Page 60 of Stroked
“Well, Jason likes it. And you know you’re fucking gorgeous, so shut up.” I pulled the paper towels from my face and blinked a few times. Not perfect, but better. Not as red. I can pass the puffiness for lack of sleep if it comes up. “Okay, let’s get this over with.”
We walked to the waiting area and Maria was in the corner leaning against the wall, coffee in one hand with her phone to her ear. “Oh, let me call back.Te amo.” She put the phone away. “Amy, it was so nice of your friend to bring her bag and check on Val. You girls are just wonderful. She has not had any real friends in years.”
“It was no problem, ma’am,” Lucy chimed in. “Jason is kinda always around in emergency situations. We were going to grab some food,” she said, moving her pointer finger back and forth between her and me, “but we wanted to be sure her stuff made it back to her and that she was okay.”
“So, you saw the accident?” Maria asked, putting her hand on my upper arm.
Lucy spoke again quickly, “It was fast and intense. Jason was quick to jump out of the car. He gave a statement and left his info with the officers that came. It was totally the other guy's fault. He ran the light.”
Maria’s eyes shot to Lucy, but she smiled, then turned back to me. “Well, I am so glad you were in the right place at the right time. And thank you for this,” Maria said as Lucy handed the bag to her. “Hopefully, I can get her home tonight. They told me they will fix her shoulder before we go but wanted to wait for the last test to be done. You girls go get something to eat besides hospital food. And thank you so much. Great to see you again, Lucy, even though I wish it were better circumstances. Maybe the four of us can get lunch sometime? My treat for your help!”
“Oh, that’s not necessary, but I do hope we meet again sometime. Amy said you’re just wonderful.”
Maria smiled and lifted her shoulders like she was being bashful, then waved her hand, “Well, she is right!” Maria laughed a warm belly laugh, grabbed me for a tight squeeze, then did the same to Lucy. “Now go. Lucy, I will tell Val to check in once she is able. Amy, we will probably speak next week.”
For a moment, my heart raced, then I remembered she was a client.Shit. I needed to get out of there.
“Alright, Lucy, I think Maria’s got this under control. Let’s go get that food. I’m starving.”
We all smiled, and Maria headed toward the hall leading to the ER. We walked in silence, but our strides were long and fast. Once back in the car, I slammed my door shut and my head fell to my hands.
Lucy’s hand was quickly on my shoulder. “Hey, she’s okay. And she’ll probably get to go home tonight. Plus, I think we totally played it off to Maria.”
The car cranked, so I sucked in a breath and brushed away the tears that had started spilling into my hands to buckle up. “I know. But she wasn’t really happy to see me, she was on drugs. And I really like Maria. I hate lying to her. She’s like a real mom, ya know?” I hiccupped a breath, trying to get the crying under control as Lucy left the parking deck.
“Money, please. And hey, maybe shewashappy to see you. Some people argue that your true feelings come out when under the influence.”
I handed her a ten-dollar bill. “Well, I told my parents I was a showgirl in Vegas when I had my tonsils out in middle school. So, I don’t know if I trust that theory.”
“Well, at least you know she’s okay. Even if she’s still upset with you, once things simmer down a little, maybe you can speak to her. I mean, the way you talked, youbothwere pretty into each other, so I doubt she’ll just end it. Wanna go home or to the club with me?”
“If I go home, I’ll just cry all night.”
“Club it is. We’ll get you some fries and beer. Sound good?” Lucy grabbed my hand and squeezed as I stared out the window.
After one beer and poking at fries, all I could think about was what happened earlier in the day. The day that now was officially the longest day of my life.
Jaz came over and handed me another Blue Moon. “Hey, you okay?”
Blowing a breath through puffed cheeks, I put the bottle to my lips and took a long draw before lightly putting the bottle on the bar. “I will be, I think.”
“It’ll work out, hon. Things always do, even if you don’t think so at the time.”
Nodding, I replied, “I hope so.” I took another long drink. “Should never have let her go to my place.”
Jaz leaned over the bar on her tatted forearms. “I don’t know what’s up but sounds like a breakup.”
I shrugged, not sure how to answer that. Can you break up if you were never officially together?
“Well, better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all, right?” Her lips thinned but there was a grin with it.
“Do you believe that? Have you been in love?”
Jaz’s head dropped a little, but when she lifted her head again, she was beaming. “Yeah, I guess I was.”
I leaned toward her. “But you’re not together now? Or you are the most private person I’ve ever met in my life.”
She stood and chuckled. “No, not together now. And it was hard to get over him. But we had some great times, and I have some great memories.”
