AllFreeNovel
Share Us
"Whoa. Holy shit! How is he?!"
"He's good!" She's still sobbing; I'm up and pacing the pale pink carpet.
"Suri, do you want to come here? Can you come here for like a day? An hour?" All I want is to be with her, but I know that I can't leave right now.
"No." I hear her cry some more, and then she pulls it together, although she's still speaking in her sobbing voice. "Cross is doing...really good. Nanette is stunned. The doctors are surprised. He's had his eyes open for a long time now, but he's not really responsive." She sniffs. "I just wish he would talk."
And then she's crying again—and so am I.
"They pulled him off some of the medicine yesterday. They think that might be why he's a little more alert. I think he's coming off some more today." Suri still sounds sniffly, and even though we're talking about Cross, I haven't forgotten what she told me about Adam.
"Holy cow, that's incredible. I want to see him so much. I just want to talk to him." My voice cracks a little and she says, "Why don't we call you? He and I? I'll give him my cell this afternoon and you can talk to him.”
"Would you really? I would love that. I'll quit whatever I'm doing—promise."
"Don't worry, Lizzy. I'll take care of him."
"But you..."
She sniffs again. "I'll tell you all about it, but not right now. You're missing breakfast, aren't you?"
"Don't hold back on me because of this. I want all the details."
"I'm not," she pauses, still sounding teary, "I'm just not sure I want to go into it quite yet."
I hesitate before asking my next question, because I don't want to press her if she doesn't want to talk—but I want to know: "Do you think it's something that will last?"
Her voice breaks. "I think so. Yeah."
"Oh, Suri, I'm so sorry."
"I know." She's crying softly again, and I would give anything to zap myself to where she is. "I wish I was there," I say.
"I know." She takes a deep breath and I can practically see her steadying herself. Wiping her eyes. "How are you, Lizzy? Are you doing okay? Cold feet, warm feet?"
"Same as the day before yesterday." Suri and I talk almost every day, so she knows what this means. "I'm nervous, but I can do this. It's for Cross."
"Lizzy, he's going to flip if he ever finds out. You do know that."
"Let him," I say. "He can hunt me down. I hope he does."
"He might. Remember if you back out, I'll come get you."
"I won't, but thank you for the offer." I thumb the tiny framed snapshot of Suri and I that's sitting on my night stand. "I'm going to be thinking of you all day, okay?"
"Okay."
"I want you to promise me you'll call if you want or need to. Pinkie promise?"
"Pinkie promise. Love you, Liz-Liz."
"You too, Sur-Sur."
I spend the next few minutes thinking about everything that Suri told me. Then I call and talk to Nanette about Cross. He's got his eyes open when I call, but still hasn't responded to anyone, which is disappointing, but I'm not complaining. In fact, I'm dancing as I get into my clothes: soft black slacks that make my butt look good, open-toe black heels, and a sea green blouse with wood buttons. I pull my dark hair into barrettes and let it hang down to my shoulders.
By the time I go downstairs, the kitchen is closed; a quick glance at my cell phone reveals that it's time for my exam. I slowly make my way to the medical clinic, where for the next two hours, my virginity is verified through an uncomfortable series of pokes and palpitations. By the time I get out of the stirrups I'm red in the face and feeling distinctly undignified. The moment I push through the door back out into the main hall, I'm greeted by the sound of kids' party bazookas and a single spray of silly-string, project across my face from a can in Loveless’s left hand.
Juniper catches my arm, and Marie V. grins. "It's time for your sex class!"
