Page 56 of Crazy in Love

“Oh, yeah. I made a few call out for their mommas.”

“You’re ruthless, Tessy.”

“So, did she have an excuse?” As best friends, their conversations didn’t require segues, and Faith knew right away they’d gone back to talking about Hope.

“No. In fact, according to the sheriff, she had a hundred dollars in her pocket!”

“Sounds like she’s not coping well with your mom’s death. You think it’s a cry for help or attention or something?”

“Maybe. Probably. I don’t know. I told my dad this morning, and he says he’ll handle it. We’ll see. Even though Nick’s moving out, I’m gonna stay with them a little longer.”

They arrived at the hospital just as Nick was being wheeled back into his room from the OR. The doctor came in with an update. They’d removed the extra piece of bone and cleaned everything. He was optimistic that healing should go better and be faster this time around. Nick would be glad to hear that.

In the cramped, stark white room, the Walkers stood on one side of the bed, Tess and Faith on the other.

Nick cracked open one eye and then the other. “Hey, whas everyone doin’ here?” he slurred.

“Honey, you’re just waking up from the operation,” his mom said. “Everything went great.”

“Okey dokey,” Nick sang. “My brain is fuzzy. Fuzzy. Fuz-zy. Thas a funny word.”

Clearly, he was still under the effects of the anesthesia, and they all bit their lips, trying not to laugh at his change in demeanor. Normally stuffy and gruff, the aftereffects had him humming show tunes and happily narrating what was happening around him.

“Faith!” he exclaimed, glossy eyes finding hers and widening with joy.

“Hey, Nick,” Faith said. “Hope you get better soon.”

“You pretty.” He gazed at her like she was water in the desert. Panic set in. What if the drugs made it so he couldn’t hold his tongue, and he blabbed their secret? Right here in front of everyone.

“Should we go?” she whispered to Tess.

Tess shook her head. “What’s your hurry?”

“No hurry. Just doesn’t seem like he’d want a lot of witnesses to his vulnerable moments.”

“Are you kidding?” Tess chuckled. “I’m getting a video.”

Faith slunk away from the bed, sat out of sight in a nearby chair, and prayed that he came to his senses before he incriminated them both. She almost cried with relief when his brief burst of energy gave way to sleep. A few minutes later, Tess decided her sisterly duty was done and bid farewell to her parents.

They stopped for lunch on the return trip to Green Valley Falls.

“Why do I get the feeling something’s goin’ on with you and my brother?” Tess asked before biting into her burger.

“Huh?” Faith feigned ignorance. “Beats me. That’s ridiculous.”

“I’ve known you for twenty years, Faith. You think I can’t tell when you’re lying?”

Valid point. Faith was a terrible liar in general. Lying to her best friend was a bar too high. “Fine. But it’s not what you think. We’re not dating or anything.” Technically, that was true. They had not been on a date. She saw no reason to bring up the sex.

“I don’t want details. And I’m not mad,” Tess said, ignoring her denial. “Frustrated is a better word. I thought I did a pretty good job of explaining to the both of you how many ways this could go sideways. And who’s stuck in the middle when it does? Me. That would be me.”

“I get it. I heard you,” Faith said. “I know it’s not forever, and so does he. We both have our eyes wide open.”

“So it’s a fling? And that’s supposed to make it better?”

“Well, no,” Faith said. “I mean, I like him. I really like him. But I understand he’ll be gone soon.”

“You said you were looking for a real relationship?”

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