Page 108 of Faker
“My sister. She’s been trying to get a hold of me all morning. Crap.”
I scan through the emails:
6:02 a.m.:You had a concussion AND surgery??!! What? You need to Skype me now!
6:31 a.m.:Wake up! I need to know that you’re okay! I need proof of life!
6:52 a.m.:Okay, you’re probably happily sleeping in... I know your coworker sent a message to me saying you’re fine now, but I still need to Skype you! For my peace of mind!!!
7:17 a.m.:Emmie! How are you not waking up to the endless dinging noises your phone must be making at my incessant emailing?!
I pull up Skype on my phone. “I need to Skype my sister. She must have finally read the emails you sent her when I was in the hospital, and she’s freaking out.”
“Gotcha. I’ll be in the shower.” He grabs a towel and trots back into the bathroom, leaving the door open. “Join me when you’re off the phone,” he hollers.
I smirk to myself just as my sister answers.
“There you are!” she yells. “What the hell? I’ve been trying to reach you all morning.” She’s bug eyed with worry.
“I’m sorry. I slept in and my phone was downstairs. Don’t worry, I’m fine.”
“Emmie, I was freaking out! I finally got the chance to check my email after weeks of jungle exploring and beach hopping, and I see two messages saying you had a concussion after falling at work, and you had your appendix removed. Are you okay? This is nuts.” She’s waving her arms around as she speaks. I recognize the drab hostel background behind her.
“It was, but I’m fine. Seriously. How was the hike in the jungle? What beaches did you go to?”
“Never mind the jungle and the beaches. You have a follow-up appointment with your doctor, right?” The bun at the top of her head wiggles along with the impatient movement of her hands.
“Yes, next week, but everything’s fine. I feel almost as strong as I did before. I’m only a tiny bit sore.”
“Thank God.” She throws her head back and exhales. When she looks back at the screen, she squints. “What are you wearing?”
“A T-shirt.” I bite my lip.
“It looks huge on you. Is it new?”
I shake my head and think of a lie. “Sort of. Borrowed it from a friend.”
She raises a suspicious eyebrow at me. “Where are you right now?”
“A friend’s house,” I say quickly. I suddenly wish we were speaking on the phone so she couldn’t see the embarrassing shade of red I suspect my face is turning.
“Really? The only friend you ever seem to visit these days is Kaitlin, and that’s not her house. All the walls in her place are pastel colored. The wall you’re in front of is taupe.”
My silence is incriminating. I quickly sink onto the bed, bouncing slightly. “It’s a new friend.”
“Is this new friend a guy?”
“Um, maybe.”
She claps and throws her head back before unleashing a fit of giggles. “Shit, I just busted your walk of shame, didn’t I? Oh my God, I have amazing timing!”
“Addy, it’s not like that.”
“Oh, I’m sorry. Is he about to bring you breakfast in bed?”
“Knock it off, smart-ass. He’s in the shower.”
“Perfect! Now you can tell me all about him!” she says in a singsong voice as she claps her hands gleefully.
