Chapter 36
For the last seven days, Cheryl and Eddie walked the corridors of Miami General. They were on a first name basis with the nurses, security guards, and even the cafeteria staff. The Miami Herald made Jonny their most popular patient. The doctor finally released him, and tomorrow they would be on a plane to New York.
Eddie surprised her by not stopping at the nurse’s station to do his usual flirting, but Cheryl chalked it up to the pressures of returning to New York. Jonny and Eddie had business to deal with, but she never questioned Jonny’s loyalty to her. Most of her life she’d ached for the simplest emotions from people, emotions most people took for granted. But he filled a void and wrapped her in the security of his love, and although it didn’t come easy, she trusted him to put her first.
She stood by his bedside as he sipped the Starbucks coffee that became their daily routine. A few feet away Eddie stared out the window, apparently intrigued by the view of the parking lot.
“I have something for you.” Jonny studied her for a moment, then set the coffee aside. He opened the metal drawer of the hospital night table, extracted an envelope, and handed it to her.
She ripped it open, pulled out the printed e-ticket, and glanced at the dates. “Weren’t we leaving tomorrow?”
“I am.” He shifted his gaze to the bedsheets for what felt like an eternity. “But I want you to leave today.”
“Why?” She moved closer to the bed.
“So you can get settled in Brooklyn Heights.” He drew his lips to a firm line.
“Brooklyn Heights?”
Her heart thumped hard against her ribs, and the blood pounding in her ears made it impossible to concentrate.
“Luxury building. Big enough for you and your brother. Great view of Manhattan.”
She looked to Eddie, but he continued to stare out the window. Had she fallen into some kind of bizarre vortex and spit into another universe?
“What are you talking about?”
“I also started a bank account in your name. There’s enough there for the first six months.” He focused on his hands. “After, if you need more . . .”
“I don’t understand.” She grabbed the bedrail for support. “You said you wanted me to move in with you.”
“Not anymore.”
His voice sounded so matter-of-fact like he was reciting his phone number or reading the daily receipts from the club.
“Please tell me what’s going on.” Her hands trembled against the cold metal bars. “You’re scaring me.”
Again, he diverted his attention to the bed covers. “It’s too dangerous for you to be with me.”
“I don’t care about that,” she said stubbornly.
“But I do.” He swore under his breath.
“Please think about what you’re saying,” she pleaded.
“All I do is think.” He slammed his hand against the bedrail, and she jumped.
“Did you know about this?” Her gaze darted to Eddie, demanding a response. His blank stare and stiff nod sent a cold chill up her spine.
“Ahhh, of course, you did.” She blinked a few times and struggled to make sense of this nightmare and her own raging fears. “So you've discussed this with everybody but me.”
“It has to be this way.”
“Right, because the hell with what I want.” Her voice quivered with heartbreak. “Or what I need.”
“Don't you get it?” Jonny shouted. “Max could’ve shot you, too.”
At last some emotion. An indication he hadn’t been drugged or gone crazy.
“This is your answer? Hand me a plane ticket, tell me you’re throwing me out of your life, and I’m supposed to roll over and take it?”
“I’m not throwing you out.” The vacant expression returned. “You’re gonna have a brand-new place and plenty of money.”
She stared at him, astonished he thought this would placate her. Did he have any idea of the depth of her love? How leaving him would demolish her and strip her bare?
“But I only want you.” Her voice broke on that truth.
Humiliating silence followed, and when he refused to look at her, she lashed out.
“I don’t want your condo, and I don’t need your money.” She struggled to scrape up her last ounce of pride. “I’ve taken care of myself in the past, and I’ll do it again.”
“Don’t be stupid, Cheryl.” His voice was rough and unyielding. “Take what I’m giving you.”
Then the truth hit her square between the eyes. Jonny Vallone didn't give up when he wanted something. He'd told her pretty lies in his bed when it was convenient, ‘cause it got him off, but when it became too difficult, he bailed.
“You’re right. I am stupid. Stupid to think you were different. Stupid to think we had a future.” She staggered backward, needing distance from him. “I guess all that shit about loving me was the usual thing you say to a woman after screwing her brains out?”
“Don’t make this any harder than it has to be.”
It couldn't get any harder. The hope of someone truly loving her disintegrated and broke apart. The misery of having a glimpse of happiness only to have it snatched away.
“Don’t worry, Jonny.” Her voice sounded flat to her ears. “I’ll make it real easy for you.” She held up the plane ticket. “I’ll take this and go to New York, but you can keep your condo and your money. Give it to the next girl who wanders into the minefield you call a life.”
Seconds before the tears blurred her vision, Jonny jerked his chin toward Eddie.
“He doesn't need to follow me.” She backed her way toward the door. “I'm not your problem anymore.”
“Go with her.” Jonny's voice sounded distant and detached.
“Hypocrite.” She stopped and fixed him with a deadly glare. “Acting like you care.”
“I'll always care,” he mumbled it so low she wouldn't have heard it if her every nerve wasn't tingling like a high voltage wire laying in a puddle of muddy water.
She bolted for the door and stumbled down the wide, white corridors in a daze. Her whole world had shriveled up and crashed against her brain.