“Yes, he’s fine. He just can’t drive himself home. We need someone here so we can discharge him.”
“Fuck,” he sighs, then quickly adds, “My bad. Um…I can’t come but check it. I’ll see if I can get somebody. Can I call you back?”
“I have another contact. If they are unavailable, I’ll call you back. Is that okay?” I ask, offering an alternative. The loud music in his background sounds like he’s preoccupied anyway.
“That’s straight,” he says, then ends the call.
I try his second contact next, Merrick. He answers after a few rings. “Rick Redmond,” he says and I repeat my standard introduction and tell him about Xai. “Sure. I can be there in about an hour. Do I ask for you when I get there?”
“Yes. Just stop at the desk.”
“Do you know if he drove his ride there?” he asks.
“He said that he did.”
“Got it. I’ll be there.”
“Thank you. I’ll let him know,” I say.
I end the call then finish my tea. As I drink it, I use the time to make all my patient notes for today. By the time I get Xai discharged, it’ll be time for me to leave and get my babies.I promised them pizza tonight since tomorrow Averi has her big Rosa Parks speech at the Black History Month Showcase at school.
When I make it back to Xai, he looks a little more alert. His eyes are still weak looking but he’s sitting up. Kera has his discharge folder prepared and on the tray next to the bed.
“You’re up,” I comment as I glove up. “How’s your pain now?”
“All gone, you’re back,” he says.He’s still a little loopy.
“You just had a major extraction. I know that’s not true. Lean back a little,” I tell him and he does. I check his gauze and mouth. “The bleeding is slowing but you will still need to switch out the gauze. Your friend, Merrick, is on his way to take you home.”
“You know my bruh, Rick?” he questions, furrowing his thick eyebrows.
“He’s your emergency contact.”
“That’s it though, right?” he asks but I’m not sure what he means so I simply nod.
There’s a tap on the door then it opens. It’s Kera with a tall brotha standing behind her. “This is Mr. Watts’s ride. I decided to bring him back,” she says before opening the door wider.
“Perfect, thank you,” I say and he walks in. “You’re right on time. I was about to go over his discharge info and I think the meds are still working.”
“Rick, bruh. So you do know Adora?” he asks with a slight frown. “I love you bruh but that’s me. Off limits,” he says and Rick’s eyes get big as hell.
“See,” I say with a wink.
“Xai, man,” he says, then grins. “Chill, I’m just here to take you home.”
“Bet,” Xai says, nodding. “We can go.”
“Not until I go over your paperwork,” I say. I grab the folder and hand it to Rick. “This has everything he needs. He should be fine and back to normal in an hour or two but the pain is really going to kick in. He already has his pain meds but he can take Tylenol too.” I walk to the cabinets and grab a box of small cold packs. “He’ll need to apply one to his cheek for ten to twenty minutes today and tomorrow. His diet and other instructions are inside, as well as his follow up appointment reminder for his appointment Wednesday.”
“I gotta wait till Wednesday to see you?” Xai questions.
“Chill,” Rick utters as he places his hand on Xai’s shoulder. He’s clearly taken aback by his friend’s words but I’m cool. I’ve heard far crazier things from patients. It’s all harmless. Plus, Xai’s is kind of endearing.
“He’s fine,” I assure Rick. I turn to Xai. “Any questions?”
“Just one,” he says with a smirk.
“Bruh, no. He doesn’t have any questions,” Rick says quickly. “Just chill so we can dip.”
