22
JILLIE
After two days, they let me have visitors. Audrey, Isla, and Elan show up together.
Audrey pounces and pulls me into a tight hug. “I thought you were going to die. I’ve been sick with worry.”
“We all have,” Isla adds.
“I’m okay, but you’re choking me.”
Audrey leans back, tears running down her cheeks.
“Hey, I’m okay.”
“Yeah, now you are. But when you fainted. There was so much blood,” Audrey informs me.
“Granted some of it was from Elan hitting Leo face repeatedly,” Isla tells me.
I look at Elan, and he has a cast on his hand.
“Elan,” I chide.
He shrugs. “He deserved it.”
“So, did she,” Isla says pointing to where Audrey has two fingers taped together.
“What didyoudo?” I tease.
Audrey huffs. “I only hit her once, unlike Elan.”
“Once was enough,” Elan jokes. “I didn’t break anything, just bruised him up good. Split his lip. You broke her nose.”
Audrey sighs. “Yeah, which just pisses me off.”
“Why’s that?” I ask.
“I gave her a legit reason to get a nose job. She’s wanted one for a long time and now her parents can’t say no,” Audrey informs me.
“Wow. I missed it. I’m so disappointed.”
“It’s on YouTube,” Isla informs me.
“There’ll be no YouTube or talk of Leo, Ella, or anyone else that upsets Jillie. Those are doctor’s orders,” Aunt Ruthie tells them when she walks into the room.
The knock on the door draws all of our attention.
“If those are the rules, I came at a very bad time,” Uncle Will says. Uncle Will, my dad’s best friend. I haven’t seen or heard from him since the funeral.
“Uncle Will!”
“Hey, Jillie Bean,” he says, walking over and giving me a kiss on my forehead.
“What are you doing here?”
“I heard from a little birdie that you weren’t doing so well.” He looks over at Aunt Ruthie.
“I’m doing better, I guess.”
