Page 56 of Stroked
Several minutes passed, and the tears slowed again. “Guess I need to get off the fucking floor,” I said as I rolled my eyes. Look at me. Like a fucking silly schoolgirl who just got ditched at prom or something.
Placing the pieces on the coffee table, I stood and brushed dust from my pants. Guess I need to clean this place this weekend since now I won’t have any special plans.
I started toward the kitchen when someone banged on the door. My heart leapt to my throat. I nearly lost my footing cornering the breakfast bar.
“Valent…Lucy?” I stood in the door, mouth open and brows pinched. Lucy stood before me with an awkward smile. “What’s up? Shouldn’t you be at the club by now?”
She pushed past me and shut the door. “Well, Jason and I were sneaking off to have dinner away from the club since the weekend is slammed.”
“Okay, well, I’m not really in the mood to go out, but thanks for checking with me.”
“Amy, when we were up the street near the highway, we saw a bad accident and Jason stopped to check on the drivers.”
I walked back to the kitchen to retrieve the drink I was previously going for. “Oh wow. Chivalrous. Hope they’re okay.”
“Val was in one of the cars.”
The bottle I had pulled from the fridge dropped to the floor, luckily not breaking.
With hitched breaths, I asked, “Did you say Val, likemyValentina?” My hands shook, and Lucy walked into the kitchen. She pushed the fridge door closed, then grabbed my hands.
“Yeah, and she was taken to the hospital. This is her bag.” She held the bag out to me. How did I not notice that when she came in?
“Hospital?” My head was spinning. My chest was tight. My mouth went dry. “No, that can’t be right. Jason was mistaken.” I was trying to convince myself she was wrong, even though that was, in fact, Valentina’s bag.
“I saw her being loaded into the ambulance, Amy. It was her. But she’s gonna be okay. It’s gonna be okay.” She grabbed my wrists; I grasped hers when the denial began to leave and panic set it.
I tried to shake free of her hands and walk past her.
“Amy, listen, we can go check on her. I need to take her bag to her anyway. But you can’t run in there like a lovesick puppy when her parents will likely be there.”
“I–I just have to go. Let me go!” I shouted, struggling to get out of her hold.
Her hands tightened around my wrists, but now they were up between us as she struggled to not let go. “You have to be calm, Amy. You can’t just–”
“Don’t fucking tell me to be calm! Stop it, stop it, stop it!” I finally yanked one of my arms free, but the force flung me against the fridge; the handle nailed me right in the back. “Fuck!”
She pressed me to the fridge and had me pinned. She was a lot stronger than she looked. “Amy, I know you’re upset, but you need to calm the fuck down or Iwillcall Jason to hold you down until you pass out! You will fuck everything up if you just run in there. Now, stop squirming!”
I stopped fighting her and sucked in a huge breath as the next wave of tears filled my eyes. My muscles went limp, and I slid down the fridge, Lucy coming down with me.
“I–it’s my fault. Fuck, it’s my fault. Lucy, I–”
“This isn’t your fault. You just need to get your shit together before we go. Her mom knows you’re my friend, so you can come. I have her bag. We just have to tread lightly, and I can’t take you like this. You know I’m right.”
I nodded furiously as I fought hyperventilating. Tears continued pouring out and my body shook as I held my breath, trying to stop the intense sobs.
Lucy grabbed the Blue Moon from the floor and filled a glass with ice and water. I took it from her, sipping the cold fluid.
“Drink all of that, then go wash your face and we can go.”
“Yes, mother.” She playfully kicked my leg.
Once I was done with the water, I was able to breathe for the most part, and Lucy helped me up from the floor.
I went to the bathroom, splashed cold water on my face, and ran the brush through my hair.
“I’m ready. Did you leave Jason outside?” I grabbed my bag and Valentina’s and we walked to the elevator.
