Chapter 12
12
GUY ‘FOSTER’
‘Hello,’ Eve says as she enters my room. ‘I brought food from the outside world.’
She’s got a pink bakery box in her hands with a brown paper bag balancing on top, grease already staining through, and a plastic grocery bag hanging off one wrist. On her shoulder is her stuffed bag she brings daily, filled with all the necessities a woman on the go may need.
If only I could hide the smile that automatically fills my face each time I see this woman.
‘You didn’t have to do all this,’ I say. ‘Though I’m not going to say I hate that you did.’
‘I figured. Now what do you want to start with, doughnuts or burgers?’
I think about it for half a second. ‘Burgers.’ I can’t resist, after smelling Matty’s the other day.
‘Excellent idea,’ she says, dumping four burgers wrapped in red and white paper on the tray near my bed. She takes one herself, along with a container of fries, and sits in the chair facing my bed.
I unwrap one and take a bite, leaning my head back against the pillow and closing my eyes to savor every morsel. ‘Mmmmmmm!’ I moan, making Eve laugh. ‘This is so much better than hospital-issued lobster bisque.’
‘Only the brave order it,’ she says. ‘Someone once suggested we use it as colonoscopy prep.’
I laugh. ‘I’m glad it didn’t have that effect on me.’
She obviously made herself up after her elderly swim class this morning – though she didn’t need to because even make-up-less and soaking wet, she’s easily the most gorgeous girl I’ve ever laid eyes on.
‘Did you know there’s a doughnut burger?’ I ask, just making conversation.
‘Ew. Where?’
I shrug my one good shoulder. ‘A food truck in Orlando. It’s called the Luther Burger. Krispy Creme glazed doughnuts, with a bacon cheeseburger inside.’
Her scrunched disgusted face is adorable. ‘Sounds like the recipe for acute coronary syndrome.’
A single eyebrow jets up my forehead as I question her silently.
‘Heart attack,’ she clarifies. ‘Have you eaten this Luther Burger?’
I nod. ‘A few times.’
Eve’s bright eyes widen in mock horror. ‘And you’re still alive to tell the tale?’ she teases, a playful grin tugging at the corners of her lips.
‘I’m invincible,’ I say with faux bravado, winking at her. ‘Obviously.’
She shakes her head, but there’s a lightness in her expression that says she’s enjoying our banter.
‘Obviously…’ she repeats.
We finish our burgers silently and I go in for another while she eats fries one by one, without ketchup.
‘There’s still a rumor of me going home tomorrow,’ I say, causing her to pause with a French fry midway to her mouth.
The thought of leaving this hospital room where she’s been my daily visitor is bittersweet. Sweet because it means progress and recovery, but bitter because it also means I’ll be headed home, thousands of miles from Eve once again.
She smiles, but I swear I see a hint of sadness in her eyes. ‘That’s great news, Foster. I’m sure your buddies and bike miss you immensely.’
‘I miss them too,’ I admit, feeling a pang of disappointment that surprises me with its intensity.
For a moment she’s in heavy thought over something but when she finishes her fries, she stands, grabs the pink bakery box, and opens it to reveal an array of colorful doughnuts.
‘Well, we’ll have to make the most of the time we have left then. Doughnut?’ she offers, holding out the box to me.
I grin and select the Old Dirty Bastard, our favorite.
She settles back into her chair, her eyes lingering on mine as I take a bite of the treat. The taste explodes in my mouth, and I can’t help but let out another appreciative moan.
‘Oh, my God. How is this better than I remember?’
Eve quirks an eyebrow at me, a mischievous glint in her eyes.
I swallow, trying to keep my heart rate steady under her gaze. ‘I swear on every insane stunt I’ve ever done, this is the best doughnut I’ve ever had.’
She laughs, a sound that feels like music to my ears.
As we sit there in comfortable silence, the sound of our munching filling the room, I catch her stealing glances at me when she thinks I’m not looking. It warms my heart to know that she still cares at least a little bit, even after all these years.
Eve breaks the quiet. ‘Can I ask you something?’
‘Anything,’ I reply.
