Page 46 of Heal Me
“Go where?”
“The bathroom.”
“Oh, sorry. I thought you were being funny,” Ric said, releasing her.
Kate got up, threw a robe on, and trotted down the hall to the bathroom. Once she’d finished her business, she got in the shower. She’d just put soap on her shower sponge when Ric knocked on the bathroom door.
“It’s not locked, Ric.”
He poked his head inside. “I forgot to ask you if you have a downstairs bathroom.”
“Yeah, why?”
“Well, I need to go.”
“Oh. Just go here.”
“Go here? With you in the bathroom?”
“Yeah. I mean, unless that makes you uncomfortable,” she said.
“I thought women hated being in the bathroom at the same time as a guy. Emily does. Poor Ty.”
Kate laughed. “I grew up with three boys and we only had one bathroom.”
“You have three brothers?”
“Cousins, but we might’ve well have been siblings. There were times when peeing while one or the other was in the shower was unavoidable. Our bathroom was situated in a way where you couldn’t see the toilet from the tub, just like in this bathroom, it’s almost a separate room.” Kate said. “Would it freak you out if the roles were reversed?”
“I don’t know. I’ve honestly never gone with a woman present. Or vice versa.”
Kate opened the frosted shower door and laughed at Ric’s uncomfortable expression. “You’re kidding? Never?”
“Never.”
“Well, I’ve lived with a man before, so I’m used to sharing a bathroom.”
“Yeah, but you and Phil were engaged. This thing with us is still new. Don’t you want to retain the mystery or whatever?” Ric asked.
“Mystery? Is it really a mystery that I have to pee or anything else? I fart, too. Does that disgust you?”
Ric shook his head. “Everyone farts. I don’t believe I’m discussing farting and peeing at 5:15 in the morning. Fine. If you don’t care, I don’t, either.”
Kate went back to her shower while Ric made his way across the bathroom. “What time is your flight today?”
Silence.
Thinking that he hadn’t heard her, she repeated her question. Still nothing.
“Ric? Are you okay? You didn’t fall, did you?”
“No. Can younottalk to me?”
“Why?”
“Apparently, I have a shy bladder.”
Kate almost doubled over with silent laughter and covered her mouth to muffle any sound that might escape. The toilet flushed and a moment later, she yelped when the water went ice cold.
