Page 7 of Composed at Randy's
“So he doesn’t know?”
“I have no idea if he does or not, but Bael is about as safe as they come. If he does know, he’d rather die than out someone without their permission.”
I nod as I realize that I used up a ton of luck today by getting found by the right person.
There’s a soft knock on the door, and I hear Bael say, “Gwen, can I please come in now? I just want to make sure he’s okay.”
Gwen gives me a funny look. “It’s up to Wren.”
“His name is Wren?” This is said with all the enthusiasm of a golden retriever puppy being presented with his first ball. “Can I come in, Wren? I promise not to be weird.”
“No way!” I yell at the door. “You can only come in if you promise to be as weird as possible.”
The door slams open so hard that it bounces back and nearly hits Bael in the face as he enters. “Oops! Sorry, I get excited sometimes.” He hurries over to my cot and kneels down. “Are you feeling okay?”
Huh. Actually, I haven’t really stopped to ask myself that question. I’ve been so caught up in the novelty of waking up in a strange place that I haven’t checked in with my body.
Wow. I feel like shit. My head is spinning, the world is soft and fuzzy, and my stomach is killing me.
“I’ve been better,” I answer.
Bael turns to Gwen, “You were supposed to fix him.”
“I’d be further along with that if someone didn’t keep barging in here and interrupting me.”
Bael shoots to his feet. “Who’s doing that? I’ll make sure they don’t get back in.” He glances back and forth between me and Gwen, waiting for one of us to illuminate him.
“I don’t know. I just woke up,” I admit. “Gwen told me you’re the only person who knows I‘m here, so whoever keeps barging in and interrupting Gwen must be really unobservant. Or maybe she stood directly in front of me the entire time so they couldn’tsee me? If so, I wish I’d been awake to see it, because that sounds tricky as hell.”
You know that funny look Gwen had on her face earlier? It’s back, but, like, with an added flavor of something I can’t quite put my finger on.
“That does sound tricky. I’d like to see it too,” Bael agreed.
“Right? I’ve seen it done on TV, but in real life, I’ve always wondered if it was really possible. How did you do it, Gwen?”
“Maybe she had to take a course for it as part of getting her medical license.” Bael strokes his chin thoughtfully.
“That makes sense. I imagine doctors have to know all kinds of special tricks to keep their patients safe.”
Gwen’s funny look has gotten so funny that I’m mildly concerned she’s going to need her own doctor soon, and I’m not quite done with her yet. But maybe if they call a doctor for Gwen, that doctor can also help me while they’re here.
“Are you two… Wait, are you pranking me right now, Bael? You two have actually met before, and this is just a really bad joke, right?”
Constipation. I think that the extra flavor in Gwen’s expression is constipation. I hope for her sake she’s able to take care of that issue once I’m off her hands.
“Why would I joke about something like this, Gwen? You should have seen him when he fell! You nearly scared the life out of me, Wren.”
“Sorry,” I say as I reach up to rub my dizzy head. “I didn’t mean to. And if this is a joke, I missed the punchline.”
“I refuse to believe there are two people like you out there,” Gwen mutters.
“There are plenty of hot, awesome people in the world, Gwen. You’re just too cynical.” Bael gives Gwen the sweetest smile.
I nod emphatically until my head swims, because not only is Bael right, he also just said I’m hot and awesome, and I need to make sure that gets acknowledged.
Gwen just sort of sighs aplease just let me get some restsigh and then moves on from the conversation. It was getting late when I crashed, and the windows are dark now. It’s probably well past her bedtime. “Wren, is there someone I can call for you?”
My mind whirrs and clicks as I try to get it to cough up a phone number for her to call, but it comes up null program. “Sorry. I can’t think of anyone you can call right now.” I wish I’d memorized at least one number in my contact tree. Even an intern at Shelly’s office would be better than no one.
