“Thanks, Angela.”
With a final nod, she walked out the door.
I stared at Kiersten’s hair, watched as it wound itself around my fingers. Flecks of gold shone through the strands. I closed my eyes and lifted it to my lips feeling the silkiness against my skin.
“You being creepy and smelling my hair again,” Kiersten said in a groggy voice.
“Not creepy,” I argued.
“Very creepy,” Gabe said from the chair. “I watched the whole thing and I am sufficiently creeped out.”
“It’s romantic, damn it!” Lisa all but shouted.
“So what? You guys were all awake while the nurse gave me my drugs and decided to fake sleep?”
“Nurse?” Gabe looked around the room. “Where?”
“She was just here.” I pointed to my IV the liquid was still seeping into my body, stinging as it made its progress around my veins.
“Weird.” Lisa scratched her head. “I didn’t see anyone, then again—”
“—then again,” Gabe interrupted. “You slept through Avengers twice. We can’t really trust your judgment on being perceptive or knowing when things are exploding in front of your face.”
“Thanks, cousin.” Lisa threw her jacket at his face. “So…” She turned to me and Kiersten. “What are we going to do today?”
“I don’t know, Brain, what do you want to do?”
“Pinky! Today, we’re going to take over the world!” Kiersten shouted from my arms.
Gabe started laughing so hard I thought he was going to fall out of his chair.
I choked on my own laughter while Lisa just stared at all of us like we’d completely lost it.
“You know, from Pinky and The Brain?” Gabe swatted her. “Seriously what type of childhood did you have?”
“One without cartoons.” Lisa shrugged.
“Well, that settles it then.” I rubbed my hands together. “Pinky and The Brain Marathon!”
“How do we even get our hands on those episodes?” Kiersten pushed to a sitting position.
“YouTube.” I shrugged. “And just in case you forgot, my dad is Randy Michels. Nothing a few phone calls can’t take care of.”
Kiersten rolled her eyes. “Fine, but I’m going to go shower before we take over the world.”
“Me too.” Lisa jumped up.
“Me too?” I asked.
Kiersten swatted me. “No nakedness until after your surgery.”
“Ah, and here I thought you wanted to make me happy.” I pretended to be sad while Gabe gave me the thumbs up.
“Once a player…” Lisa said hopelessly into the air.
“See you in a bit, boys.” Kiersten grabbed Lisa’s hand as they walked out of the room, leaving me and Gabe alone.
“Why were we never friends?” I asked after a few minutes of silence.
Gabe laughed. “Well, for starters. I don’t do sports, and you always had an entourage of people following you, which I’m guessing now had more to do with the cancer than anything else.”
“Yup.” I crossed my arms. “One was my shrink, the other was a bodyguard from when I was a kid — both were concerned that if I was left to my own devices I’d forget to take meds or off myself like my brother did.”
“Why an RA?” Gabe asked.
“He died.” I licked my lips. “His damn RA said he’d been suspicious of Tye for a while. He said Tye never participated in any activities and was often locked up in his room. But he didn’t tell anyone — didn’t think it was any of his business. I kept thinking that if maybe I was an RA I could help save some freshman.” I laughed. “Didn’t expect to fall in love with one.”
Gabe joined in the laughter. “Love is never expected.”
“What about you?”
“Are we really having this discussion?” Gabe scratched the back of his head and looked out the window.
“I guess we are.”
“I don’t do love… I don’t do relationships, not anymore.”