❝Sadist,❞ I accused. ❝You only brought me to New York so you could torture me.❞
❝Masochist.❞ Grinning, he pressed his forehead to mine. ❝You stay because you like it.❞ His charming green eyes promised me more. ❝Enjoy it; I want you to. When your m...
It had been a while since I made a hospital visit that wasn't for me. There was no doctor at my bedside writing scripts, crushing hopes and dreams with warnings, but it still smelled like death and antiseptic.
Santana appeared, glamorous as red bottoms, worn like faded jeans, armed with our second refills from the coffee machine.
"Thanks, Santi." I held my cup between my palms, savoring the warmth as she took the seat beside me.
"I wouldn't blame you for leaving, Ali. You don't have to stay."
"Why are you?"
She gave a one-armed shrug her gaze repeated. "I don't like Peyton--in fact, I think I kind of hate her; that doesn't mean I want her to die. Enemies need friends too, I guess."
"Yeah. I guess..." Erin flashed in my mind's eye - on the run, alone. I was devoured by guilt. I publicly blamed her for pushing me. What else am I wrong about?
Everything.
Tyler entered the waiting room with A'keem. Neither liked happy to be there.
I hugged them both. "Peyton's stable. I'm just waiting for someone she knows to call the hospital and take it from here. I really think she should be with family."
"Peyton doesn't have family." Tyler shoved his hands in his pockets, broad shoulders sitting square beneath his jacket. "She had me. Not anymore."
"And I totally get it--but can you at least sign the release form so she can be admitted to a treatment facility? It's not just the doctors, Peyton's asking for help."
"Why me?"
My lips twisted. I felt bad for her; even after all the terrible things Peyton had done, I couldn't imagine just leaving her to suffer. Not after showing what she was willing to do to escape the pain. There were days my anxiety made me want to jump too.
"You're her emergency contact. I know it's a lot to ask, but she's been through so much, Tyler. She tried to kill herself--"
"Alright, Ali, alright. I'm gonna do this one last thing--for you." He walked backwards, hands laced, thumbs and pointer fingers aimed like a gun. "Then I'm done with her." Tyler turned on sauntered off and I knew he meant it.
"Santi--can we talk?" A'keem pulled his ex aside; I hovered out of ear shot, sipping my coffee, wishing I was allowed to drink something stronger.
When Santana returned, A'keem was nowhere in sight.
"¡Dios mío!" Santana smacked me on the shoulder. "Why didn't you tell us you need a kidney!"
"What? Santi, I--how did you even know?"
"A'keem just told me!" Santana stared me down, hands on her hips... and softened. Her arms dropped in defeat. "You're my bitch, bitch. I would give you a kidney; you don't even have to ask. But I'm a match for Nova. If anything were to happen to her..."
"I understand. Trust me, if I had a kid I'd do the exact same thing. Where's A'keem?"
"Doing what I wish I could. He's getting tested."
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