“What was that all about?” I ask as soon as Adam hangs up the phone.
“Nothing you need to worry about,” he answers distractedly.
“Adam…tell me,” I insist.
“You’re going through so much right now, and I don’t want to burden you…”
“Hey…you know I’m here for you, like you’re here for me, right?”
“Yeah, but…”
“No buts…I wanna know what’s got you all upset. You were talking about getting kicked out of school. Adam, what’s going on?” I ask.
“The owner of the ambulance company is Chuck’s uncle, and well, Chuck’s not exactly my best friend. He’s had it in for me for a while, and he finally made his move. He told his uncle some shit about me that got me in trouble. So I’m suspended for a month without pay.”
“But what does that have to do with school?”
“I thought nothing, but apparently I was wrong. Chuck’s uncle is on the board of trustees at the school, and I guess the dean has to kiss his ass to make sure his students keep getting employed by Tri-County after graduation.”
“That totally sucks.”
“Tell me about it.”
“Isn’t there anything you can do?”
“I’m meeting with my advisor and the dean at one o’clock. Hopefully, it’s just a slap on the wrist and they’ll let me continue to attend classes at least.”
“But Adam, what did Chuck have on you?” I question. “I can’t imagine you breaking the rules on the job. What kind of lie did he come up with?”
“It wasn’t a lie.”
“It wasn’t?”
“I did break company policy. I’m guilty as charged, and I admitted as much to Chuck’s uncle.”
“What exactly did you do?”
“I swiped your home phone number from your grandmother’s chart.”
“You…you what?”
“Yeah, it went against patient confidentiality, but I…I couldn’t let you walk out of my life.”
“Oh, Adam…why?” I ask, tearing up. Kneeling on the bed, I take his head in my hands and press his forehead to mine. It is becoming a gesture of intimacy for us.
“But Katie, it was worth it. It was all worth it,” he whispers before his lips find mine.
I’ve never experienced such a surge of passion. I wanted him, body and soul. All the bullets we dodged. All the sacrifices we made. All the pain we endured. He’s right. It’s all worth it, if we get to be together. I cannot bear the thought of being separated from him again.
Our kissing escalates as Adam sits up and hastily removes his shirt. I whimper against his mouth, motioning my need to do the same. He helps me lift my sweater over my shoulders, and I feel a twinge of embarrassment as he unhooks my bra. He stares intently into my eyes as he runs his hands over my breasts. The sensation elicits an involuntary moan from me.
He is back on top of me, our bare skin pressed against each other. I know where this is going, but I’m not afraid. It feels natural. It feels right. I give in to this swell of emotion as it pulls me under.
My future is riding on this meeting with the dean. But I don’t care. I’ve never felt so alive, so free, so exhilarated. Being with Katie was even better than I imagined. I want to get this over with as soon as possible and return to her…
waiting in my bed.
Since it is the middle of the day, it’s nearly impossible to find a parking space on the street, so I end up in, of all places, the hospital’s parking garage. Maybe on the way back, I’ll see if Charlie and Tommy are around the loading dock. They might know how Chuck found out that I looked up Katie’s phone number.
I am hustling down the block, when I hear a car beeping behind me. I turn around and see Stacy hailing me down.
“Where’s the fire?” she yells out her car window.
“If only…” I joke.
“You can’t be on the job all the time, you know,” she laughs. “Are you doing all right after the suspension?”
“How do you know I got suspended?” I ask.
“Word travels fast around here, you know that. I heard about it in my morning class. But who cares about the gossip mill around here. I just wanna know if you’re okay. I was a nervous wreck when I heard.”
“I’m doing as well as can be expected, I guess. I’m headed to a meeting with at the dean’s office right now. They might be kicking me out of school, too.”
“You’re freaking kidding me.”
“I wish I was.”
“That little son of a bitch needs to be put in his place once and for all. He can’t hide behind his uncle forever.”
“He’ll likely try.”
“I’m so sorry he screwed you over, Adam. I really am.”
“Don’t worry about it, Stacy. There’s nothing you can do about it any way.”
“Well yes, there is. I was gonna give you these when I saw you in class, but if those assholes try and pull something over on you, I want you to take them now,” she says, handing me an enormous saran-wrapped plate of her chocolate chip cookies.
“Thanks, Stacy. I’m sure we’ll enjoy them.”
“We?”
“Yeah, me…and Katie…my new girlfriend,” I respond, feeling the heat fill my cheeks.
“Well, it’s about damn time. I always said you were too good-looking to be single for long,” she says as the car behind her blares its horn. “All right, all right. I’m moving. Jeez. Listen, Adam, take care and be sure to let me know what happens, okay?”
