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I nodded and smiled, embarrassed but pleased that they were there. The Chief jumped up to let them sit down. We talked for a few more minutes. They told me all about their new home, and Hannah even warmed up enough to ask about my leg. She was adorable, and by the time they left, I felt better about my situation.
It wasn’t only the medical bills, which had been wearing on my mind. It was everything. Knowing I did a good thing, that I saved a young girl’s life, was more than enough to make me grateful. I knew Chief was right, I couldn’t get back to work anytime soon, but at least my injury wasn’t wasted.
We partied into the evening, laughing and swapping war stories. By the time Chief was six beers in, he was telling everyone who would listen all about his own injury from ten years ago. He insisted he’d damn near broken his back in a six-story fall, but we all knew the building had only been two floors high.
We laughed, and I soon forget all about my injuries. My head was buzzing from the excitement and the powerful painkillers. I hadn’t felt this good in weeks.
CHAPTER EIGHT - TARA
Music and laughter were coming from Caleb’s apartment when I walked up to the front door. I frowned and raised my fist to knock. When I did, the door flew open, and I was face to face with a man I didn’t know. I looked around to see that Caleb’s apartment was full of men and women having a good time. A few wore firemen T-shirts, so I assumed they’d thrown Caleb a welcome home party.
“Wow,” the man in front of me said. “You’re hotter than your picture.”
“My picture?” I asked.
“Caleb!” the guy screamed, turning toward the couch. “The chick from your wallet is here!”
“What?” Caleb asked, frowning. He turned to face me as I stepped inside. The door swung shut behind me. “Oh. Hey!”
I squeezed through the crowd until I reached the couch. Caleb was sitting down with his leg propped up on the coffee table. His crutches were leaning against the wall beside him, and I was glad to see he looked sober. The painkillers Dr. McGee had him on were powerful.
“Hey,” I said, sinking onto the couch beside him. “Some party.”
“Yeah.” Caleb laughed. “They surprised me when I got home.”
“Good,” I said. “You deserve it.”
“I do?” Caleb asked, raising his eyebrows.
“After what you did,” I said. “Of course you do.”
“You heard about that?” Caleb asked, his cheeks blushing slightly.
“The whole hospital heard,” I said. “Your mom made sure of that.”
“God,” Caleb said, groaning and rubbing his face. “She needs to learn to shut the hell up sometimes.”
“Don’t be a dick,” I said. “She loves you.”
Caleb grinned and settled back against the couch cushions. Someone I didn’t know pressed a beer into my hand, and I nodded my gratitude, suddenly remembering the guy’s comment when I first arrived. Something about my picture?
“Hey,” I said. “What was that guy talking about before? When he said the girl from your wallet was here.”
“Oh,” Caleb said, reaching into his pocket without hesitation. He pulled out my senior picture and handed it to me. “I’ve had it forever.”
“Yeah,” I said, nodding. “I remember when I gave it to you. I can’t believe you kept this.”
Caleb shrugged and took it back. He tucked it inside his wallet. I stared at him while he put it back in his pocket. My mind was racing, but I didn’t know what to say. After ten years, Caleb still kept a picture of me in his wallet. What did that mean? Did it mean anything at all, or had he just forgotten to take it out?
“Hey there,” the guy from the front door said, sliding onto the couch beside me. “Need a drink?”
“I have one,” I said, raising my beer. “Thanks.”
“God, you really are hotter than your picture,” he said, licking his lips. “Wanna get out of here?”
“Fuck off, Tyler,” Caleb growled and leaned forward, glaring around me at Tyler.
“What?” Tyler asked.
