purse in her lap, wearing an odd expression on her face as she stared out the window.
“Everything good?” I asked, glancing over at her.
Nodding, she forced a smile. “Yup. Good to go. They’re at Boston Children’s Hospital.”
I suspected there was something she wasn’t telling me, but I didn’t push it. Knowing her, she’d probably used Colin’s toothbrush while she was in there, toeing the line of the stalker-like tendencies she’d always had with him. I had enough shit to deal with of my own, like moving on with my own life, than to worry about her unhealthy infatuation with a man she didn’t even know was gay. I just needed to get Monroe’s purse to her, make sure she was all right, and then get my ass home before I started thinking too hard about him again.
Traffic was light during the half-hour trek to the hospital, the music on the radio the only sound in the car as Effie and I both sat silently, lost in our own thoughts. After I left the car with the valet, we hurried up to the ICU floor and immediately found Monroe and Oliver pacing the floors of the waiting room as soon as we stepped off the elevator.
Like a switch went off inside my sister, Effie transformed into a completely different person in front of my eyes as she greeted them. “Oh, my God, Monroe, I’m so sorry!” she exclaimed overdramatically, while handing Monroe her purse. “I can’t believe this. Tell me what I can do to help!”
I ignored the strange behavior and stalked directly to Monroe, engulfing her in a giant hug as I kissed the top of her head. We may not have hung out together like we used to, but that didn’t make me love her any less. And seeing the pain and worry painted across her features made me want to fix whatever was wrong to make her better.
“Please, Roe girl, talk to us. How can we help?” I asked after I released her from my hold, my eyes pleading with hers.
“I, uh,” she sniveled and dried her tear-streaked cheeks with the back of her hand, “I haven’t called Colin yet. I threw my phone and it broke, and I just haven’t thought about it. Plus, he doesn’t need this today. I don’t want him to worry about anything but the game.”
My chest tightened. Her selflessness was inconceivable at times. Looking over at Oliver, I offered him a small appreciative smile for taking care of her up to this point.
“Your flight to Denver was scheduled for eleven-thirty, right?” Effie jumped in as she pulled her phone from her coat pocket and started typing on the screen. “Let me get that cancelled for you and then we can decide what to do about Colin. He’ll be just as worried if you don’t show, so I think you need to let him know something.”
Monroe nodded her agreement then dug her wallet out of her purse and held it up in the air. “Okay, I’m gonna go back there now and see what I can find out. Do you guys mind waiting here for a little bit? I’d rather wait to call him once I know more about her condition.”
The three of us all wished her luck as she disappeared back behind the large double doors, and then waited for her to return. Excusing herself to make some phone calls, Effie meandered over to the far corner of the waiting room, out of earshot from where Oliver and I were left standing.
“Wanna grab a coffee or something?” I tipped my head toward the hallway where I’d spotted a refreshments center with a coffeemaker and vending machines. “I didn’t get a chance to make any before Effie called, so I could use a little pick-me-up.”
“Yeah, I could use some too,” he replied, moving toward the doorway. “I’m sure we’re gonna be here a while today, so I’ll probably need as much help as I can get staying alert.”
Falling into step next to him, I simply nodded my understanding, but my brain was too busy processing the ease that he referred to him and Monroe as a “we.” I wasn’t sure if it was from the familiarity they’d developed from working side-by-side for
“Everything good?” I asked, glancing over at her.
Nodding, she forced a smile. “Yup. Good to go. They’re at Boston Children’s Hospital.”
I suspected there was something she wasn’t telling me, but I didn’t push it. Knowing her, she’d probably used Colin’s toothbrush while she was in there, toeing the line of the stalker-like tendencies she’d always had with him. I had enough shit to deal with of my own, like moving on with my own life, than to worry about her unhealthy infatuation with a man she didn’t even know was gay. I just needed to get Monroe’s purse to her, make sure she was all right, and then get my ass home before I started thinking too hard about him again.
Traffic was light during the half-hour trek to the hospital, the music on the radio the only sound in the car as Effie and I both sat silently, lost in our own thoughts. After I left the car with the valet, we hurried up to the ICU floor and immediately found Monroe and Oliver pacing the floors of the waiting room as soon as we stepped off the elevator.
Like a switch went off inside my sister, Effie transformed into a completely different person in front of my eyes as she greeted them. “Oh, my God, Monroe, I’m so sorry!” she exclaimed overdramatically, while handing Monroe her purse. “I can’t believe this. Tell me what I can do to help!”
I ignored the strange behavior and stalked directly to Monroe, engulfing her in a giant hug as I kissed the top of her head. We may not have hung out together like we used to, but that didn’t make me love her any less. And seeing the pain and worry painted across her features made me want to fix whatever was wrong to make her better.
“Please, Roe girl, talk to us. How can we help?” I asked after I released her from my hold, my eyes pleading with hers.
“I, uh,” she sniveled and dried her tear-streaked cheeks with the back of her hand, “I haven’t called Colin yet. I threw my phone and it broke, and I just haven’t thought about it. Plus, he doesn’t need this today. I don’t want him to worry about anything but the game.”
My chest tightened. Her selflessness was inconceivable at times. Looking over at Oliver, I offered him a small appreciative smile for taking care of her up to this point.
“Your flight to Denver was scheduled for eleven-thirty, right?” Effie jumped in as she pulled her phone from her coat pocket and started typing on the screen. “Let me get that cancelled for you and then we can decide what to do about Colin. He’ll be just as worried if you don’t show, so I think you need to let him know something.”
Monroe nodded her agreement then dug her wallet out of her purse and held it up in the air. “Okay, I’m gonna go back there now and see what I can find out. Do you guys mind waiting here for a little bit? I’d rather wait to call him once I know more about her condition.”
The three of us all wished her luck as she disappeared back behind the large double doors, and then waited for her to return. Excusing herself to make some phone calls, Effie meandered over to the far corner of the waiting room, out of earshot from where Oliver and I were left standing.
“Wanna grab a coffee or something?” I tipped my head toward the hallway where I’d spotted a refreshments center with a coffeemaker and vending machines. “I didn’t get a chance to make any before Effie called, so I could use a little pick-me-up.”
“Yeah, I could use some too,” he replied, moving toward the doorway. “I’m sure we’re gonna be here a while today, so I’ll probably need as much help as I can get staying alert.”
Falling into step next to him, I simply nodded my understanding, but my brain was too busy processing the ease that he referred to him and Monroe as a “we.” I wasn’t sure if it was from the familiarity they’d developed from working side-by-side for
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