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I pat my hand around the floor to find my phone that dropped. I can’t see, but I brush over it.
Dialing 9-1-1.
“Hey, Evan. You here?”
What? Noel?
I put her into the #1 auto-dial position and that’s what I’ve dialed.
“I…I can’t…” My tongue feels thick.
The line is quiet, and everything I say is ass-backwards. I’m going to die right here.
“What? Oh, my God, you’re just like the last guy!” She yells, and my brain slams and splinters against my skull. “You get what you—”
“Noel!” Her name is clear as day and she stops. “Ambu…lance…please. Help…me.”
“Evan! Oh my God, Evan!” Noel screams echo from the phone.
I fight to stay awake, but my eyes and willpower betray me.
Not at Christmas…
Noel
I pacethe gray linoleum floor in the waiting room. It’s been a few hours, and he made it to the hospital fast enough that they believe the blood clot has been successfully broken up by medication, but he’ll be here through Christmas for observation and maybe a couple days after.
Even with the good news, I can’t sit still until I see him myself.
I fidget and stare at the clock every two seconds. The nurse said I should be able to see him soon but soon isn’t soon enough.
The door opens, and Mari, Cali, Zetty, and Floryn walk through the door.
I hold my tears back and gape at them. “Why are you all here?”
Mari opens her arms and hugs me tight. “Because you mean everything to us.”
“But I’m just a temp employee,” I wail through words as reality just tumbles an avalanche down on me. I glance at each member ofDirty Hoes, and I’m only met with soft smiles and eyes.
“No, you’re not. You’re family,” Mari insists. “We’ve discussed it, and you fit with us, Noel. We’ve been looking for someone to do the front window and the displays. We sold all of the remaining poinsettias after the parade. That’s a huge thanks to you. We’d like you to be a part of our team. Permanently and full-time.”
My chin quivers as my eyes water up. “I’d love that.”
Mari and Cali both hug me.
“How’s your guy doing?” Zetty asks, rubbing my arm.
I wipe my face. “They say he’s okay, but they won’t let me go back. I’m told he’s awake and his slurred speech is better.” I hiccup a breath. “It was so scary. Everything in my world disintegrated when he said he needed help. I just felt him through the phone. And I feel so bad. I was yelling at him, imagining he was like other guys leaving me hanging at the parade. I hate that I did that to him when he needed me.”
“Hey, you didn’t know. You got him help when you did know what was going on. We all have to be nicer to ourselves as well as each other.” Cali gives me a side hug.
The door opens again, and Nolan carries two cups of coffee, then hands them to me. “Guess I’ll go get four more.”
We all look at each other and giggle. There was no questioning anyone. He just does. Nolan is, after all, the only guyDirty Hoe. He filled in for me when I was away, and he also hit it off with all my co-workers, but he’s starting at an IT firm next week.
But he’ll still be a dirty hoe to all of these ladies.
The girls sit with me when the nurse comes and gets me. I’ve never moved so fast as when I jetted myself out of the seat and into the hallway.
