Page 19 of Free Heart
“I know.”
“Is it because you’re a Pisces, do you think?”
“We are manipulative, petty, control freaks, yes, but you Libras are so annoying. Always trying to just ignore the pain in and around you so you can pretend everything’s nice and pretty. It’s not healthy.”
“If I had more energy, I’d fight with you about this. But I just don’t.”
“I love you too.”
“Ugh.”
“Admit you love me.”
“Fine, I do love you. And Martin. And the kids. I’m just…not myself right now.”
“Of course not. How’s Dan this morning?”
“I don’t know. He’s in surgery. I’ve got hours before I find out how it went.” I wipe my hands over my face. “It was such a near miss, Leenie. Such a close call.”
“It really was.”
“I should be over it already. He’s going to be all right. But I can’t seem to get it together. I’m a mess.”
“This is normal. You’ve experienced a trauma.”
“Leenie?”
“Mmm?”
“Thanks for checking in on me. And thanks for telling Dad I need him, I guess.”
I’m not at all thankful for that yet, but it’s done, and I can’tnotcall him now. So, she gets what she wants and, maybe, in the end, it’ll be what I want too.
“You know he’s glad to be needed.”
Maybe. I don’t know anything anymore except that I’ve got to brush my hair, or I’ll be tugging out knots for days. I disconnect with Leenie and sit on the brown floral comforter to get to work. When all the tangles are free, I grab my phone and text my father.
Hey, yeah, things here are intense. I love you too. I’ll call you soon. Don’t worry. I’m okay, and my boyfriend’s going to be okay too.
I wait until his reply comes through.Alright, son. I’m here if you need me.
Even though I don’t want to talk to my dad about this, and Leenie really had no right to interfere, I’m relieved to know he’s there for me.
I stand up and get ready to head over to the hospital. The cafeteria there will have a cheap and decent breakfast, and I’ll be where I need to be.
Close to Dan.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Dan
3 days since free solo attempt
“So does itstop fucking hurting anytime soon?” I grit out as Dr. Eldridge finishes explaining to me and Sejin what he’s done with the rods and pins inside my leg. The x-rays and images look cool as shit, but the radiating agony up into my hip is anything but.
“We can mitigate it with the pain meds, but, as you know, those have other side effects you don’t like—lack of clarity, constipation, etc. Of course, we want to keep the pain at a manageable level to keep your muscles from tensing and causing more problems. But no, I’m afraid you’re looking at dealing with some measure of discomfort for up to a year.”
“Ayear?” The way Sejin grips my fingers tells me that I’m not the only one to hear the panic in my voice.
