to get up. I don’t.
My phone buzzes. Ugh, why won’t people leave me alone? With a heavy sigh, I shift my hand from under the blankets to grab the annoying device but, grin when I see it’s Felix.
Felix: Hi there, Pretty Thing. How are you feeling?
Eden: Tired, but better now.
Felix: Oh yeah? Does that have anything to do with me?
I stupidly smile at my phone. The flirting with a hot guy feels almost normal. A little flutter in my chest, and cheeks burning as I picture his sexy face.
Eden: Maybe a little.
Felix: Just a little?
He sends through a cute, pouting emoji.
Eden: Okay, a lot.
Felix: My next customer just arrived, but I miss seeing your face. It reminds me of a sunflower on a sunny day. See you later.
My stomach twists. Sunflowers are my mother’s favorite. She used to call me her sunflower when I was a little girl.
I no sooner put my phone down when it vibrates again.
I look at the glowing screen, and it’s much later than I thought. It’s almost five, and I haven’t moved except once to pee and brush my teeth. I’m not hungry, and I don’t really feel like doing anything. This behavior is acceptable when you are grieving, right?
The text from Aunt Doreen stays there, judging me until I give in and open it.
Aunt Doreen: Hi there, sweetie. Uncle Fred and I are flying in Thursday and will come straight to the house to help with all the funeral arrangements. Love you, see you soon.
I don’t bother answering her right now. My aunt is overbearing and always positive in a really weird almost cruel way.
Her first text after the accident said, “Buck up. At least my sister went quick. Better than rotting in a bed for years.” As if that makes my mother’s death any better.
And who the hell says, buck up, in reference to losing someone?
As I’m contemplating shutting off my phone, a new text comes in from Kyle.
Kyle: Hey, hot stuff. How are you today? Thinking about me naked?
I snort and shake my head at the ridiculous message.
Eden: I’m okay…I mean, as good as anyone can be, I guess. Thanks for checking, and no, I’m not thinking of you naked, you weirdo. How angry is Kris that I haven’t called?
Kyle and Kris are twins and have been my best friends since grade two.
They used to live one street over, but they’re family moved to a fancier neighbourhood when we were in grade nine.
Which sucked, but at least we still got to see each other at school all the time.
But, now the two of them have moved into an apartment together last year closer to their school, Algonquin College.
It’s only twenty minutes away, but it may as well be hours with how little we’ve seen one another.
Kyle: She’ll get over it. I think she’s just sulking. She thinks you don’t need her, but obviously need me.
I snort at the happy face emoji.
Kyle: Which of course you do.
He is such a tease.
Eden: I need both of you. But I’m not very good company right now.
Kyle: We’re your best friends. We don’t need you to be good company.
There is a long pause with little bubbles appearing and then disappearing again.
Kyle: Have you decided when the funeral will be?
A tear slides down my cheek.
Eden: Not yet, but I’ll let you know soon.
Kyle: Eden…I’m really sorry. I loved your parents, and we love and care about you.
I nibble my bottom lip.
Eden: Yeah, I know. I’ll see you soon. Give Kris a hug from me.
At one point, Kyle and I thought about being more than friends. But it just felt weird to me, like I was kissing my brother. After two botched dates and a kiss that ended awkwardly with me laughing hysterically, I gave up on the idea and we agreed it isn’t going to work.
Kyle: Better yet, why don’t you give her one yourself? We’re standing outside.
I sit up far too quickly and cry out as I’m once more stabbed by a rib. Fuck, heal already.
Eden: Are you serious?
Kyle: Would I joke and make you look?
Shit.
Eden: I’m still in pajamas.
Kyle: So…how many times have you slept over? I’ve seen you in your weird baby shark boxers. They’re kinda hot.
I snort and then laugh, knowing exactly the ones he’s talking about. They are actually from the movie Jaws and have a cartoon girl hanging out of a shark’s mouth. Kyle always thought they were weird to wear to bed. He’s probably right.
Eden: Give me a minute. I’m slow.
Slow is an understatement. I’m stiff and incapable of moving any faster than the turtles I love.
One baby step at a time with the help of my crutch, I make it out of my room, down the stairs, and to the front door.
I’m out of breath and achy all over, but seeing their faces makes me feel better even as my tears flow like an open faucet.
“Oh girl, I’m so sorry,” Kris says already in tears herself.
Kris and Kyle step in and wrap their arms around me.
“Ouch.” I wince.
“Sorry,” they say in unison.
“Just watch my ribs.”
They are gentler the second time, and we stand there like a tripod of sadness as we hold each other up.
