SCOUT
My eyes were heavy,but eventually, I blinked them open. The meds they’d been feeding through my IV for the last few days made me so groggy.
“Desi?” I croaked. A loud sniffle came from a dark corner of the room. I turned my attention to it, only to find Desi sitting in a chair, wiping his cheeks.
“Hey, babe.” He stood and shoved his hands into his leather jacket. “How do you feel?”
I tried to sit up, but I only had one free arm and my body felt so heavy. Desi moved quickly, coming to help.
“Don’t push yourself. You had some damage done to you.”
“I know.” I sighed. “What exactly happened?”
“A reckless driver.”
“What about your car?”
“That’s gone. We’ll go get me another one when you get your license. We can pick out his and hers.” He reached for my hand that had the IV attached to it and squeezed gently. His and hers? My belly fluttered. I swallowed, and I realized my throat was ridiculously dry.
“Water?” Desi quickly moved to my side table, picking up a Styrofoam cup and bringing it to my mouth. I took the straw and drained it. Desi chuckled.
“You want me to get you another cup? How about food? Are you hungry?”
“Just water, please.”
He nodded and left the room, returning a moment later with a nurse, who asked the same questions he did.
“I think you may be well enough to go home today. The doctor has to do one last check.”
I started to sigh in relief but flinched as something sharp poked my ribs. The nurse nodded. “You’re going to be sore. You cracked some bones in your rib cage.”
I felt like she’d already told me this, and yet, it still felt like new information at the same time. She patted my leg and told me a doctor would come and confirm in a bit whether I could go home or not. Once we were alone again, I turned to Desi. He had returned to his dark corner.
“How are you feeling?”
“Fine. How do you feel about going home?”
I took a deep breath and smiled. “Good. I need to get back to work ASAP. I’m sure they think I quit.” It was a decent job. I couldn’t lose it.
“Fuck that place.” His smile suddenly slid off his face and turned into a snarl. “You almost died and you’re worried about your job?”
“Yes. I have bills to pay. I don’t even know how I’m going to pay for this!” I threw my free arm up and gasped at the pain. My head fell back onto my pillow in exhaustion. Desi reached out and stroked my bruised cheek.
“Scout.” He sighed. “I love you so much. I thought…”
“That I died?” I smirked and closed my eyes.
“Yeah. Look, I can call your work for you. I’ll ask if they can give you a break until you’re better, and still keep your job.”
“But what about my bills?”
“Scout.” His tone became agitated. “Stop worrying. I’ll cover it all. Stay here as long as you need. I’ll have them send me the bill.”
“I have more bills than just this.”
“Don’t. Worry. About. It.” Desi’s words were final. I relaxed and fell asleep again, only to wake when the doctor came by to release me, with the warning to take it easy and not to work for at least a month while my arm and ribs healed.
I opened my mouth to protest, but Desi shot me the dirtiest look, and I closed it. Whether I liked it or not, I was taking a break from work. As I was being wheeled out of the hospital, I wondered how we were getting home. Right then, one of Desi’s friends pulled right up to the doors and helped me inside his car.
