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"It’s a long story. But everything’s fine, I swear.”
"Well, where are you? Rick said you didn't show up and I came here to find this," she says, her voice laced with concern. In the background, I can hear Greg trying to calm her down.
"I just needed some time alone. I'll be home later," I assure her, trying to sound more composed than I feel.
"Okay…" She doesn't sound sure at all and my heart sputters. Meeting Tommy's eyes, I see his expression matches my own. We're both feeling guilty over today now. Great.
Trying to put a little more pep in my voice, I say, "Seriously, it's okay. I'll explain when I see you."
Greg's begging her to relax and she snaps at him to shut up. "Tilly, I'm worried about you. Lately, you've been distant, and now all this."
Guess I wasn't hiding my loneliness as well as I thought. "I really don't know how else to tell you I'm fine. Go. Let your baby daddy run you a bath. As soon as I'm home, we're kicking him out and I'll spill."
"Fine," she clips. "But I want to know everything.”
"You will," I promise. Still, it takes another five times of me repeating that I’m fine before we say our goodbyes.
Tommy has been watching me, a question in his eyes. "Why didn’t you tell her you were with me?"
"She was already freaking out. Telling her you were hurt would only make things worse. She's too pregnant for this kind of stress.” But that’s only half the truth. Really, I want to avoid mentioning Tommy because I’m afraid it will ruin whatever’s going on. If I keep it a secret, maybe the moment between us will last just a bit longer. Besides, I have no idea what’s going on, but it's definitely something.
For a moment, he scrutinizes me with narrowed eyes. "Alright, I guess.” I let out a breath at his words. At least I'm not fighting with him. “Now, go find me some pants so we can get out of here."
“I’m not your mother!” I yell out, a little too loudly. But there's so much going on in my mind, that it has to find an outlet somewhere. A few nurses look our way.
“Of course not, but if I walk around looking for clothes, I’ll leave a trail of fainted nurses in my wake.”
I want to give him an ego check but he’s not wrong. Even in the gown he changed into, he’ll turn heads. He’s a very fit, very attractive man. Before I can stop myself, my eyes drift down to his lap. “Earth to the pervert,” he says waving a hand in front of my face. Warmth flushes up my neck and he laughs. “See? That’s exactly what I’m trying to avoid.” He’s laughing at me, but there’s a smile on my face.
“Whatever, Sharkbait, I’ll find you some clothes, but I want tacos on the ride home.”
Standing up, I step into the hall and pause at the nurses' station. “Excuse me?” I ask one of them. The two women are whispering and pointing towards Tommy’s bed.
“Did you just say he was attacked by a shark?” the taller redhead asks.
A shark? It takes a moment for the words to register, they’re so unexpected. “Uh, no. I was just wondering if you could point me in the direction of some clothes for him?”
The smaller curvy nurse nods and rushes away but the redhead is still looking at me. “Is there a problem?” I ask, nearly touching my face to see if there’s something stuck to it.
She scoffs. “No. Just don’t appreciate your boyfriend staring at my ass before you got here.”
That hits me square in the chest, like a gut check to what’s really going on between me and Tommy. Nothing, that’s what. He’s just a flirt with everyone and I find myself nervously laughing at the realization. “Oh, no. Um, he’s just a friend.”
She rolls her eyes. “Whatever you say, lady.” She hands over some papers before flouncing away.
Taking a deep breath as she leaves, I whisper aloud, "Just a friend. He can stare at any ass he wants to.” It’s a futile attempt to quell the tumult of emotions inside me. As I do, I catch sight of the nurse's retreating form. A wide smile spreads across my face as I realize why Tommy was staring at her butt. There on the left cheek is a smear of something yellow. Is that mustard? I grab the papers and go back into Tommy’s room, still laughing as I do.
Chapter six
Tommy
After retrieving the rental from San Onofre's parking lot and enduring the hour-long drive, I find myself ensconced in Tilly's living room, propped up by pillows on her couch, which is adorned with duct tape here and there. Tilly flits about, ensuring my comfort, her attentiveness unwavering though she remains silent about the state of her furniture. I don't press; it's not my style. When she’s ready, she’ll tell me. People don’t give me enough credit; I might be a goofball, but I’m a patient goofball.
There's a faint lightheadedness lingering from the day's events, amplified perhaps by the sight of her fussing over me, her worried glances, and the instances I've managed to draw out her blushes.
It's become a game for me, seeing how quickly I can get her cheeks rosy. The first time was after she bought us tacos on the way home. I told her they were delicious and bam, her face turned bright red. Then when she told me we were going back to her place, I told her I always wondered where she ended up and again, her face lit up like a tomato.
It feels almost surreal, like stepping into a fantasy. And yes, the throbbing in my forehead probably adds a layer to that sensation.
