Page 38

Mindy

When people say something traumatic happened, then their life got weird, they don’t mean this.

But that doesn’t mean mine isn’t weird.

“He’s going to die?” Brie starts crying into her pistachio and cheesecake ice cream.

“Do you want me to turn it off? I’m sure Mindy won’t mind.” Pit stops rubbing her foot to reach for the remote.

“Of course, I wouldn’t mind.” The movie isn’t half as entertaining as the two of them. If she moves, he jumps up to fluff her pillow or get her a drink. Watching a man whose whole world revolves around the woman he loves is so adorable. And I used to think it was only Maverick and Dahlia who found true love.

These two couldn’t be more in love without sickening people.

Leonie walks into my bedroom/prison. “I’m off to work. Thanks for coming in to sit with her so I could head in early.”

Brie smiles. “Anytime. We’re having a blast.”

We kind of are, but I want to pout that my jailors won’t let me up. Just because the doctor told me to limit my time walking, so I don’t pull out my stitches, doesn’t mean I have to lie in bed forever.

“You be good.” Leonie gives me a fierce look.

“Don’t get shot.”

She shakes her head at me. “See you next week.”

Winnie comes in tomorrow.

There’s literally a color-coded schedule on the wall with times and dates when each of my friends will be coming and going, as well as people from Willow Street.

“You need anything from the kitchen?” Brie gets up.

“Nah, I’m good, thanks.” What I want doesn’t come out of the kitchen. It’s my life back to normal or semi-normal again. I don’t even want to think about what my bank account looks like. Or where I’m going to live when I recover enough that they evict me from the apartment of my dreams. From exposed brick walls to stunning old actual wood floors that shine like they’re brand new and are smooth enough to slide across to fireplaces in every room, this place couldn’t be more perfect if I told someone what I wanted. I couldn’t imagine a place this pretty.

Brie comes back from the bathroom with a bowl full of grapes and a glass of water. “You should drink.” She sets it down on the little tray table in front of my hospital bed, and we go back to watching the movie.

Life is weird.

***

The apartment door opens, and a smile spreads across my face. Maddox is back. He’s the only one who makes me feel somewhat normal.

He tugs off his tie.

Brie fell asleep about twenty minutes ago, and Pit is completely absorbed in the end of the movie since the world is about to blow up.

Maddox slips out of his shoes and tucks them into a hallway closet just as the explosions on the television reach a crescendo. He walks past my line of sight, probably heading to the kitchen. When he comes back into it, the credits are running on the television.

“That’s our cue to leave.” Pit stands up and picks up his sleeping wife. “She’d say goodnight, but she’s a little occupied growing our baby.”

“Thank her for taking care of me.”

“Will do. Have a nice night.” He heads towards the door. “Later, Maddox.”

“Night.” Maddox walks back into my line of sight.

Every night is the same in this one way. It’s just Maddox and me. No shifts. No people switching out.

“How are you feeling tonight, Beautiful?” Maddox moves to the end of the bed and squats down in front of me.

I know he just says that to remind me these bruises are temporary and I’ll go back to normal soon, but that word hits me hard every time he says it. “Feeling better, actually. I can’t wait to be able to get up and walk around.”

“Want some help up?” He sets the two beers in his hand down.

“Please.” Walking on my own two feet feels wonderful, no matter how much it hurts.

There’s no way of doing this that doesn’t hurt. My ribs and back see to that.

Maddox gently tips me onto my side.

There’s nothing I can do to help except try to hold my body rigid.

“Ready?”

I take a deep breath and hold it.

That’s his cue to lift me up and set me on my feet.

It happens almost too fast for me to process the pain.

“Take a second to get your breath.” He holds me steady by my shoulders. “Breathe through the pain.”

“I miss the good drugs.”

“Yeah, but you don’t want to become an addict.”

“Picky.” But he’s right. No one wants to lose more of their life because of pain meds. “It didn’t hurt as much as yesterday.”

“And it won’t hurt as much tomorrow. You’re healing up.”

Slowly. Way too slowly. “I think I’m ready.”

Maddox lets go. Then takes a half step back. “How are you doing? Any dizziness?”

“I’m good.” I match his half step. The stitches on my backside pull a little bit, but not too badly. The best news was when I was finally allowed to go to the bathroom. I feel a bit like a little old lady when I try to sit down, but it’s totally worth it.

“A walk or bathroom.”

We’ve done this too many times for me to blush anymore. “I’ll head to the bathroom first.”

"Enjoy your walk. What do you want for dinner tonight?”

“Surprise me.” Everything he picks tastes wonderful.

Maddox hovers for the first few steps. Then heads towards the kitchen.

This all could be a normal night for a normal couple. Except we’re not a couple, and I’m anything but normal.

We have this sort of truce set up since I’ve come back. Neither of us talks about work, mine or his. He doesn’t ask about what happened.

Nothing stressful, nothing heavy.

It’s like a fake, almost perfect world.

If only it were real.