9 - Dean
“There you go,” the nurse says as she smooths my shirt back down over my shoulder. “All done. Just stop by reception on your way out and you’re free to go!”
“Thanks,” I say absent-mindedly. Ever since Sam left the hospital, the day has dragged on endlessly.
The cast is bright white and heavy on my arm. They’ve given me a real sling, handing the old tea towel back to me. I glance at the rag and wonder if I should give it back to Sam or not. I stuff it in my pocket and head towards the hospital reception.
Before I get there, my phone starts vibrating in my pocket. My heart jumps and I wonder if Sam is calling me already. I pull out my phone from my pocket and duck over to an empty waiting room.
Of course she isn’t calling me.
“Mother,” I say as I answer the phone.
“Dean. How are you?”
“I’m fine,” I say as I glance down at my cast. “I’m ok.”
“Good. I thought about our conversation yesterday and I wanted to apologise.” Apologise? My mother is apologising?
“Ok…” I answer slowly.
“Are you free for dinner tonight? We’ve had the chef prepare a roast with all the trimmings. Your favourite.”
“Tonight? Can we do another night, during the week maybe?” I hate how whiney I sound. My mother always brings out the worst in me.
“No, honey, your father will be out of town. Do you have plans tonight?”
I consider lying, but finally sigh and tell her the truth. “No, no plans. What time do you want me to come over?”
“Come over around seven. See you then, darling.”
The phone clicks and I shake my head. I take a deep breath and start walking over towards the reception desk. When the phone rang in my pocket I thought I might have a date tonight. Instead I’m going to have to listen to my parents drone on and on and on. Maybe they'll tell me I ruined their political aspirations, or maybe they'll tell me they want grandkids. I can pretty much guarantee that whatever they want to tell me, I don't want to hear it.
I can’t help it that Victoria turned out to be an awful excuse for a human. By the sounds of it, Sam has gone through something similar.
I still remember the look on Victoria’s face when I walked into the bedroom. It was a mix of shock and guilt and then complete denial. How can you deny what’s happening when you’re completely naked with another man?!
The sliding glass door open and I’m hit with a wall of fresh air to cool me down. I take a deep breath and shake my head. I can’t keep dwelling on the past. I’ll just have to find a way to move on from Victoria, and I’ll have to convince my parents to do the same.
Even as I think it now, the sting of her betrayal doesn’t feel so harsh. My thoughts drift to Sam as I walk towards my car. She’s so sharp, she always has a witty answer for me. I love the way she laughs and the way her whole body flows whenever she moves.
It’s not until I get to my car that I remember I don’t have two working arms. If anything, the cast has made it worse. I sigh and pull out my phone.
“Jacob, what’s up,” I say as my best friend picks up the phone.
“Dean, bro! How have you been? I haven’t seen you in weeks!”
“We went out together two weekends ago,” I remind him as I shake my head. I lean back against my car and watch the traffic go by. Jacob laughs.
“Yeah, whatever. It feels like weeks. What’s up? We going out tonight?”
“I have dinner at my parent’s. Maybe after, I think I’m going to need a drink.” Jacob laughs and I continue. “Listen, buddy, can you do me a favour? I’m at the hospital, I broke my arm on a job this morning. Can I send an Uber to you and you can drive me back to my place?”
“No problem, man. I’m just at home so send it here.”
“Thanks.” I hang up the phone and tap on the screen a few times before heading back towards the hospital. I might as well wait in the air conditioning. I slump in the nearest chair and pull out my phone. I flick through the same social media apps that I’ve been flicking through since Sam left the hospital. Finally, I pull up my messages. I find Sam’s number and start typing.
Did you make it home ok?
The minutes tick by and I check my phone a few times before sighing and putting it down. I have that excitement in the pit of my stomach that a fourteen year old boy gets when he’s going on his first date. Finally, my phone buzzes and I pick it up. Sam’s name is on the screen with the words ‘photo message’. My heart starts thumping as I wonder what she could have sent me. My fingers are almost trembling as I unlock my phone and click the notification.
I frown when I see a picture of a yellow legal envelope next to a USPS mailbox. That’s not exactly what I was expecting. The three little dots under the photo tell me she’s typing an answer.
I’m officially a divorcee, I’m sending off the papers now. Feels like I should celebrate somehow.
I grin and start typing.
Did meeting me push you over the edge? I didn’t know I’d had that effect on you.
I press send and immediately see the three little dots appear. I love that she isn’t playing games and waiting to message me back. I laugh when her message appears.
??
I shake my head. Even over text message she can make me laugh.
Celebrate with me tonight. I’m having dinner at my parent’s house but I can meet you for a bit of champers after??
Sounds good xx text me later
I slip my phone in my pocket just as I see Jacob walking through the front doors. He opens his arms out wide and shakes his head.
“Who’s the punk who did this to you! I’ll beat him up!”
I laugh. “A two year old.”
“Where does he live, I’ll head there now. No one beats up my friends,” he says, puffing up his chest. I laugh and get up off the chair and clap him on the back.
“I can’t believe you’re still doing the clown thing,” he says as he shakes his head. “I thought for sure you’d get bored of that.”
“I wasn’t kidding when I said I wanted to give back. Working at my father’s investment firm isn’t exactly fulfilling.”
“Fulfilment is bullshit,” he says with a laugh. “Come on, let’s go. What time is dinner at your parent’s place? I was thinking we could check out that new club on 4th.”
“Actually, I don’t think I can go out with you. I may have a date tonight.”
“You’re blowing me off for a chick?!” He says as he stops walking and puts a hand to his heart. “I’m hurt, Dean. You’ve changed.”
I chuckle. “Sorry, man.”
“Who is she,” he grins. He glances back. “One of the nurses?”
I shake my head.
“One of the moms?!” He asks with his eyes wide.
I laugh. “No. One of the mom’s friends. She drove me to the hospital.”
“Dude!” Jacob says with an approving nod. “Well done!”
I laugh and shake my head. I want to tell him it’s not like that. I don’t want it to be a one night stand or a fling. I actually want to get to know this girl. I haven’t felt that way since before I got engaged to Victoria. I nod towards the exit.
“Come on,” I grin. “Let’s go.”
“Yeah you’ve got a busy night ahead,” he says as he elbows me right in the arm. Pain shoots through my side and I wince, grabbing the cast and doubling over.
“Shit, sorry Dean, I forgot,” he says as he puts a hand on my back. I just laugh and shake my head.
“Typical,” I say as I straighten up. I look at him with a grin as I shake my head. “Typical.”
Jacob shrugs and grins. “At least you’ll get some major sympathy points with this chick.”
“Let’s go,” I say. Jacob laughs and the two of us head out towards my car.