Page 35 of Rock Me

"Some guy came in here, like he knew me. he said his name is Jez, but... I don't, I don't remember him. Or maybe I don't even know him. I don't know which."

"Oh,” she waves her hand in the air, “Well, maybe he's just mistaken you for someone else."

"That's what I thought,” I admit, before adding, “Um, but he knows I don't like falafels."

Her expression doesn’t change. And she waits, like there's more.

"And?" She prompts me when I don’t add anything.

"And, that's it." My hands spread out, like, hey, I have nothing left.

She looks a little amused. "That's supposed to prove he knows you?"

"Well, doesn't it?" Even as I say it, it sounds a little far-fetched.

"Babe, how many people out there don't like falafels, it's not really that conclusive."

The door slides open and Robbie strolls in, carrying a tray.

"Hey, Robster.” Paige gives him one of her blinding smiles.

"What's up girly?" He gives her a chin tilt and a wink.

"I’m good. Say, do you like falafels?" She directs the question at him, but looks at me.

"Cannot say that I do.”

Paige gives me a little shrug. “See?”

"Yeah, but..." Ugh, it does mean, something. I know it does.

"Visiting time is over, ladies." Robbie’s deep voice interrupts our conversation.

"Aw, come on, Rob..." Paige starts to whine.

"Yes, even for you,” he says, giving her a grin to rival hers.

She scrunches her face up at him. "Fine. But I'll be back in a few days, there's a new Vietnamese place I want to try out.'

"See, now Vietnamese food, I like." Robbie nods.

"I'll bring you some rolls, if you let me stay for 5 minutes past visiting hours next time,” Paige negotiates.

"That’ll depend on how good the rolls are.”

She comes over and drops a kiss on my cheek. "Take care, okay, call me if you need anything. And seriously, stop worrying about being here. Just work on getting better. And coming home. We miss you."

"We?"

"Yeah, me... and Droopy.” Droopy, our dying spider plant.

"Droopy is still... alive?" That’s almost as hard to comprehend as the presence of this mystery man.

"I told you, I'm responsible now. I water him every other day."

I make a mock surprised face and she blows a raspberry before leaving.

Robbie watching her leave and then makes an action of wiping his brow. "Phew. it would be hard to be that girl's boyfriend."