“Will do. See ya, Stacy.”
“Bye, baby.”
I watch her pull away in a cloud of exhaust. I think her car is even older than mine. But what am I going to do with this plate of cookies? Take them into the meeting? Maybe I’ll use them to butter them up before pleading my case. Chocolate always goes a long way toward winning people over. Maybe Stacy provided me with my secret weapon.
As long as I have people like Katie and Stacy on my side, I can’t lose, no matter what happens in this meeting.
Wow, it finally happened. I lost my virginity. I want to run around Adam’s apartment and scream at the top of my lungs.
I’m not going to lie, it felt a little weird and a little painful, but I made love for the first time with Adam, and it doesn’t get more perfect than that.
I can tell he is way more experienced than I am, but it looked like he was as transported as I was during the whole thing.
I wanted him to stay in bed with me and forget about that stupid meeting. If only I can save him from all the drama he has to face…all because of me. His entire life is collapsing around him, and I’m the cause of it. Yet he still loves me.
But I can’t stay in bed all day. I have to get up. I need to start figuring out a plan. Holding the sheet around me, I bend over and pick up my sweater off the floor and put it on. Hopping out of bed, I find my bag and rustle through it for my shampoo and a comb. I’m a little sore, but it’s nothing a hot shower won’t cure.
I amble over to the bathroom. It is tiny with barely enough room for a tub, a sink, and a toilet. Adam is going to kill me when I unload all of my girly beauty products on the counter. But a little shiver of delight runs through me as I arrange my things next to his. I need to pinch myself to believe this is really happening.
I’m moving in with Adam.
I tremble as I remove my sweater and step into the shower. Adam’s words replay in my mind. “Suspended without pay.” My heart begins to accelerate in fear. What are we going to do when the money runs out?
As I rinse the suds out of my hair, I realize I have to call Jennifer. I have to tell her where I am and what went down. She is the last remaining link to my old life. Maybe she’ll help me set a course for my new one.
I exit the shower and pat myself dry. Aww, Adam’s towel has California emblazoned on it. It must be one of his mementos from his lifeguarding days. I walk back into the bedroom and slip on a long-sleeved t-shirt and a pair of jeans before I dig my phone out of my purse. When I go to dial Jennifer, I notice there is a text on the screen. I click to find the following message, “Your service has been terminated.”
Dad.
He has already disconnected my cell phone. What other damage is he wreaking?
I don’t want to know.
So I guess calling Jennifer is out, at least until Adam gets back. But I notice a laptop on top of a pile of books in the living room. Maybe I can at least send her an email to let her know what’s going on.
I pull the computer onto the couch and turn it on. I double click the web browser icon and proceed to Google to log into my email account. As I’m doing so, an instant message appears on the screen.
It’s from a guy named Brian.
Hey dude, don’t freak out, but someone has to tell you since you’ll find out eventually. April got married over the weekend. Now don’t go getting all heartbroken and depressed on me. You knew this was coming. Maybe not this soon, but…
Who’s April? And why will Adam be upset that she got married? Is she his old girlfriend or something?
I suddenly feel sick. This isn’t the way I imagined finding out about his past.
A new message pops on the screen.
Bro, I know you like worshipped her, but answer me already.
I want to slam the laptop shut, but a part of me is also curious. Should I pretend I’m Adam and find out more about April? How much does she mean to him? He ‘worshipped’ her? Before I have a chance to think, I start typing.
Sorry Brian, this is Katie, Adam’s new girlfriend. I’ll be sure to give him the message. But I don’t think he’s going to be thinking about April today…or any day…from now on.
There, take that, asshole.
The screen remains unchanged for nearly a solid minute before I receive a reply.
Wow, wasn’t expecting that. Nice to meet you, Katie.
Likewise.
I type back.
Are you one of Adam’s lifeguard friends from California?
Hardly. I’m his brother.
Oh shit. Leave it to me to piss his brother off.
I don’t mean to come on so strong, but like any girl, no one wants to hear about her boyfriend’s ex.
Point taken and acknowledged.
I can tell that Brian doesn’t really like me. I must be coming off like a major bitch. I have to rectify this, pronto.
I hope we can meet face-to-face someday. Then I can prove to you that I don’t bite. I might snarl, but I don’t bite.
Ha, well I guess I’m a bit overprotective when it comes to my little brother. April really screwed him over. I hope you’ll treat him better than she did.
I plan on it, Brian.
Glad to hear it. He deserves someone who won’t bring unnecessary drama into his life. You know what I’m saying?
Why did I get the feeling that he knows more about me than I know about him? Does Adam talk to him about me?
Rest assured, I only want the best for Adam.
Well, I hope you can deliver.
