Page 8 of Fractured

“Yeah, I’m driving. Water’s fine. You aren’t having wine?” She looks at me suspiciously.

“No. With all of the craziness, I’m trying to stay away from alcohol for a while. Just need to get my head on straight. It’s terrible when you can’t trust anything you know. I swear I put those sleeping pills away, Mel. I guess that’s why I’m so disturbed about the time-lapse during my date with Mark.”

“Well, I think you should listen to Jake. Take the online Rohypnol test. Make sure he didn’t Roofie your drink. I know it seems outlandish, but at least you’ll know and can take that off of the table and deal with the fact you must’ve taken a sleeping pill and just can’t remember. Just do it, Kat. For your own peace of mind.”

“No, you’re right.” I scoop penne pasta smothered in luxurious pink sauce onto two plates, inhaling the tempting aroma. Walking toward the table with the food, I can barely wait to dig in. Some candles and a good bottle of wine, and this would be quite the romantic setup.Ha, figures I’m enjoying it with Melanie.“Hey, Mel, I wanted to ask you something.” I approach the topic carefully.

“Anything. What is it?” she answers with a forkful of pasta inches from her mouth.

“Jake mentioned when he uses zolpidem, occasionally weird shit happens. Is that true?” I await her answer with bated breath.

“Ha. I wasn’t sure where you were going with this, but yeah. Sometimes he gets completely turned on, and the sex is incredible. Is that what you mean?”

“Yeah. But more the fact he said he doesn’t remember a thing about it the next day.” I suddenly hear a loud metallic clank and realize she’s dropped her fork. “Mel?”

“I’m sorry. He told you he doesn’t remember any of it?” she asks astounded, pushing herself back from the table a bit.

Worried I’ll upset her, I squeak out, “Yes.” Wishing I could take back the decision to question her on this.

“God, I thought he was pulling my leg about that.” She answers more to herself than to me, it appears. “Hell. That’s some sleeping pill.” Her coloring appears a little pale.

“I know. Now you know why I decided to stop taking them. I’m starting to wonder what is real. I question what I could’ve been doing when I wake wearing strange clothing. Plus, some of the dreams were crazy. I’m trying not to think too much about it, or I’ll make myself nuts.”

“No. I get it,” she answers, taking another forkful of pasta. “Maybe I should pay a lot more attention at home too. When he’s taking those pills.”

I stand, carrying my plate to the sink to rinse, and then start to put away the leftovers. Rubbing my stomach in appreciation of her generous delivery, I walk back over to the table. “Thank you, Melanie. That was amazing. I just need a soak in a bubble bath, and I’ll probably be able to sleep without the Benadryl. I’m so full.” I laugh, covering my open mouth as I yawn.

“Go run your bath. I’ll get the rest of this in the dishwasher, and poke my head in to say goodbye before I go.”

“What? Are you sure?”

“Yes, girl. Go. I’m going to go home and do the same.”

Taking her up on her kind offer, I walk into the bathroom and start running the hot water. Finding a nice Lavender bath bomb, I unwrap it and take a deep inhalation before placing it next to the tub. Before I can get my top off, I hear laughing. Curious, I look around the door’s edge and shout, “What’s so funny?” Jake or the kids are probably texting her.

Melanie walks in my direction, carrying a phone. Just as I suspected. But it isn’t until she’s directly in front of me that I realize it isn’t her phone, but mine. She turns it around to show the text on the screen.

8:45 p.m.

Nick Barnes

Nick: I’m on call tonight. How’s the ER look?

8:48 p.m.

Kat: I’m off, actually. About to get into a bubble bath.

“Mel! Really?” I ask, flabbergasted at her antics.

“What? I was just being honest. Look at his answer,” she says, giving me a wicked grin. Looking down swiftly, I take in the words.

8:51 p.m.

Nick Barnes

Nick: Is that an invitation?

Glancing back to Melanie and her shit-eating grin, my mouth hanging open, I’m unable to form words.

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