“Ash,” I started.
“I’ll get a nurse, so they know you’re awake,” Ash mentioned. He paused and gave me a slight head nod and said, “I’m glad you’re OK, Karla,” before he left the room.
There was something so off-putting about how Ash was acting, but I’d have to face that once I gathered some of my energy back.
“Ash is right, you know. You can’t be climbing those ladders,Karla.” Dad combed my hair from in front of my face. “You really scared us.”
“I know. I’m sorry. It’s just that sometimes I want to be able to do normal things, like climb a freaking ladder.”
“I get that.”
“I’m guessing I scared Ash a lot.”
“I’ve never seen an individual more concerned,” Dad said. “He showed up instantly when he found out you were here. Him and a group of his friends. That boy loves you, Karla.”
I smiled a little. “I love him, too, Dad.”
Dad moved in and kissed my forehead. “You both deserve that kind of love, but please”—he kissed my forehead again—“don’t ever scare me like that again. Lorelai already gave me a shit ton of gray hairs. You don’t need to add more to my head.”
“You’d make a great silver fox,” I joked.
Dad smiled, and his eyes glassed over with relief.
“I’m sorry for scaring you, Dad. I thought I could handle it.”
“It’s OK,” he said with yet another forehead kiss. “I’m just glad you’re going to be OK.”
When I was discharged from the hospital, Dad, Ellie, and Lorelai drove me home. Ash shot me a text and said he got called into work, but he’d check in on me later on. That evening, Lorelai stayed with me to make sure I was OK.
Throughout the night, I sent Ash a few messages between my naps, and whenever I woke up, I’d see that he didn’t text me back. I tried not to overthink it, but not hearing from him at all was odd to me, even if he was at work.
The next day I texted him again.
I still didn’t hear from him. But the text messages I’d been sending him all said “Read.”
Now I wasn’t worried.
I was pissed off.
Was he ghosting me again? No. That would be crazy. He swore he wouldn’t.
He promised.
***
Around one the next afternoon, I received a text from him.
Ash:Hey, Karla. I checked in with your dad and heard you’re doing better. I’m glad.
I tried to call him right away. It went straight to voicemail.
Ash:Sorry, busy with work for these next few days. My responses might be short. We’ll talk soon.
Karla:Are you mad at me?
Ash:No. Of course not.
Karla:Well if you were wondering, I’m freaking pissed off at you for ignoring me.
