River gave her a small smile. “With you there, I’m sure your mom will get what she needs.”
The words felt weird, like there was more to them than what they were. “Thank you for bringing me.”
River nodded, her hands shoved in her pockets, and she seemed to be searching the pattern on the rug for something. “I think I’m going to hang out in Pilsen for a while. I want to explore, and I saw a couple shops I’d like to go into. If you get time away from the hospital or need a break or whatever, give me a shout.”
Why was Marina relieved at the thought that River wasn’t leaving? It wasn’t fair, but it was true, and she leaned forward to kiss River’s cheek. “Thank you,” she said softly. “I’ll let you know how things are going.”
River nodded, picked up her helmet and headed outside ahead of the paramedics, who were helping Marina’s mom down the stairs. Marina watched as River walked off down the street and wished that she was still there beside her, heading to the hospital, sitting beside her in that sterile waiting room.
“Marina?” Her dad touched her shoulder. “We’re ready.” He looked past her at River, who was turning the corner, and then back at Marina. “Looks like we’ll have some things to talk about while we wait.”
He squeezed her shoulder, locked the door, and they walked to the car together. As they set off behind the ambulance, Marina looked in the sideview mirror, hoping for one last look at River’s strong form. But she was gone, and Marina had to do this on her own.
There were things they couldn’t say to each other, years of frustration, sadness, and grief that filled the space in the sterile, curtained area to the point of suffocation. Her nerves itched with it until she stood up and shook her head. Keeping her temper in check had never been her strong suit, and when the third hour of waiting passed, Marina’s snapped. She shoved the curtain aside, ignoring her dad’s admonition and her sister’s snigger, and went to the nurse’s station.
“It has been three hours.” Marina looked into the pretty blue eyes of a butch woman in a white coat, who seemed surprised that someone was talking to her. “My mother is barely conscious, and her fever has gone up in the time we’ve been here. She hasn’t been offered anything to drink. No doctor has been in. I’m going to lose my shit,” Marina said, quietly, “if things don’t happen shortly. We’re paying cash, so there are no insurance issues. I don’t want to make a scene, but I will.”
The woman’s lips twitched in a smile, and she leaned forward. “Well, we can’t have you losing your shit, can we?” She plucked a clipboard from a stack and read over it. “Let’s talk.”
Marina followed the slim, tall woman back to her mom’s little cubicle and couldn’t help but contrast her with River’s more solid build. But why do so at all? She shook away the thought and focused.Be open. Be present. She heard River’s words. She could do that.
“Hi there. I’m Dr. Bryant.” She looked at the machine beeping along, then at the clipboard again. She frowned and took the stethoscope from around her neck. “Tell me what’s been going on.”
Marina stood back and listened as her dad filled the hot doctor in, with her sister chipping in bits and pieces. Her mom didn’t respond to any questions or prodding from the doctor, who seemed to grow more focused by the moment. Marina hated that she had no input to give, but she knew when to keep her mouth shut.
“I need to run some tests, but I think Gabi might have a burst appendix.” The doctor continued to poke and prod, her expression distant as she felt different places. “And if that’s the case, we need to get moving.” She gave Marina a quick smile as she left, and then nurses came in and started doing whatever it was they’d been told.
Within half an hour, Marina’s mom was being taken away for surgery. Dr. Bryant came back over. “I suggest you head home. The surgery will take a little while, and she’ll be out cold after. They’ll take her to a room, and you can see her tomorrow.”
As her dad and sister gathered up their things, the doctor touched Marina’s elbow to get her attention. She handed Marina her card. “If you ever want to get a drink and tell me all the ways you go about losing your shit.” She winked and walked away.
Marina laughed softly and tucked the card into her pocket. Well, that was an interesting way to end their time here. And yet…the only person she wanted to have that conversation with was the one least likely to want to hear it. She’d sent River a couple of updates and received gentle responses, but she wanted more. She wanted…wanted…what?
Sex would be good. That would work out all the tension and let her forget everything in the heat of lust and sweat. And god knew she wanted River like a forest fire needed water.
“Are you coming home?” her dad asked, not taking his eyes off the road. “I think it would be good to talk.”
Marina closed her eyes and let her head fall back against the seat. “I need food. That bagel from Panera wasn’t toasted and it’s sitting in my stomach like I ate a big pile of dough.”
He nodded and glanced at Kayla, who shrugged. She, too, looked exhausted. “Señoritas?”
Marina’s stomach growled in response, making them all laugh. “Guess so,” she said, pulling out her phone. “Do you mind if my friend joins us? If she’s still around. I don’t know why she would be. She probably isn’t.”
He looked at her in the rearview mirror. “You won’t know if you don’t ask.”
Her sister looked over her shoulder from the front seat. “You sure you want to talk family stuff in front of her?”
Marina lowered her phone mid-text. Did she want to share that history with anyone? No one, not even Rob, knew the truth of her past and the pain she lived with. But if anyone could understand, and maybe even be a shoulder to lean on, she had a feeling it would be River.
Gentle, kind, stupidly hot River. What would she think of Marina essentially abandoning her family after grief had torn them apart? Did she want to see the disappointment in River’s expression, yet again?
Her phone buzzed in her hand.
I’m starving and going to grab something before I head home. Any suggestions?
Marina sighed at the coincidence. River would probably call it something else.Meet us at Señoritas in ten minutes?
River sent a heart emoji in return. Maybe she didn’t quite know what to say either. The situation was ludicrous. It was complicated and made as much sense as a trip down the rabbit hole to Wonderland. They were opposites in every way, and yet more and more Marina found herself wanting to be in River’s company. And if she wasn’t mistaken, River felt the same way,despite their situation. So what reason did they have to avoid exploring something?
