Page 66 of Defect
“Shit. I am.”
“How do you feel?” She rubbed my shoulder.
“Nervous as hell. Being in cars makes me nervous anyway though.”
“I understand that.” She leaned over and kissed my cheek. “You’re doing an amazing job.”
“Can I ask you where the hell we’re going, Solo?”
“Oh, yeah. We’re going to Inglewood.” We came to a stop at a red light and I used the opportunity to look at her like she’d lost her mind.
“What the hell do you mean we’re going to Inglewood?” She didn’t respond she just put the GPS on her phone.
“Starting route to Centinela Hospital, Inglewood.” I blinked at the GPS and then looked at Solana again.
“That’s where I was after the accident.”
“I know. Drive please.” She rubbed my arm and I followed the GPS’s directions.
“Are you gonna tell me why we’re going to the hospital?” I asked after a few silent minutes passed.
“Nope. Drive, please.” I learned not to push her when she got like that. She was never rude but when she dug her heels into the ground she was stubborn as hell. I loved it but it got on my damn nerves.
We arrived at Centinela Hospital thirty minutes later and I felt more nerves spring to life in my stomach. I didn’t want to see that place anymore. It brought back too many memories. It was where I found out Everett was dead.
“Come on, Ezra,” Solana touched the back of my neck and I shook my head.
“I can’t do this shit, Solo.”
“You can. Let’s go.” I wouldn’t budge though.
“Ezra, hold this.” She took her amethyst necklace off and placed it in my hand then laid her hands over my heart. I waited to feel the warmth. When I felt it, I was able breathe normally. She moved down my chest until she got to my stomach then she moved back up. She repeated those motions until her hands went from warm to hot and the fog in my brain started to lift. The storm clouds cleared and I felt calm.
“Better?” She glowed even though I knew she was pulling energy from herself to give me. I nodded and she smiled at me. “Let’s go. We have an appointment. It was hard as fuck to get, so let’s keep it.”
“An appointment for what?” I was still clueless. I looked back at the yellow bug when I got out, amazed that I drove all the way from Radcliff to Inglewood with no issues.
“Come on.” She pulled me by the hand and we walked into the building. The smell hit me hard. Antiseptic and astringent. My chest ached with painful memories. I wanted to turn around and leave without looking back. The only thing that kept me grounded was Solana’s hand on mine.
The energy that sparked between us kept me levelheaded. It kept me walking with her through the lobby and over to the elevators. Once we were alone behind closed elevator doors, she laid against me and I kissed the top of her head.
“I don’t know what the fuck you’re planning and it’s making me nervous.”
“Don’t be nervous.” She wrapped her arms around me and I hugged her back.
The elevator let us off on the neurology and brain trauma floor. My heart slammed against my chest and I looked down at this tiny woman walking beside me.
What the fuck was she planning?
We finally came to an office and Solana knocked on the closed door before looking at me. I realized she was waiting for me to notice something. I read the plaque on the door and saw that we were there to see Dr. Chin.
“Ezra, nice to see you again. At least you’re not being admitted this time, right?” He grinned and shook my hand then welcomed us into his office.
“Nice to see you again, Dr. Chin,” I nodded. I had to get over the shock of seeing him quickly because I knew exactly what Solana’s aim was.
“So, your beautiful girlfriend asked for an emergency meeting. She said you’d been having some issues related to your injury. Honestly, I’m surprised. You’re about two months out. You should be healing well. Granted, you’d be healing much faster if you ever came to the recovery therapy sessions I scheduled for you but that’s beside the point now. What’s the matter?” My brain tried to process everything he threw at me but it was hard. I tackled the thing that stood out the most.
“Did you say…recovery therapy?” I asked, leaning forward in my seat.
