“Just go, I’ll be fine. I’m gonna take a nap.”
“Come on, Liam,” my mom said. They held hands and started to leave the room together. Were things getting better between them? Had my injury brought them closer?Hopefully something good comes out of this.
My dad stopped in the doorway and turned around. “Please try to eat something, Penny.”
“I will, Dad. Don’t worry.”
Doug came to see me shortly after my parents left. He told me the dean at CSU had questioned Joey about the accident, and that the dance department was withholding his degree. He told me my life wasn’t over, that I’d get better, that I’d find satisfaction as a teacher. None of this brought me any relief.
He hugged me and told me to hang in there, then he left. Once he was gone, I flipped on the TV and dozed off to the opening jingle ofThe Golden Girls.
WHEN I WOKEup, the room was dark and the TV was off. My knee was aching so intensely I thought I was going to die. I went to press the button on the remote to call the nurse but was startled by a figure in the corner, leaning up against the wall. He stepped into the light.
“Gavin?”
His expression was one of deep sorrow. There were tears in his eyes.
“I’m so sorry, P,” he choked out.
“I need morphine,” I said.
He went to the door and peeked into the hallway. “She’s in a lot of pain,” he told someone before coming to my bedside. He collapsed onto my chest, tucking his head under my chin. I felt his body shaking. He was really crying.
“I’m sorry,” he said again. I didn’t hold him. I couldn’t bring myself to show him any affection. My arms stayed at their sides.
“Where have you been?”
He stood and wiped tears from his face. “Lottie threw my phone into a lake. I called your parents’ house the day after your performance but no one answered. I thought everything went well. You had that routine down. When I called your cell, it went straight to voicemail.”
“You got into a fight with Lottie and left the auditorium. I saw you.”
“I’m sorry, Penny. I fucked up.” The nurse came in and pushed morphine into my IV. “I finally got ahold of your mom this morning and she told me what happened,” Gavin said. “I went looking for Joey. I was gonna break his legs.”
“Please don’t do that. He’s going to be punished. Believe me.”
“How do you feel?” He was searching my eyes.
“Fucking fantastic. Did you and Lottie break up?”
He studied me closely. “No, we just had a fight.”
“You missed my performance because you got into a fight with your girlfriend. You weren’t there for me like you said you would be. You should leave. I don’t know why you’re here.”
“I’m trying to be here for you now. I told you I’m sorry. It was a miscommunication, Penny. A badly timed fight. That’s all.”
I started feeling groggy from the meds. “You said you wouldn’t miss it for the world,” I slurred. “What a lie.”
“Penny, I love you. You’re my best friend. I fucked up and I’m sorry.” He was squeezing my hand. “Please forgive me.”
“It doesn’t matter. I’m dating Lance now,” I lied.
He swallowed hard. “What? I thought you didn’t date.”
“I never said that. I said that I wasn’t ready to date when we met. I said I would see where our friendship took us, and I asked you to wait. You didn’t. And when I needed you most, you weren’t there. I hardly knew Lance before this accident but he’s been here every day—unlike you. The only reason he’s not here now is because he’s taking his last final. In fact, he’ll be here soon.”
Gavin was shaking his head.
“You should leave before he gets back.”
