Tyler walks in with paper coffee cups in his hands.Surprise crosses his features, his shoulders dropping as if a great weight has been released.
He comes around the bed and sets the cups on the table beside it.Without a word, he bends over and hugs me, his arm shaking where it rests along my neck.
He pulls away and draws in a breath through his nose.“What’s up, Calzone?Glad you’re feeling better.”
Jaeger returns a second later, followed by a police officer.“Someone notified the police.”His voice is stiff, angry.“The police went to your work and traced you to the hospital.”
Went to my work?For what?I smile wearily at the officer, and Jaeger looks ready to rip the guy’s head off.
The officer asks me some questions, and I tell him everything I know, which is essentially not helpful.No, I didn’t take Percocet.I don’t do drugs, nor do I keep a stash in my purse—apparently, the paramedics who arrived at the scene found ecstasy and Percocet in a side pocket of my purse when they searched for allergy records and prescriptions.No, I tell him, I don’t know why anyone, including Leo and his roommate Brad, would give me drugs without my knowledge.
The officer leaves, saying he’ll make inquiries, but his tone is flat, as if he thinks it’s a waste of time.
He doesn’t believe me.
I’m still processing this and what it means when Gen rushes through the door to my hospital room in her sweatpants, a tank top—probably sans bra, given it’s the one she wears to bed—and a light cropped sweatshirt.Her hair shows signs of bedhead and she’s not wearing makeup, meaning lip balm.She has clearly come straight from bed.
“You’re awake,” she says on a sigh of relief.Lewis follows her into the room, and my mom and brother exit to make space.
What is going on with Gen and Lewis?Why would he come here with her?
Oh, God.I fainted at work.Lewis must have told Gen.The entire office must know what happened.Am I going to lose my job because of the drugs they found?Dammit!I just got that job and I really like working for Sallee Construction.
Why would someone do this to me?I can’t believe Leo would hurt me.That leaves Brad, the generous, somewhat creepy roommate.If the mocha is to blame for how the drugs ended up in my system, he was the one who bought it for me.But Brad barely knows me.What did I ever do to him?Leo said Kate used to go to Brad’s parties…
I’m so confused, and my head hurts.The blankets of my bed are stifling.I swat Gen’s hands away when she tries to tuck them in.
“Cali,” she says.“How did you get mixed up in this?”
Great, apparently everyone believes I’m a druggie.I roll my eyes and defend myself.
I do it several more times before the hospital decides it’s safe to release me four days later.My fever is gone and my lungs, though not clear, are improving as long as I take it easy in bed.
But that’s not going to happen, because the police are waiting.
Jaeger puts a body-lock arm around my waist and exchanges a few heated words with the lead officer, but it’s no use.Aside from the fact that the paramedics found the drugs in my purse, someone called the police anonymously and told them I carried illegal drugs on me.That’s why the police showed up at my office, and later at the hospital.
No wonder the officer who questioned me didn’t believe me.
Jaeger, Gen, and my family follow me to the police station, but I’m immediately separated from them, arrested, and strip-searched—most humiliating experience ever—and taken to a holding cell.The space I’m in is empty, with the exception of a bench and a stainless steel toilet bowl.I lie on the hard bench in shock and because I’m exhausted.The popcorn sound coming from my chest has gone away, but my lungs wheeze and feel heavy, and I have a nasty cough.Physically I’ll recover, but then what?
Aside from reconnecting with Jaeger, I’ve had some messed-up luck returning to my hometown.First Drake blackballed me, making it difficult for me to find a job, and now the drug incident.Only this feels personal—not just some jerk on a power play.
Someone wanted to screw me over, and they did.My own family and best friend didn’t initially believe me when I told them I hadn’t taken drugs.It didn’t take long to convince them of the truth, but they know and trust me.How will I convince the police that the drugs aren’t mine when all the evidence points to me?
An officer opens the metal door to my cell several minutes later.“Bail’s been posted.You’re free to go.For now.”
My mom, Tyler, and Jaeger wait at the front of the police station.
Jaeger’s the first out of his seat.He pulls me into a tight bear hug and releases me for a moment so I can embrace my family.
He tucks his arm around my waist, holding much of my weight as we leave the building, all of us uncharacteristically quiet.I should tell Jaeger I’m fine, that I don’t need a crutch, but his strength is welcome because mine fails me.I’ve always thought emotional and financial dependency on a guy led to disaster, but I don’t mind it so much with Jaeger.
“They’ve set a court date,” my mom says from the front seat of Tyler’s SUV.Jaeger and I are in the back.I’m sitting in the middle seat, my body plastered to him, his arm wrapped around me like a bungee cord.
Even with all this love and support, the truth of the matter disturbs me.The police think I’m guilty of drug possession.How will I get out of this?My eyes burn and blur, my raspy chest giving away my emotions as my breaths quicken and sputter.
“Babe.”Jaeger lifts my chin.“I’ll find out who did this to you.”
