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The air smelled strange. Something was bothering my nose, but I couldn’t place my finger on it. It smelled like one of those days when Flora Maria was keen on cleaning everything in the house with rubbing alcohol. She called it spring cleaning, but I called it an assault to my nose. I was sore, and my throat was dry like a summer day in the Sahara, and I wanted to get up, but my eyes were so heavy. It was a fight to open them, and when I did, a strong, cold light stabbed me. A hospital light.
The first face I saw was Gino’s. He was looking straight at me, and when he noticed I was staring back, he rushed to my side.
“God, you’re awake.” He placed the most gentle kiss on my forehead and held his lips there longer than usual.
Wait? Weren’t we fighting?
“Gino, what happened? Why are we here? The last thing I remember is you yelling at me. We were fighting about Hugo and then…”
“Shhh! Everything is alright, Cat. I…I’ll let the doctors explain.”
What was there to explain? I wanted to go home. I wanted to go to Hugo. My Monster.
I missed him so much, it made me dizzy.
“Gino, we still need to talk.”
“We’ll talk later, but I think you’ll find that everything has been resolved.”
Ugh, I hated when he talked like that. I needed to know what the hell was he saying.
“What does ‘resolved’ mean? You can’t stop me from seeing Hugo.”
“Can we talk about this after the doctor comes in to see you?”
“No!” I hit the bed with my fists. “We will talk about it now. There are things you don’t know, Gino. I need Hugo here with me. I…”
“Damn it, Catherinelle, can’t you wait a damn second? I swear to God, you can be the biggest pain in my…”
He was cut short when the door swung open, and Muse walked in with her arm around Hugo’s waist. My jaw fell open when I saw him standing there. And what was with all the cuddling with Muse? This was the closest I’d ever seen them before. Was Gino ok with all that? How long had I been unconscious?
Muse must have seen the overwhelming confusion on my face because she came straight to me, looking worried.
“Cat, you’re awake. Gino, what are you doing to her?”
“I wasn’t doing anything.”
“You were screaming.”
“I wasn’t screaming, baby. It was a discussion.”
She didn’t care much for his explanation but instead refocused on me.
“How are you feeling, sweetheart? Do you want me to get your mother?”
“I’m fine. I’m a little groggy, but I’m good. Mom is still here?”
“She went downstairs with Ignazio to eat something, but I can go fetch her. Can I get you anything? Water?”
“I’m good.” I was grateful to have her close, but I was more interested in my Monster.
He came behind Muse and put his hand on her shoulder, silently asking her to make space for him. She squeezed my hand one more time before letting go and going to sit next to Gino. His hand clutched my shoulder almost like he was trying to make sure I was really there looking at him. His gaze was charged with so much fear and love, I didn’t know how to get to him fast enough. I pushed myself up on my knees and hugged him.
“Hey, baby. I’m alright, I promise.”
“Cat, you shouldn’t get up.”
I rolled my eyes.
