Page 117 of One More Kiss

“Where do we go from here?” I ask hesitantly, scared of the answer.

“Only up,” he smiles.

Asher and I sat up and just… talked for another hour or so. We talked about what happened in the hospital and how that wasn’t okay, making it seem like I’m in control of something I’m clearly not. I admitted that I’d had a crush on him for a while, and he admitted the same after teasing me a tad for it. We laughed, talked, and even set some boundaries for going forward.

One being Margot. Margot can’t know about us for risk of our friendship and, well, for risk of her castrating Asher.

Margot’s my best friend and I don’t know where I’d be without her. The day she took me in was the day she saved me from myself even if I didn’t know it at the time. I won’t let anything come between that bond, not even her brother.

“I think we should go get breakfast before we head up to the hospital, since hospital coffee tastes like doctor feet.” Margot says while carefully applying her red lip gloss.

“Been sucking doctor’s toes lately, have we?” Asher teases.

“No, I haven’t! I just imagine that they’d taste like sterile ass,” she muses.

“How do you even make an ass sterile?” I ask aloud.

“There are these like products-“Margot starts.

“Nope!” I yell leaving the room.

“You asked!” She yells laughing.

“I don’t even want to know how or why you know that.” I hear Asher groan.

We ran by their place before we went to grab breakfast upon a hangry Margot’s request, since I have nothing actually edible at my house, I make a mental note to rectify that as well, before calling off to work to let them know I won’t be coming in this week.

Being a barista at a local coffee shop does have its perks, one of them being how understanding and flexible they are. Plus, half off Caramel cold brews and muffins. They don’t pay a lot, but it’s enough to keep up with rent most months and the bare necessities. It probably helps that I’m the only occupant most months and sleep and eat at Margot’s.

I’d let the place go if I knew my mom would be okay, but at the end of the day, she’s still my mother and it hurts me to see her like this.

It hurts me to think of all the things she missed out on, and I missed out on. She didn’t get to see me graduate high school or ride a bike.

I honestly can’t remember a time when she wasn’t drunk. I grieve for the mom I never had. I yearn for the mom I wish she could be.

“We’re here for you, okay?” Margot says walking with her arm wrapped around my shoulders. Asher’s fingers brush mine, letting me know silently that he’s there too.

“Hi, is Doctor Scott available to talk about my mother?” I ask the man sitting at the nurse's station.

“What’s the name?” He asks glancing from me to his computer screen.

“Myers. Hailee Myers.”

“I’ll page the doctor,” he says smiling up at me from his seat.

We thank him and my hand hesitates to open my mother’s door. The last time I was in here her abuse was visible for the first time. For the first time my mom actually terrified me.

Heat from Asher’s hand finds my lower back, giving me his strength. Inhaling deeply, I push it open, walking in slowly.

“How you doing Ms. Myers?” Margot asks beside me.

“Is it true?” She asks turning away from us.

I walk closer to her bedside cautiously, “Is what true?” I ask.

“That you’re having me admitted to the damn looney bin.” She weakly snips, the withdrawal taking her fight.

“It isn’t a looney bin, mom.” I say sitting beside her rubbing her back. “It’s a rehabilitation center for addicts. You need help...you hurt me yesterday.” I whisper the last part. She turns her head enough to look at my face and her eyes flash something resembling remorse.

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