Wow, did he just say that? Yikes, he really doesn’t like me, does he?
Nobody’s perfect, but I won’t let him down.
I gotta run, but tell Adam I said hi, okay?
Sure.
And without another word, he logs off.
Well that didn’t go very well, did it? Brian thinks I’m bad news for his brother. Why does he think that? He’s never even met me. He knows absolutely nothing about me. I’m a complete stranger to him. Aren’t I?
The meeting with the dean is over before it even begins. I’m told to sit down as I’m lectured about my inappropriate conduct and how it reflects badly on the school. But basically, I’m still allowed to attend classes and my situation will be reevaluated if I’m not reinstated at Tri-County after the one-month suspension. My future hinges on the decision made by Chuck’s uncle. And based on our prior conversation, it doesn’t sound too promising. But at least it bought me some time to try to straighten things out.
I walk back to the hospital and see two ambulances parked out front. If luck’s on my side, one will belong to Charlie and Tommy. I break into a sprint and peer through the windows. They’re empty, which means whoever’s on duty is already inside the ER.
I technically can’t go in there since I’m no longer an employee, but I have to chance it. Maybe nobody will notice.
“Hey, Adam. What are you doing here?”
I jump.
“Oh hi, Suzanne,” I mutter.
It’d have to be her…of all people.
“You know you’re not supposed to be back here, right?” she asks.
“I’m just looking for Charlie and Tommy,” I say, casually.
“I don’t care who you’re looking for. You’re not supposed to be back here. You’re not an employee anymore, remember?” she questions.
“How can I forget?” I retort.
“Kid, is that little lady busting your balls?”
I laugh right in Suzanne’s face. I can’t help it.
“Charlie, you are a sight for sore eyes,” I exclaim.
“You can’t talk to me like that,” Suzanne simpers.
“Honey, you gotta loosen up a little. You look like you’re gonna burst a blood vessel, and I don’t wanna have to give you CPR if I can help it,” Charlie jokes.
“Well of all the unprofessional…” Suzanne says under her breath, while walking away.
“Yeah, good riddance, sweetheart. Keep going,” Tommy pipes in.
“Tommy?” I ask, giving him a surprised look.
“She’s nothing but trouble, that one,” Tommy responds.
“What a shrewd judge of character you are, Tommy, my boy,” Charlie chuckles, patting Tommy on the back.
“You got that right,” Tommy agrees.
“I’m so glad I found you guys,” I remark.
“Well just so we don’t get anyone’s dander up. Let’s talk outside, kid. Where we can’t get reprimanded by any more know-it-alls,” Charlie says, motioning to the door.
“Good thinking,” Tommy replies.
“So any ideas on how Chuck found out?” I ask, right off the bat.
“I gotta admit it has us stumped,” Charlie laments.
“The only ones who knew about it were us three, right?” I continue.
“Absolutely, kid. You know we’d never rat you out,” Charlie concurs.
“Then who did?” Tommy asks.
“Did you guys ever talk about what I did when I wasn’t around? Did someone possibly overhear you?” I question.
“No. We’re stupid, but we’re not that stupid. Everyone knows the walls have ears around here. Especially with that little bastard looking over everybody’s shoulders,” Charlie replies.
“Then how in the world did he find out about it?” I press.
“Charlie, did you remember to turn the comm off after you radioed in that we had arrived at the hospital? Remember how that switch on the side kept getting jammed and the comm center overheard that whole diatribe about your indigestion not long after that? We wouldn’t even have known if we didn’t hear them laughing on the other end,” Tommy adds.
“Oh guys, you don’t think…?” I hesitate.
“It’s a possibility,” Charlie admits, rubbing his forehead. “Gee kid, if I’m the one who’s to blame…”
“But would Chuck have been monitoring the comm? I can’t see him being happy about that,” I ponder.
“He must have. I heard his uncle was pissed that he got into an accident driving one of the rigs,” Tommy says.
“Makes sense. A temporary demotion,” Charlie agrees.
“And if the switch wasn’t turned off, he heard every word you and Charlie said about snagging that girl’s phone number,” Tommy relates.
“Me and my big mouth,” I say, disgusted.
“My big mouth, since I was the one closest to the radio, kid. And I’m not exactly the quietest guy around,” Charlie replies.
“Regardless, he was eavesdropping and he should have alerted us to the fact that the radio was still on,” Tommy responds.
“You may have a leg to stand on with that argument, Adam. Chuck was breaking the rules by not following the proper procedure. You could turn the tables on him, if you need to,” Charlie advises.
“Well, I’m gonna need all the ammunition I can get on him,” I remark.
“And we’re gonna help you get it,” Tommy says with a smirk.