Page 26 of Crash
“Mmhmm, maybe. I know we were discussing who was going to bring her to our house when she’s released.”
“Oh, I figured she’d go back to her place.”
“It’s her call, really, but she is waiting for you. I’m gonna go over to the coffee cart to get me and your mother an iced beverage.”
“I’ll go with you, Momma Joyce,” Courtney interjects. “I could use a white mocha frap myself. Austin, you want me to get your caramel blend?”
“No. I’m good for now. Thanks for letting me vent.”
“No problem. What are little sisters for?” She takes Mrs. Gordon by the arm and strolls over to grab their drinks.
I walk back to Tessa’s room. “Hey. What happened to the party?” I say, upon my entrance. When I place a kiss on her forehead, I can tell she’s been crying. “Baby, what’s wrong?”
“Everything is wrong, Austin. My leg is broken, the tour that I’ve worked like hell to have funded will now have to be cancelled, and I have to go back to my parents’ house while my house is locked up.” Her tears become uncontrollable.
Offering her much needed comfort, I pull her into my arms. “I will visit you every day and bring you whatever you need,” I say.
“I need you.” Her response is accompanied by more tears and a tired voice.
“Tessa, I’m here and always will be.” I place another peck on her forehead.
“Why is it that every time I enter the room, you two are in bed together?” Courtney says, bringing a smile to Tessa’s face. “I don’t even see how when your leg is elevated and you can hardly move.” She squeezes in on the other side, nearly pushing me off the edge.
Our parents share a laugh, inserting comical relief to an otherwise intense day.
“So, you two are finally an item?” Dad says.
“Why does everyone keep sayingfinally?” I question.
“Austin, you’ve always had a crush on Tessa,” my mom replies.
“No, I didn’t.”
“Come now, you must remember. She used to stay overnight, especially when they were in high school, you would always find a reason to stay up and hang with them after the game,” Mom continues.
“I was just keeping them company, Mom.”
“Austin, you would make sure Tessa had her popcorn first during our movie nights. And let’s not forget how you roughed up Erick Johnson when he stood her up on prom night. It was only a matter of time before y’all hooked up.”
“You did that?” Tessa asks, with a shocked look on her face.
Courtney was sworn to secrecy to never tell Tessa about the run-in I had with Erick Johnson. Apparently, the frozen drink has affected her brain cells.
“Well, I didn’t like the way you were crying after y’all came back. Courtney told me what happened and the following Monday, I made sure he never did that again.”
My God, they were right. How did I not know I had real feelings for Tessa all this time?
“That was really sweet of you. I wish I had known. Maybe, we could’ve started dating earlier.”
We hold each other’s gazes for a few minutes until the doctor enters. “Well, well, I see you’ll have more than enough hands to help you around while your leg heals,” she says, surveying the amount of visitors gathered. “Your recovery should go smoothly with all this love around here. So, who will be your primary caretaker?”
“I will be staying with my parents,” she says.
“That’s good. No place like Mom and Dad’s, right? Well, I need to talk with you and your folks about your aftercare, and then we will be letting you go home.”
My parents and Courtney say their goodbyes, and I follow them, letting Tessa know I will be in the waiting room.
“Austin, when are you going back to work, son?” my dad asks, while I walk with them towards the exit.
