“Seriously?” I rasped.
“Yeah, baby. I’m not givin’ up my life out there. I should have brought her with me from the get,” he said.
“Shedoeshave her own life, though, honey, she might not have come.”
“Shoulda still asked.”
“You can ask now.”
He nodded, his expression pained.
“Is there anything else I can get you?” the server asked, as she stepped to our table.
“Just the check,” Aero said.
She nodded and set a plastic folder in front of him, then walked away. He slid cash into the slit, called for a car, then we headed out of the restaurant. Aero wrapped his arms around me and held me close while we waited for our ride and I squeezed him tight, needing his warmth.
Arriving back at the hospital, Aero’s mom was still in radiology, so we sat in her room while we waited for her to come back. It wasn’t long before a nurse wheeled her back in, helping her back into bed.
Since she didn’t know me, I stepped outside while she got settled, not sure if she’d want some stranger seeing her in such a vulnerable position. I wasn’t sure how long I was pacing the hallway, but Aero didn’t come out for a while, and then it was to tell me his mom was tired and wanted to rest.
“I’ll text Razor,” I said.
“Already done,” he said.
“Will I see you tonight?”
“Don’t know, baby.”
I nodded, dropping my head to his chest. “Okay.”
We stood in the hallway, his hands stroking my hair, while we waited for Razor to pick me up. He arrived way too soon for my liking and I held Aero a little tighter as Razor approached.
“I’ll text you,” Aero promised.
“Give me a second,” I ordered when he tried to pull away.
He held me tighter and kissed the top of my head and I gave him one more squeeze before kissing him and walking away before I changed my mind.
