Page 45 of Hearts to Mend

The nurse and technician have me perform a few more tasks, like coughing and holding my breath, while they do additional tests, but I’ve seen what I need to see. I know the cause of all my troubles.

My heart is broken.

CHAPTER 19

DEE

* * *

“Okay. Question,” Rico starts as the doctor finishes explaining his heart condition and outlining next steps. He squeezes my hand, which he’s been holding since they finished the echocardiogram. Once they’d removed his IV, Rico sat up, wiped the lube off his chest so he could slip his shirt back on, and took my hand. He hasn’t let me go since. And I haven’t minded. Clearing his throat, he asks his question: “Can we have sex again?”

I choke, cough. Subtle, Dee. Not awkward at all.

But what the fuck, Rico? Your heart doctor does not need to know our business. Then again, when you consider it was our business that caused his stroke, it’s a valid question.

Rico’s cardiologist, Dr. Thomas, looks between us and answers professionally. “Yes. You’re on so many blood thinners, you won’t have another clot like the one that caused the stroke. I encourage exercise. It’s good for your heart.”

* * *

“You heard the man—it’s good for my heart.” Rico winks at me when we get outside, walking toward my car at the back of the lot.

“Seriously, Rico?” I can finally laugh out loud, which I do, freely. “In your dreams, Stroke Boy.”

“Stroke Boy, I like that.” He bites his bottom lip as he starts gyrating his hips and pantomiming like he’s fucking an invisible woman from behind. “You like that, baby? You like what Stroke Boy’s got for you?”

“Stop it! You’re embarrassing yourself.” I pop the locks on the car and go to the passenger side to make sure Rico doesn’t need any help getting in. Despite his big talk, Rico moves a little slower than before the stroke, a little less steady on his feet. Leaning on the door frame, I add, “I don’t do gentle, Rico. With all those blood thinners you’re on, if I fuck you, you’ll be bruised for days.”

“God, that’s hot. Say more.” Rico winks at me again.

I slam his door shut and move around, sliding into the driver’s seat as I say, “Bruise, contusion, welt, swelling—”

“Mmm, swelling—”

“Lesion, lump—”

“You heard the doctor. He encourages exercise.”

I roll my eyes at him as I start the car and drive us back to Inez’s house. Rico laughs, and it’s such a great sound. I like this side of him. Since the stroke, it’s like he’s shed some of the burden he’d carried for so long. Maybe it’s a side effect of a major medical crisis, but he seems to be prioritizing the important things in his life, and obviously sex is high on the list.

“It’s church night.” He’s still negotiating. “The house will be empty. I could make you dinner.”

“You’re still recovering from the last time you made me dinner. “

“I never even got to feed you then. I owe you a meal.”

It’s tempting. Very tempting.

I turn onto Lazy River Road and check out all the activity over at Drew and Chloe’s construction site. Looks like they’re installing windows today. I slow to turn into Inez’s drive and stop, staring at the driveway in bewilderment.

It’s packed. Instead of just Inez and Rico’s cars resting in front of the house, there are four vehicles cluttering up the space. There’s barely enough room for me to tuck my Charger in and keep her ass out of the road.

“What’s going on?” I look over to Rico, who’s smiling wide.

“My brothers,” he says, and as soon as I’ve stopped the car, he fumbles with the door latch to get out. At the top of the drive, his two big brothers come bursting out the front door and jog over for a reunion.

I stay back, locking up the car as a Rodriguez family reunion happens a few feet away. Rico is much younger than his brothers—his mom calling him a sorpresa placentera, or pleasant surprise—so they’ve always babied him. They would take him everywhere they went, like he was their mascot. And when I came along, so was I.

I haven’t seen Manny Junior or Javi in years. They’re such men now, with gray at their temples and laugh lines bracketing their smiles.

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