Chapter 21 #2
Refusing to cause her any distress, I bite back my guilt and come closer. “You know,” she starts pensively, “up until the very end, it was my favorite birthday ever.”
“I blew it with that ending, didn’t I?”
“A little. But at least I’m never forgetting my twenty-seventh birthday.”
Only this woman could make jokes in such a situation. I smooth her hair away with a tender hand and bend over to press a delicate kiss on her forehead. “We’re not very good at birthdays, are we?” I whisper, reminded of how my own went.
“We’re awful at it.”
“But it can’t get any worse than this, so from this point forward, the only way is up.”
Her giggle turns into a whimper. “Ah, don’t make me laugh, you asshole.”
“Sorry.”
“Good to see you’re already laughing,” a newcomer says behind us. Isabella and I turn around to find the surgeon who operated on Andrea, Dr. Keshavan. “But I’m not surprised. After all, you cracked a couple of jokes before we put you under.”
“I did? I can’t remember.”
“You woke up briefly while we were cutting away your dress, and you felt compelled to tell us the lingerie was for your boyfriend, not us ‘perverts.’ And you also asked if Doctor McDreamy would be joining us.”
Andrea cringes and sheepishly says, “I’m so sorry.”
“It’s fine. We never know how someone will react in a state of shock.
I much prefer your approach to the violent outbursts we get sometimes.
Now, about your case. You’re a very lucky woman, Miss Walker.
The bullet only grazed your subclavian artery.
A quarter of an inch the other way and we’d be having a very different conversation.
It didn’t rupture completely, but it tore a few millimeters, which is why you lost so much blood.
Your fiancé did a great job applying pressure until the EMTs arrived. He likely saved your life.”
Both Andrea and Isabella tick at the “fiancé” comment, but they say nothing.
“We gave you two transfusions while we repaired the artery and another when we removed the bullet. It lodged against your scapula, causing only a hairline fracture. That’s fortunate.
I’ve seen scapulas shattered by the same type of injury, and trust me, you’re glad you avoided that.
After two months, you should be all good.
Plus another month to regain your full strength and mobility.
We’ve set you up with a PCA pump. You can press the button here, and it will give you a small dose of morphine.
You get one dose every ten minutes. In a day or two, we’ll transition you to pills.
If you ever feel too sleepy, nauseated, or lightheaded, let a nurse know right away. ”
Andrea presses the button, betraying the fact that she is in pain.
The doctor looks at the chart at the foot of the bed and adds, “I’ll have a nurse put your arm in a sling, but in the meantime, avoid moving around too much. You’ll also keep a drain in place for a few days, depending on the output, and—”
“A drain?”
The doctor comes closer to pick up a drop-shaped plastic bottle hanging from the bed’s railing, and our eyes follow the tube attached to it, all the way to the collar of Andrea’s gown. “Ew, it goes inside me?!”
“Yes, it avoids fluid accumulation, which can cause distension and pressure.”
Andrea grimaces, at which the doctor indulgently smiles. “Depending on the drain and how the wound heals, you’ll be with us for three to five days. Any questions?”
“What’s the healing timeline?” I ask.
“The wound should close in about two to three weeks, as long as there’s no infection. You’ll have normal finger and wrist movement within a week, and we’ll start very light shoulder-mobility exercises during week two. By week four, you can resume daily activities, but no heavy lifting or sports.”
Andrea processes everything for a few seconds, eyes lost somewhere over the doctor’s shoulder. When she speaks again, she sounds skeptical. “So, like … no sex, either?”
“Andrea!” Isabella scolds while I clench my teeth. Of course, she’d be worried about that.
“What? It’s a fair question,” Andrea defends herself.
“It all depends on the kind of intercourse we’re talking about, but I wouldn’t recommend it for at least four weeks. Optimally, six.”
“Even if I just lie spread ea—”
“Thank you, Doctor,” I say, cutting Andrea off.
She’s clearly holding back her amusement, doing her best to remain professional. “You’re welcome,” she says before returning her attention to Andrea. “We’ve notified the police, and they’ll be here in the morning to take your statement. Is that okay with you?”
“Yeah, sure.”
“Again, you were very lucky, Miss Walker.”
“It doesn’t really feel like it at the moment, but thank you.”
The doctor nods a salute and leaves the room after returning the chart to its holder.
Andrea doesn’t waste a second turning to me inquisitively. “My fiancé?”
I sigh. “I wasn’t sure what the policy was on boyfriends. So, I lied to make sure they’d let me be with you. And when it turned out I didn’t need to lie, it felt weird to let them know.”
“Sure … Can I drink again?” Isabella quickly complies, bringing the cup and straw near her lips. “And I’m starving. Can you see if you can find a Snickers bar somewhere, Mom?”
“Of course, pollito. I’ll see where Rafa and Kate are, too.”
“Perfect, thank you, mamá.”
I’m almost tempted to follow Isabella, knowing Andrea enough to realize she wants us alone on purpose.
“I know you’ll be insufferable about it,” she starts, almost jaded, “so I’ll just say it. The goal wasn’t to take a bullet for you, but to push you out of the way.”
“The result is the same, isn’t it?”
“The intent isn’t.”
She squints at me, daring me to oppose her reasoning. Which, of course, I do. “You put yourself in danger.”
“And I’d do it all over again.”
There it is. Her infuriating stubbornness. “Don’t say that.”
“Why?”
“Because I can’t stand the idea that you’d sacrifice your life for mine!”
“It’s not about sacrificing myself, Lex. It’s about saving you. Again.”
“The outcome is the same in the end.”
“I didn’t die.”
“You could have.”
“But I didn’t.”
I don’t want to get mad at her. Not when she’s just taken a bullet for me. Because no matter how she frames it, that’s what she did. For the second time in a month, she put me first and risked it all. And I can’t bear the fucking thought of it.
