Candy leaned forward and hugged me. “I’ve been so worried. I couldn’t imagine how you’d get over it. Flame is freaked out too…”
“What is Flame freaked out about?” The voice preceded the body by only a few seconds and the room was filled with people again. I might as well set them all straight. I didn’t want a pity party.
“That I was raped. While you’re all here let’s get this straight, I may not remember but I know I wasn’t raped. I know my body, I’d have to know. There’s no way I was raped. So now let’s drop this shit before I take you all outside and kick your asses.”
Rage laughed the loudest, and yeah I knew why. Looking at his six foot four inch body, bulging with muscles I didn’t have a hope in hell of kicking his ass. Maybe Sweets and Candy and definitely Cyn but the rest of them, nah. I was dreaming.
Flame handed me a coffee and gave me a kiss. “I’m sorry. I’ve been going crazy thinking some douchebag fucking touched you. Go ahead call me a jerk, ass, or whatever but I was worried.”
“I’m not mad. I just don’t want everyone worrying. I’m fine. As soon as the doctor gets here I’m sure he’ll say the same thing.” I smiled and hoped they’d understand, especially Flame. Emotions were hard for me to deal with, Cyn knew it and I wish she’d explained it to everyone. Doesn’t it always figure that what you want shared isn’t and what you want kept secret everyone finds out about?
The coffee was hot and smelled like heaven. The thought of the caffeine jolt made me smile until I saw the label on the side of the cup. Decaf? DECAF?
“You gave me the wrong coffee.”
“Nope sorry babe, the nurse said no caffeine for you. I figured decaf was better than nothing, right?”
Wrong. Yuck. Why bother to drink coffee if you can’t have caffeine. I didn’t say it though, I’d have sounded like a bitch who didn’t appreciate the gesture. It’s the thought that counts, right? But I really wanted to growl, throw something, and kick someone. It was a triple; frustrated, pissed off, and now deprived of my caffeine.
“Right. Thanks.” Yuck. Even the one small sip it was obviously decaf. It tasted wrong, I don’t know how to explain it, but it was missing something. Duh…caffeine. Apparently removing caffeine also removed the yummy.
Cyn tried to hide her grin. She knew all too well how I felt about coffee and that I was trying to be nice. I’m glad someone was enjoying my situation—not. Damn I was being cranky. Maybe it’s the after effects from being roofied?
“We might as well tell her the rest of it,” Cyn said as she stared at Flame.
“What rest of it?” Flame couldn’t meet my eyes. “Just tell me.”
“When Teresa called Mrs. Pincher she said you were fired. To come and get your stuff as soon as you could.”
“Of course she did. The evil old hag. I really expected it anyway. Is that all now? Or did you decide I don’t need to know something else for my own good?”
“That’s it. I wanted to tell you but Flame wanted to wait. I knew you could handle it.”
“Babe, you need to stop protecting me. I’m a big girl I can handle this shit, you know.”
He grabbed my hand and kissed me as there was a knock on the door and a middle-aged man with glasses and a white coat came in. Yay, the doctor—finally. I couldn’t wait to get the IV out and escape. It smelled like antiseptic and sick people.
“Miss DeAngelo, I’m Dr. O’Brien.” The guys moved aside to make room for him to get closer to me.
“Hi, doctor.”
He looked around at the people-filled room and shook his head. “You’re all going to have to step outside while I do my examination and talk to the patient.” His voice was firm and surprisingly no one objected. Flame placed a kiss on my forehead and told me he’d wait in the hall. Once they’d all left, the room seemed a whole lot bigger.
“Can I leave?”
He chuckled in a doctor sort of way. “Anxious to be discharged are you?”
“Yeah, actually I am. I feel fine.”
“That’s good to know. I’m sure someone has told you by now that you were drugged with Flunitrazepam.”
“Yes, the nurse and my boyfriend.”
He nodded again and looked at my chart. “The rest of your blood work was fine. You might feel some residual dizziness or nausea for a few days. I wouldn’t drive a car until the end of the week, or longer if you’re still feeling symptoms.”
“So does this mean I can leave?”
“Yes, it does. As soon as your discharge papers are processed. There is one more thing I need to discuss with you…”
