Page 56 of Roommating

Hovering over her sleeping form, Adam whispers, “Should we wake her?”

“I don’t think so.”

“I’m up,” she says, opening her eyes and smiling weakly. “Fancy seeing you two here.”

Adam bends to hug her.

I’m riveted to the spot. I want to hug her too, but she’s not my grandma. My lips tremble.

When Adam releases her, she cocks her head at me. “Come over here, you.”

I embrace her lightly, careful not to pull out any of her tubes, and try unsuccessfully not to cry.

She laughs. “I’m fine. Unless that’s why you’re crying.”

I wipe my eyes. “Stop it.”

Adam chuckles.

I jab him lightly in the side. “I cry when I’m happy.”

He snorts at this.

Marcia looks between us. “Seriously. I’m in the safest place I can be. They ran the gamut of tests. What I had qualifies as a hypertensive urgency, not emergency, which is much less severe.”

“The wordurgentdoesn’t strike me as mild,” I mutter. Neither does the blood pressure monitor lit up with squiggly lines next to her bed.

“They’re only keeping me overnight as a precaution.”

A nurse pops in and checks her monitor, nodding at us before ducking back out.

“I should get some sleep,” Marcia says.

“Do you want us to stay with you?” Adam asks.

She glances around the tiny space in her half of the room, where we’re standing so close to each other I can see a faint red stain of fruit punch on Adam’s hairline. Was Fruit Punch–Gate really just this morning? It’s been a long day.

“Where? There’s only one chair. Go home. Both of you. I’ll call you in the morning when I’m being discharged.”

Adam scratches his head. “If you’re sure.”

“I am. I’m in a hospital, Adam. I don’t need a babysitter or private health aide.” Her tone screams, “I mean business.”

After another round of hugs, we do as she says and leave.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Rocket is at the door waiting for us when we get home. Althoughwaitingsuggests passive, which only describes Rocket when he’s sleeping. Current Rocket, who’s blocking our entrance to the apartment and barking nonstop, is Rocket on steroids, as if he’s been awaiting news of Marcia’s fate from the foyer the entire time Adam and I were doing the same thing at the hospital.

Adam assures him his mommy will be home tomorrow in a loud but soothing voice like he’s speaking to a human. Rocket, for his part, continues to bark and climb over us for at least a minute until Adam finally manages to sidestep him long enough to grab the dog-walking bag and usher him out the door before he piddles himself in excitement. While he’s gone, I update Carley and Audrina on Marcia’s status in a group text.

When they’re back, Rocket retreats to Marcia’s room and Adam heads straight to the kitchen. He asks if I want something to drink, flashing a can of High Noon at me as an example of my options.

There’s nothing I’d like more right now. “Yes!”

We fall side by side onto the couch and clink cans, toasting to Marcia.

Adam lifts his feet onto the coffee table.

---