Page 70 of Rock Me

But all he says, is “Jez.”

“Thanks for the warning, Dennis, but I think I’ve been at this for long enough to know when I’m being played.”

“I don’t mean that, I just mean, look, you’re vulnerable. I honestly think we’d all feel better if you maybe waited for a while after you left here, let things die down, and then you can get in touch with her again. There’s no reason you can’t.”

“Seriously, Dennis, I’m going to have to ask you to end this discussion right here. I’m not going to talk about this for another minute longer.”

He holds his hands up in surrender, “Fine. I… just looking out for you.”

“I know you are. I know. And I appreciate it. You’ve always looked out for us. And I know you’ve had to do things above and beyond since I got in the accident. I mean, taking care of everything so I don’t have to be bothered by it. I appreciate it.”

“I know you didn’t want to deal with it.”

“And I still don’t. You just do what needs to be done. I don’t care. I just care about me getting better and that what happened, doesn’t happen again to someone else. That person should not be behind the wheel ever again.”

“Got it. We good?”

I smile at him, to relieve the tension, even though it’s still knotting my stomach. “The best. Now get out of here. I need a nap. Before I return to the real world.”

Dennis pats me on the shoulder and gives me a long look before leaving.

I wait until I see him get on the elevator before I step out into the hallway. I have to see Noémie, she must be so confused. I don’t even really know what I’m going to tell her,

Being here, in the cocoon, we’ve gotten to know each other so well in ways that don’t include knowing each other’s life stories. But I can tell you how she feels about how soap operas change actors for the same role, or whether or not cheese should ever come out of a can, and what she wants to name her second born. I know how she eats everything with a spoon, because she likes to scoop and not stab her food. I know the things that matter.

And she knows the things that matter about me.

Me being famous and part of the Rock Chamber Boys should not matter.

But it does. And I guess it’s time she learned about it, and heard it from me. I owe her that.

I nod my head to Frank, the bodyguard at my door and he waves as I step towards Noémie’s room.

Just be honest with her. But she needs to know, I tell myself.

There’s a ding of the elevator and just as I’m about to take another step toward her room. A tall, good looking guy steps off it.

A guy who looks very familiar.

A guy I never wanted to see.

A guy coming to claim his girl.

The guy from the bar.

Noémie’s boyfriend.