“Don’t pull away from me,” she begs, sadness veiling her tired eyes. “I need you. I need you to talk to me, to hold me, to love me … You make me strong, and I need that right now.”
It would take a heart of stone not to completely melt at her plea. And mine is of flesh and blood, and it only beats for her, so I can’t help but cave in.
In seconds, I’m at her side, kneeling as I embrace her the best I can, lightly so I won’t hurt her. My earlier tears return as she uses her good arm to hold me, pressing me onto her fragile frame.
“I’m okay,” she breathes out. “I’m right here, Lex. I’m alive.”
“Don’t ever do this again, Andrea,” I say, helpless against the trembling of my voice. “I can’t—I can’t even—I don’t know what I would have done if—” Words stumble on my tongue, tears flowing down my cheeks.
“I’m right here, baby,” she whispers, a frail hand grazing my hair.
She breathes out more words of reassurance, and yet again tonight, I feel like I’m failing her.
I should be the one offering comfort and reassurance.
She got hurt. She needs my strength. But it’s as though my mind is broken, left in splinters by tonight’s events.
Fractured all over the place. And with a weak arm around my upper back, she’s holding me together.
She’s the strongest person I have ever known. And I almost lost her, and with her, my reason to live. A quarter of an inch the wrong way, and my entire world would have shattered, leaving nothing behind.
Nothing but a burning desire for revenge.
When my mother returns with a Snickers bar, Lex’s tears and mine have dried.
My hand is still in his soft hair, gently grazing it.
I appreciate how silky and thick it is, enjoying its texture with a newfound appreciation.
I was almost deprived of this—of touching him, of holding him, of loving him.
Everything could have been much, much worse.
No matter what I told the doctor, I do feel lucky to still be here, alive.
Lex stands up again, gives me a kiss, and explains he’ll be in the hallway to allow another member of my family to take his place.
I’m with both my parents, feeling tired again, when Kate and Rafa arrive.
“Holy fuck, Andy. I can’t believe you actually did that,” Kate exclaims after a careful hug. “What a boss-ass bitch.”
“I’m not feeling much like one at the moment. You two took forever. What were you doing?”
“We were … arguing in the parking lot,” she explains, giving Rafa a miffed look.
“Uh-oh, trouble in paradise?”
“It’s fine. We’re just disagreeing on a minor matter.”
“Children aren’t a minor matter, Katherine,” Rafa interjects, his signs harsh.
“Wow, wait … Are you guys talking about kids already?”
“Not about having them right now, but about when we want them.”
“And what? This asshole doesn’t want any?” I ask, turning to Rafa. My arms are too heavy to sign, but he can read my lips just fine. When he flips me off, I find the strength to return the gesture.
“Your friend is the problem here,” he signs with a cynical expression on his face. “She wants to wait at least five years.”
“I have my career to think of!”
Okay, the way this went is giving me more whiplash than taking a bullet. Seriously? Rafa wants kids, and Kate is pushing it away?
As if they just remembered why they’re here, Kate shakes her head and says, “Sorry, you have way bigger concerns right now. We’ll talk about it when we get home,” she tells my brother.
Fuck, I hate that I feel so tired, because I’d definitely want to hear how this conversation goes. It’s about becoming an aunt, after all. A double aunt, since it’s my best friend and my brother.
“If I may,” I say, half falling asleep. “You don’t know what the future holds, or even how much of it you have left.
In less than five seconds, I almost lost everything.
All I could think of as I bled out on the ground was the future I want with Lex, and how I’d never have it.
Don’t waste too much time on things that don’t actually matter and listen to what your heart really wants.
Only God knows how long you have left to accomplish it all. ”
I realize too late that Lex is right there, leaning on the doorframe, listening.
When Kate and Rafa notice him too, he says, “The nurse told me we need to let Andrea get some rest. My apartment is ten minutes away, so we’re heading there to get some rest as well.
” He steps in and takes my good hand to squeeze it gently.
“I’ll take a quick shower and come back right away.
But your parents will rest and return in the morning.
We’ve already arranged everything. They’ll stay the weekend so they can visit you again. ”
“They’re really staying at your place?”
“Our place. And yes, I’ve already spoken about it with them.”
“You don’t have to do that,” I insist, knowing how important personal space is for him.
“It’s your place as much as mine—almost. And it’s your family. They can stay as long as they want.”
“Your family isn’t even allowed to stay at your place.”
“They’re better off staying at whatever hotel they book. I’m telling you, Andrea. I don’t mind.”
“My mom will snoop around, and my dad will definitely want to check out your collection. Also, I don’t put it past MC to look into your underwear drawer and steal a few things.”
Both Kate and Rafa nod at that last part while Lex shakes his head indulgently. “Let them. I don’t care. As long as your family is near when you need them the most, I’m fine.”
“And I love you so much for that.”
“That’s the very least I can do, my love.” He bends over for a kiss that tastes of tears and heartache, but also of hope and promises.
He pulls away, grazing my hair lovingly, and then straightens up. “You two are free to do whatever you want, as long as Andrea gets her rest,” he tells Kate and Rafa.
“We’ll stay in the hallway. At least until you return, if that’s okay.”
“Sounds good to me. I’ll be right back, freckles. Try to sleep.”
I nod, yawning hard enough to dislocate my jaw.
I’m so glad they all came to see me, but I’m also glad they’re leaving.
The pain in my shoulder is slowly getting worse, and I look forward to sleeping through it.
Remembering the morphine pump, I press the button again.
It doesn’t do much, but it’s better than nothing.
And it definitely helps me fall asleep. I’m pretty sure I’m out before they are. But I have extenuating circumstances. I had a really fucking long day.
The best and the worst birthday of my life.