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She's tired. I wore her out.
I can't help but grin.
I press the phone into my ear. "Are you going to bed?"
"Mhmm."
"Stay on the line. I want to fall asleep with you, even if we're far away."
She takes a slow breath. "Give me five minutes to brush my teeth."
And we spend the next hour sharing, listening to each other breathe. I keep her up too long, talking about nothing. She almost falls asleep half a dozen times, but she catches herself and begs me to change the subject to something that will keep her awake.
But she can't last forever. Sometime after midnight she stops responding. Her long, slow breaths fill the room, and I almost feel like she's sleeping next to me.
Almost.
CHAPTER TEN
"My parents are out of town this weekend," Samantha says.
We're in her hospital room, playing another game of five hundred rummy. She's winning, as usual. Though in all honesty, I'm not paying much attention.
It's much more fun to replay last night's phone call with Alyssa.
"I was thinking of leaving Friday," I say.
"Oh." Dread spreads across her face. She sinks back into her chair and motions for me to play my card.
I do. She stares at it like it's everything she needs.
"Is that a problem?" I ask.
She shakes her head. "No, of course not." Her voice is weak, barely a whimper. "I was just thinking..." She stares at her cards like they're the most interesting things she's ever seen.
I fight a sigh. This would be much easier if Samantha would admit how much she needs someone.
I lean a little closer, ridding my voice of any hint of irritation. "What were you thinking?"
She slides her fingers over her cards. "It would be nice to have someone around."
Someone. As if any bum off the street would do. As if she's not going to desperately beg me not to leave.
An ache builds in my forehead. I want to get back to Alyssa, but I can't exactly leave Samantha if she's worried about being alone. Even if she's not willing to admit she needs my help.
"I can stay through Sunday," I say.
She looks up from her cards. Her eyes are bright. "Are you sure?"
I nod.
She sighs and her face floods with relief. She plays her hand--she's won this round--and she marks the points on a notepad.
She squeezes her pencil. "Do you think you can stay in the house?"
The air in here is so stale. The windows don't open and the air conditioning is utter shit. I clear my throat. "That's not the best idea."
"Oh." And all that relief drops off her face. Her voice falls back to that desperate whisper. "Is it because of Alyssa?"
