Page 65 of Bending The Rules

Aviva released my arm, and turned to me as she unlocked her office door. “Do you even want tobeout of that box?”

“I don’t know… maybe?” I answered, as I followed her inside. “I didn’t come here looking for a relationship – I just got out of an engagement, and I don’t think rushing into something else is a good idea. With Justin, or anybody else for that matter.”

“So why are you so bothered?”

“Because when I look at him, I don’t just see “friend” anymore. I want to… kiss up and rub up and feel up on him. I want to cuddle, and touch. I want him inside me. I want…”

“Him,” Vi supplied, with a little smile, and a sigh. “You wanthim.”

“I…” I ran a hand through my hair. “Yeah, I guess I do. It feels strange as hell to admit it out loud, but yeah. I do. But I think it’s pretty apparent that he doesn’t want the same.”

Vi held up a finger. “Or,he’s—”

“I know, I know,” I laughed. “Or he’s stupid. Whichever way…I don’t think sitting around here pining for him is the best approach. I have work to do. I need to get packed for this trip to Lagos, and… I’ll decide while I’m there if I’m coming back or not. I’ll pack everything, and the hotel concierge can just ship it to me if I need it.”

Vi let out another sigh. “You seem so melancholy. I don’t like it.”

“Me either. Think Eric will keep baby girl tonight, and we can go get some drinks or something, in case this is my last night?”

“If he’s not working, I don’t think he’ll mind. And if he’s working, I can ask his mother. Shelovesthat baby.”

She was getting ready to tell me something else when a frantic knock sounded at the door, and I turned to see Joseph standing in her doorway.

“Hey Toni,” he said, sounding breathless. “Vi, I need a favor. I have an appointment in about three minutes that I need you to cover for me.”

Vi nodded. “Of course. Is everything okay?”

He scrubbed a hand over his face. “Uh… not sure yet. Bri got rushed in here from school, complaining of chest pains, and her heart rate was all over the place. I’m going to go down and meet the ambulance, and make sure Justin knows where to go when he gets here.”

My heart caught in my chest as I processed what Joseph was saying. “Um… is she going to be alright?”

“She’s a tough little girl,” Joseph said, nodding. “She’s already been through a lot, so hopefully her body can get her through this too. I’m gonna go ahead and head down.”

“Okay,” Aviva and I said, in unison, but he was already gone before either of us had closed our mouths.

“Oh God,” I said, pressing a hand to my chest. “I can’t even imagine what must be going through Justin’s head right now.”

Aviva went to the wardrobe, pulling it open to grab a coat. “Yes, it’s terrifying for your child to be sick. Are you going to go down?”

“What? You mean down to the emergency room to wait? No, I’m sure it’s probably crowded enough, or will be soon. You don’t think I’d be in the way?”

She raised an eyebrow. “I doubt he would see it like that.”

“Maybe… I might just text him or something. I don’t want to add to the chaos.”

“And you still need to pack up your room, and get ready for your flight tomorrow… and you’re still upset about this morning, and need some space.”

I rolled my eyes at Vi’s knowing smirk, and shook my head.

“Uh huh,” Vi said, rubbing it in. “You don’t have to front for me, Toni. All that stuff you like to keep bottled up… you’re not hiding it as well as you think you are. But back to the lecture at hand… I think a text or phone call would suffice.”

After that, Vi gave me a quick goodbye so she could rush off to cover Joseph’s appointment. I left the hospital feeling more confused than I’d been when I arrived to talk to Vi. Back in my hotel room, I moved from place to place, making exactly zero progress on packing for Nigeria, or packing,period.

I couldn’t seem to clear my mind.

Finally, I gave up trying. Instead of wasting my time in my hotel room, I swung by the bookstore… and then went back to the hospital. I still hadn’t sent that text, and had no idea where I was going, but I lucked upon Jay and Reese leaving the hospital as I stopped as the huge directory that was supposed to help me find the children’s ward.

Their directions put me on the right track, and a few moments later, I cautiously slipped into Bri’s room, after my soft knocks went unanswered. She looked so small, so helpless in the middle of the bed, covered in blankets and attached to machines monitoring her vitals. Jay had already told me that she was okay, but the sight still made my heart ache.

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