‘Why am I still your emergency contact when I’m not even your last girlfriend?’
Honestly, I don’t know because I think as a stunt rider, you try not to think about what could go wrong and instead pretend you’re invincible, so the reality doesn’t set in and kill your courage. Though, there is another reason.
‘It’s because…’ I trail off, searching for the right words. ‘Well—’ I start again, my voice softer than before, more serious, ‘—this feels weird to say out loud because my actions haven’t proven this, and even though you might not know it, you’ve always been my constant. No matter what happened between us, you never left my mind. I knew if something were to happen, I could always count on you.’
Eve’s expression softens at my words, a hint of confusion crossing her face.
‘Hello!’ Matty’s voice interrupts us as he pulls back the curtain and stops in his tracks.
He’s got the worst timing but the best taste, as he too is carrying a pink bakery box and a grocery bag full of stuff.
‘Damn,’ he says. ‘She beat me to it.’ He sets the box of doughnuts on top of the one already sitting on the tray in front of me and grabs one of the leftover burgers. ‘My favorite. Doctor been in yet?’
‘Not yet,’ I say.
‘By the way,’ Matty says, still chewing. ‘I checked on your bag and Jeff said it’s back at the shop.’
‘Damn,’ I moan, glancing at the scrub pants a nurse brought in to me since I’ve got no clothing with me. ‘Not sure how I’ll get home without a shirt or shoes.’
‘I brought you both to tide you over,’ Matt says, nodding toward the plastic shopping bag he’s set at the end of my bed between my feet. ‘Also, I can’t get you on my flight home, but I did manage to book one for the day after tomorrow.’
Eve watches the interaction between Matty and me, her expression unreadable. I can see a flicker of something pass through her eyes, but it’s gone before I can decipher it fully.
‘Thanks, Matty,’ I say.
He waves me off with a greasy hand, busy wolfing down his burger.
The sliding door to my room opens and in walks Dr Sully, wearing a pair of the exact same scrubs I am but with his white coat, proving he’s the doctor here.
‘Mr Foster,’ he says as he sanitizes his hands. ‘You’re looking good. Is this your going-away party?’
Eve interjects before I can respond. ‘It’s his first day of outside food since his accident. I went all out.’
Dr Sully chuckles. ‘She always does,’ he says to me. ‘Eve’s the best nurse I’ve ever worked with.’
I glance her way, watching her smile with a confidence that’s new to me.
‘But back to you, Foster. You’re doing exceptionally well. I think we are shooting for discharge tomorrow. What do you think?’
‘I’m beyond ready to sleep in my own bed again,’ I admit.
‘Good, because bed is where you’ll spend a lot of time in the coming days.’
‘But not too much time if you want to get back to work,’ Matty follows up.
‘No rest for the wicked,’ I say, mentally groaning at the idea of things like physical therapy and home workouts that will feel like torture for a while. I look to Matty. ‘You better make that plane ticket first class.’
‘Plane ticket?’ the doctor asks, shaking his head. ‘No. You’re in no condition to fly.’
Eve’s eyes go wide. ‘But he lives in Florida,’ she informs him.
‘That’s too far for you to be traveling with your injuries,’ the doctor reasons, peering down at me with a stern expression.
Eve’s fingers drum on the arm of her chair, a worried expression flickering across her face. ‘What do you suggest then?’
Dr Sully ponders for a moment, adjusting his glasses before speaking. ‘He needs someone to monitor his recovery closely. So, I’d recommend staying with a friend.’ His gaze jets to Matty.
He’s hardly even listening – because cheeseburger – but he shakes his head. ‘Can’t,’ he finally says through a mouthful. ‘I also live in Florida.’
‘In that case, perhaps you’ve got a medically trained wife who could help you out until you’re cleared for more extensive travel.’
Everyone in the room, myself included, directs their attention at Eve, who’s never looked more uncomfortable in her life. She uncrosses her legs and then recrosses them, her fingers fidgeting with one of her rings.
She looks conflicted, her jaw agape and her eyes darting between me, Matty and the doctor. ‘Ex-wife.’ The word leaves her lips softly, barely audible, yet we all pick it up.