Page 9 of Tell Me You Love Me Again

“We’re going to run a few tests to rule that out. We also contacted your next of kin that was listed at the DMV and he’s on his way,” he informed.

He? Who the hell is he? Oh, my father.

“You called my father? How long did he say before he would get here?” I asked.

“The man I talked to was a Gabriel Hastings, and he was listed as your husband,” he said.

“My husband? That has to be a mistake. I’m not married. Call my parents! I don’t know any Gabriel Hastings!” I was panickingbecause if they said I was in an accident, what if it was the man that hit me or something? I couldn’t let him come in here and finish the job.

“Mrs. Hastings, calm down,” one of the nurses said.

“Stop calling me that! My name is Chiara Livingston, and I don’t know anybody named Gabriel!” My head was thumping. This was too much. I don’t know what the fuck was going on, yet they were in here telling me I was married to some man named Gabriel.

“Okay, Ms. Livingston. I’m going to give you something to calm you down and for your head. The doctor will be back in shortly to talk to you.” I watched as she injected something into my IV and soon after, my eyes were becoming heavy. Before my eyes closed, I glanced down at my hand and noticed a wedding ring on my left hand.

“What the fuck?” was the last thing I said before I my dosed off.

Gabe

I must’ve dosed off waiting for Chiara to get home, because I was still lying across the bed with the TV still on SportsCenter. I searched the bed for my phone so that I could see what time it was. When it was in my grasp, I noticed it was after midnight.

“This girl has lost her gah damn mind,” I grumbled to myself as I picked up the phone to call her again.

Still no answer.

Pissed, I hung up the phone and dialed Chiquita’s number.

“Hello?” she answered in a rushed tone. She sounded as if she was at work, but I didn’t care about any of that right now.

“Quita, have you heard from Chi?” I asked.

Silence.

“Quita!” I snapped. “Have you heard from my wife?”

“No. Not since we were out earlier,” she responded.

“Oh yeah? Well, if you hear from her, let her know I’m trying to get in touch with her selfish, ungrateful ass.”

“Wait a minute, Gabe. That’s my sister you’re talking about.”

“And that’s my wife that I bend over backwards for, and she doesn’t appreciate the shit!” I was fuming. She wanted to stay out all night because she was in her feelings, not giving a fuck how it made me feel in the process.

“Gabe,” she huffed.

I didn’t give her time to respond before I hung up in her face. I didn’t have time to play these games with them. Getting up, I trekked to the bathroom so I could relieve my bladder and find me something to eat since I obviously missed the reservations that I had earlier for dinner. After I used the bathroom and washed my hands, I went downstairs in search of something quick I could make a meal out of. Finding some potatoes and sausage, I decided to sauté a few with some onions and peppers. It wasn’t much, but it would get the job done.

While I was cutting the potatoes to go in the oven, my phone rang. I quickly grabbed it, thinking it was Chiara, but the number was not saved, and the caller ID said that it was from Cannon Cove.

“Hello?” I answered.

“Hello. Can I speak to a Mr. Gabriel Hastings?” I heard the woman on the line said.

“Uh…speaking.”

“Hi, Mr. Hastings. This is Nurse Warren at Hills General in Cannon Hiils. I’m calling on behalf of your wife, Chiara Hastings,” she stated, causing me to become confused.

“My wife? Hospital?” I asked for my own clarity.

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