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Then maybe not so strange. This is the day the clergy probably do their visits to parishioners who are hospitalized. Plus family members who don’t live in town come to visit.
I finally find a spot and walk into the hospital. I didn’t bother changing. I’m wearing leggings and an oversized sweatshirt. My hair is up in a messy ponytail, and the only makeup I have on is some pink-tinted lip gloss.
Falcon has only ever seen me in my work clothes or out with the girls, with my hair styled and my face fully made up.
But I don’t care.
I want to see him, and I know exactly where he’ll be.
I head to the sixth floor, exit the elevator, and walk to Raven Bellamy’s room.
Her name is still on the name plate, but the door is closed, which is odd. It’s always been cracked open.
I knock, but no answer.
So I open the door.
It’s dark…and the bed is empty.
My heart drops to my stomach.
No.
Please, no!
She was doing well.
So well!
This can’t be happening. My God, it will kill Falcon. Big strong Falcon, who gave his bone marrow to save his sister, only to have her…
I can’t bear it.
I race back to the elevator, leave the hospital and drive home. Once there, I grab my laptop and fire it up, logging into my work computer.
I shouldn’t.
I just shouldn’t.
But Falcon…
He needs me.
So I do something I know I shouldn’t do. I find his phone number in his file, and I call him.
I fucking call him.
“Yeah?” he says when he answers.
“Falcon?”
“Yeah, this is—
“Fuck, Vannah?”
“Yeah, it’s me. Falcon, I’m so sorry. Do you need anything?”
“I need you,” he says gruffly.
I clear my throat, trying to budge the sobs that want to spew forth. “I mean…Raven.”
“What about her?”
“I’m so sorry. I was at the hospital. She’s…”
“Home,” he says. “She’s at our parents’ place. She was doing so well they discharged her for a few days. Said it’d be good for her.”
A lead weight falls from my shoulders. “Oh, God. Thank God.”
“Did you think…?”
“Yes,” I gulp out. “I went… I went to see Ashley.” Such a fucking lie. “And I thought I’d check on your sister. Her room was dark, but her name was still on the plate. I just… I just…” I sniff back a sob.
“She’s fine, Vannah.” He pauses. “As fine as we know for now. But all the docs are optimistic. Optimistic enough that they’re letting her have some time at home. If that doesn’t work out, she’ll go back to the hospital.”
I don’t know what else to say. I’m so relieved.
“How’s your friend?” he asks.
“Who?”
“Your friend. Who you went to see.”
I didn’t go anywhere near Ashley’s room. She doesn’t want me there anyway. Of course I lied to Falcon about my reason for being at the hospital because…
Because why?
“She’s the same,” I say, “but Falcon, I…didn’t actually go to see her. I lied to you. I went to see you.”
Silence for a moment. “I thought you said it was over.”
“And you said it wasn’t.”
Silence again. Then, “I changed my mind, Savannah. I… It’s over. Done. I don’t want to hear from you again.”
“But…I’m your parole officer.”
“Not anymore. I’m going in tomorrow morning and getting reassigned.”
“But…”
“It’s over, Savannah. Don’t call me again.”
“Falcon—”
The call clicks as it ends.
My phone falls from my grasp and thuds onto my coffee table, landing on my latest copy of Cosmo, which, ironically, features an article entitled “Prioritizing Your Career.”
Nothing like a message from the universe.
It’s best this way.
It’s what I was planning anyway.
So why does my heart feel like it has just cracked in two?
He was so cold on the phone. So achingly blunt.
Why did he change his mind?
I wish Gert were still here. I didn’t want to talk about this in front of Jordan. Some things you only tell your bestie of besties, and that’s Gert.
But she’s on the road, probably three-quarters of the way home by now. She and Jordan will stop for a drink or a burger, so I won’t get her alone for another hour or two.
I plop down on my couch and stare at my blank television screen.
I could binge some Netflix.
I could order a huge-ass blizzard from Dairy Queen and have it delivered.
Or I could just go to bed.
Go to bed and forget all about Falcon Bellamy.
I rise with the sun Monday morning, determined to make it into my office before it opens to the public. I don’t want to risk running into Falcon when he arrives to get reassigned.
I don’t have to wait long. By nine a.m., Bridget knocks on my cubicle.
“Savannah?”
“Yeah? Come in,” I say.
“I just got off the phone with Falcon Bellamy.”
A phone call. Of course. Why was I thinking he would come to the office to get reassigned? He wouldn’t want to risk running into me, after all.
I’m just some woman he fucked a few times, and now he’s done.
