Page 102 of Cut up
“I’m here,” I whisper, even if she can’t hear me. Then I slip out and pull the door closed behind me.
Back outside, Tyler’s still working through reps. I grab a towel and join him again.
“Everything okay?” he asks, not looking at me.
“She’s asleep now,” I say. “But she’d been crying.”
He exhales. “Shit.”
We lift in silence for a while, the sound of metal and breath filling the space.
“Think she’s okay?” Tyler asks finally.
“I don’t know.” I shake my head. “Somethings obviously happened. She didn’t want to talk. I just… I hate knowing she’s upset and there’s nothing I can do.”
When we finish our work out we start dinner prep, chopping vegetables side by side in the kitchen. It’s quiet for a while, until I glance sideways at him.
“So… have you thought more about it? Danielle’s leaving soon. You gonna just let her go?”
Tyler tenses slightly. “She has her plans. Nothing to do with me.”
“Right. Except she’s your friend. And you’ve been looking like a kicked puppy ever since she told you.”
He scoffs, trying to play it off. “I’ll be fine.”
“Maybe you could go too,” I offer, casually. “I mean, not that I want to lose my best tradie but if you want to be with her… Even just as her friend?”
He looks at me, surprised. “You serious?”
“Mate, I’d rather lose you to something good than see you mope around here.”
He laughs under his breath, finally relaxing a little. “Thanks,” he mutters. “Don’t know what I’m doing yet. But maybe.”
We keep chopping, the kitchen slowly filling with the smell of dinner and unspoken worry.
And I keep glancing down the hallway, heart heavy, already wondering what Camille’s going to tell me when she wakes up.
51
Chucking a sickie
I wake up early the next morning. I hear Lucas sneak into my room to check on me, I keep my eyes closed, pretending to be asleep.
He kisses my forehead before walking out.
I hear both Lucas and Tyler leave for work. I try to fall back asleep but fail miserably. I end up waiting until 6 a.m. to call Rhonda, she doesn’t answer. So I text instead.
Me: Hey Rhonda. I’m not well, I can’t come today. I’m really sorry.
She replies half an hour later.
Rhonda: I hope you’re okay Camille. It’s not like you to have a sickieso I can imagine you’re not well. Call me tomorrow if you’re still not well? I’ll reschedule your clients for you.
Me: Thanks. Will call to talk tomorrow.
I put my phone down. I love my job and normally it makes me feel better. I didn’t even take a day off when things were bad with Sean. But the worry about him possibly dying has shaken me. I just hope that Sandra will update me. I plan to tell Rhonda about my plans for the salon when I see her next. I’m just not in the right head space for that conversation right now.
I go to pick up my Kindle—books are usually my happy place—but I don’t think I can focus right now.