“Look at your poor face,” Kris says, her eyes bouncing around as she takes in the cuts.
“That’s the least of my problems.” I take a hobbling step back. “Come on in.”
Kyle helps steady me as we walk into the living room, and I groan as if I’m a hundred and not freaking eighteen.
They look like bookends as they take up a cushion on either side of me.
Kris holds my left hand, tissues clenched in her other one as a thin line of mascara lines her cheek.
Kyle has his elbow on the back of the couch, his hand on my knee.
We are silent for a beat before Kyle looks around.
“It’s really fucking depressing in here.”
“Kyle, are you daft?” Kris scolds.
I snort and then burst out laughing. My ribs hurt, but I can’t stop. They stare at me before joining in, and it feels good. Laughing over something so morbidly absurd. I wasn’t sure this would ever happen again.
The door suddenly opens, and we all look over as Felix walks inside.
“Oh…hi, sorry,” Felix says, his eyes flicking from me to Kris and then finally to Kyle, who still has his hand on my leg.
His eyes narrow and I clear my throat.
“Felix, these are my best friends. Kris and Kyle.” I awkwardly point with my thumbs.
He smiles, but I still feel like I’ve been cheating, which is insane.
“Nice to meet you,” Felix says, holding up two massive bags of Chinese food. “Good thing I couldn’t decide what to get and bought the whole menu.”
“Oh my gosh, you didn’t have…” He cocks an eyebrow, stopping me mid-sentence. “Thank you,” I say instead.
“Here, let me help you,” Kris says, jumping up with a wide smile and taking the bags. My stomach growls when I smell the food.
I’m compelled to explain who Felix is when Kyle gives me a look that clearly says, who the fuck is that?
“Felix rescued me from the crash. He’s been really sweet and helping me.”
Kris covers her mouth, tears running down her cheeks. She takes Felix by surprise when she wraps her arms around him. I press my lips together to stifle the laugh at the look on his face. It’s easy to see he has no idea what to do with Kris’s sudden outburst of emotion.
Once Kris finally lets Felix out of her iron-like hug, Kyle gets up and offers to shake hands. As they do, a knot in my chest loosens.
“I’ll go get plates,” Kris announces and scampers off.
“I’ll go help her,” Kyle says, leaving me alone with Felix.
Felix walks over, his eyes fixed on mine, and there it is…the flutter in my chest as my sanity slowly slips away. Gripping the back of the couch, he bends over and softly kisses my cheek.
“Are you okay?”
The raspiness in his voice has me thinking all sorts of wicked things.
“I am.”
“Did you eat after you took your meds?”
“No.”
He tips my chin up, his face hovering inches above mine. “What am I going to do with you?” If that isn’t a loaded question. “You need to take care of yourself when I’m not here, Eden.” His fingers tightening slightly on my chin. “Okay?”
I lick my lips, throat dry as images from the shower dance the rumba behind my eyelids.
“Yes, I will. Promise.”
“That’s my Pretty Thing,” he says with a tiny smirk that shuts down all brain function. Everything is silent. The world disappears except for him and his eyes. “I had a really rough day, but knowing that I was coming to see you after work got me through.”
With a smile, he stands up straight. I jump as if a balloon has just popped beside me when Kris and Kyle wander in with plates, cutlery, and drinks.
Felix sits down in Kyle’s vacated seat, his leg touching mine.
I glance at the side of his face as he helps pull out the numerous food containers.
Felix hasn’t commented, but there is tension in the air when he and Kyle look at one another.
It’s palpable. It’s not strong enough for me to put my finger on… but there is definitely something.
Why are guys so weird?
“Felix, you look really familiar,” Kris comments as she fills her plate. “Did you go to St. Thomas?”
He does look a little familiar, but if Felix had been at our school, I feel sure I would’ve remembered him.
Felix shakes his head.
“No, I was at Father Tobin’s Catholic School. It was the full navy and grey uniform for me.”
He rolls his eyes, but I’ve always secretly loved the way the private school guys look in their blazers and dress pants.
Uniforms are very academy chic. Kris and I would fan ourselves when a group of guys walked past at a joint sporting event.
Too few high schools in the area means that the public and catholic schools compete against each other in pretty much everything.
Kris’s eyes light up, and I know she is thinking the same thing that I am.
“Did you play hockey?”
“No, it cost too much money. But I went to some of the games, so that might be where you saw me,” Felix says casually.
By the tenth question, I jump in, cutting off Kris’s investigation and changing topics.
Only then does Felix brush my leg with his fingers. When I look up at him, there is a faint smile on his lips as if he’s thanking me for saving him.
At least I can save someone.