“You kind of were,” Mable interjected. “It was pretty loud. Plus, what’s it matter if she’s not at work?”
Vito scowled at her. “She told me that she was strapped for cash when I invited her out a couple of months ago. Figured if she needed the money, she’d be at work.”
“Vito,” Grace warned.
“What?” Vito asked.
“You’re taking out your anger on her, and she’s not even who you’re upset with. We talked about this.”
Vito muttered something under his breath, but we were saved from replying by the waitress coming back with our food.
The only problem was, Grace’s purse caught up on the waitress’s legs, and the plates in her hand started to teeter in our direction. Specifically, right at Birdee’s injured side.
I reacted before I could think, standing up and all but shoving Romeo into the way of the teetering plates.
The plates crashed down once they bounced off Romeo’s back, but Birdee was luckily spared.
Though, she did jolt suddenly and twist so that she could brace herself for the impact.
“Fuck, fuck. Baby,” I said as I slowly, carefully started to roll Birdee’s long-sleeved shirt up her wrist. “Are you okay?”
“I think I’m fine,” she whispered, voice quivering.
“Fuck,” I repeated. “Let me see.”
She gingerly handed over her arm, and I inspected the dressing with a hawkish gaze, missing nothing.
“Does it feel okay?” I asked, cupping her arm in my hands.
“I think so,” she said. “My heart’s pounding right now, but I think I was just scared.”
“I think you’re okay.” I grumbled. “Let’s go.”
“I’m okay…”
“I think I’d feel better if we went back to my place. I’m closer to the hospital just in case.”
“What happened?” Romeo asked as he peeked over Birdee’s shoulder to stare at her arm.
“Can incident with her artery,” I muttered. “Happened at her new job. She’s okay, but she has to baby that arm for a while to keep her from ripping that repair open all over again.”
“Whoa,” Mable said. “What happened exactly?”
Birdee gave them a very quick rundown of what happened.
“Why didn’t you call me?”
Birdee blinked. “Why would I?”
Vito looked like he’d been shot.
“Shit,” Grace whispered under her breath.
“I’m your dad,” Vito pointed out, getting angry.
“I’m so sorry,” the waitress apologized. “I’ll get these redone as soon as possible. And I’ll make them to go. They’re on the house.”
I helped Birdee to her feet, but left the sleeve where it was so I could keep an eye on the bandage.
