Page 39 of The Love You Hate
“That’s not how this works,” I repeat the man’s words. Swallowing hard, I think of other men and women like Felix. Who don’t have connections, nor a chance in hell at surviving. “I’m sorry, doc. That’s not possible.”
I leave the room before he can ask anything else, before I say too much. I find Felix’s wife in a completely different mood in the kitchen. “Felix is hungry. Can you believe it? He asked me to make him soup. Soup,” she says mindlessly. “He was never supposed to eat again and now I’m cooking for him. I can’t believe this day. I owe you my life, Nate Sullivan. I owe you everything.”
“No,” I say, loudly. “No. I had nothing to do with this. Do not say that again.”
She flinches away. Good. I need her to be fearful. “This can never be spoken of. When friends ask, you say it is a miracle and the doctor can’t explain it.” I pull the card out of my pocket. “This is who you call when you need more, okay? Do not ask questions. Do not.”
She nods, terror streaking across her face. “What did you do for this?” Her voice shakes.
I laugh sardonically. “Believe it or not, I did nothing for it.”
“I will guard this with my life.”
“All of our lives depend on it.” I say it forcefully so she knows I’m serious.
“Of course.”
I call the phone Presley has and there is no answer, so I call Gray who tells me she’s asleep and he’s listening to her snore as confirmation. I breathe a sigh of relief, even though I’m disappointed I don’t get to hear her voice. How dirty was the deal she made? What did it cost? I can’t think of it in depth, and I know I need to do what I’m loathe to do.
With heavy limbs, I slink into the chair next to Felix’s bed. “Hey man. Heard you’re hungry.”
He turns his head. “I’m starving.” Felix hits me with a smile that transports me back to the past when things were far simpler. While his face is still stark against the dark sheets, he looks a million times better than he did last night when death was knocking on his door.
“How did you do it?” Felix croaks. “I know you’re a hero, but damn, this is next level. Even I knew I was dying. That’s how bad I was dying.”
“How do you know I had anything to do with your miraculous recovery?” Forcing my voice to a jovial tone, I say, “You have the best doc around.”
Felix’s face wilts. “He is, but you need to stop fucking around and be honest.” Honesty. This goddamn quality everyone wants that seems to complicate everything.
“Honestly,” I parrot, “I didn’t do anything. There is a woman.”
His smile returns. “No shit?”
I grin because I’m so relieved to see him resemble his former self. “Yeah, and she did something. Not quite sure what yet, but she was able to get what you needed. Not only that,” I say, shaking my head, “She was able to improve what you needed, but man, this is on the down low so low that it’s at the bottom of the ocean. You feel me?”
There are several silent moments of him staring at me. “How though? How? When they stolethataway from you?”
My stomach churns. “Still trying to sort throughthat,” I say quietly. “But maybe they didn’t steal it all after all, yeah?”
“I’m happy for you. I’m glad I’m alive and all, but this is twofold happiness. I always knew you’d make a great partner for a lucky woman.” Lucky isn’t the word I’d use. Cursed, sure.
Willow bounds into the room with a brightness I haven’t seen in her since I got here. She climbs the bed and curls up next to her dad. Felix strokes her curls with such a fondness I have to look away. She thought he’d never touch her like this again. Never get to hold her, or whisper that he loves her more than the stars in the sky. I leave the room when Willow begins to weep, the first sign of emotion I’ve seen from her. Before I exit Felix calls out, “Bottom of the ocean, bottom of the ocean.”
I nod and go upstairs to the small attic room where I’ve been staying. My phone rings from my pocket and I know it’s her. “Was it too late?” she whispers.
Choking back tears, I have to stay silent a moment. When I compose myself, I say, “No. Right on time.”
Presley breaks down crying. “I’m so sorry for what he did to your family.” I know who she means, but she doesn’t know exactly how much I know.
“Don’t apologize, Presley, but I need to know how you did what you did.”
“I called in a favor, that is all. It’s no big deal.” She breathes on the other end for several seconds and it calms me. Her breathing pattern actually calms me. I don’t know if it’s because it means her heartbeat is safe, or because it’s her, and my infatuation has reached a new level. “I miss you, Nate.” She sniffles. “Will you come home soon?”
Come home. Home. Home. For the first time in my life, I feel like I do have a home, and it’s wherever she is. “Yes. I’ll be on the next flight.”
“Good. I don’t feel safe without you here.”
My heart pounds again. “I miss you too.”
