Page 56 of Chula
“It’s New Year’s Eve. You should have asked her,” I tell him.
“I was going to, but she asked first.”
“Well, I’m glad you’re going. That way I’ll know someone there besides Justin.”
I follow Damion to the car and climb in, slinging my bag into the backseat as he climbs in the starts up the car. It’s freezing this time of year, and it makes me miss the summer. This summer, we plan on taking a trip to the beach. Florida, to be exact. Damion made me promise not to back out on him for any reason, and I did. He’s become more of a brother to me than I thought he would. At first, I thought it would be awkward since we slept together that one time, but it wasn’t. At least it hasn’t been.
“So Darek had all good things to say about you,” he tells me as I glance over at him.
“Doctor Hanks?”
“Yeah. Said you have great bedside manner and the staff loves you.”
“They’re all so easy to work with. I love working with almost all of them except Nan,” I say with a laugh.
“What’s wrong with her?”
“She’s old as shit. She’s set in her ways and doesn’t want to change. I get it, but damn.”
“She is pretty old.”
“Pretty old? Damion, she’s like eighty.” We both laugh as we pull up at the apartments.
“I’ll wait out here,” he says. I nod my head and grab my bag, opening the door and climbing out. I run toward the apartments and up the stairs to get to mine. Once I’m inside, I kick off my shoes and run into the bedroom to grab my dress. It’s a short dress, one that may show a little too much skin, but I don’t care. It’s New Year’s and I want to have fun. I strip out of my clothes, leaving a trail of them in the hallway as I pull the dress on and head into the bathroom. I grab the eyeliner and swipe some on before doing my hair. I pull it up and let a few strains hang loose around my face.
When I feel like I look good enough, I spritz on some perfume, brush my teeth, and grab my heels before rushing back out. I don’t want to be late, and I already stayed at the library longer than I’d planned to.
I’m back down the stairs and jumping into Damion’s car with no shoes on as he laughs.
“It always amazes me how quickly you can change.”
“I’m not a girly girl, Damion.”
“I know that. You’re going to freeze without a jacket tonight,” he says, nodding toward my now bumped bare arms.
“Probably, but I hope to be so drunk that I don’t feel it,” I tell him. Damion laughs as he pulls off and heads toward the hotel where the party is being held. It’s nice knowing Damion because he has so many connections to everyone in the city. If you want to party, Damion can get you in.
“Did I thank you for taking me tonight?” I ask him even though I know I already did.
“You did. And I told you to stop.”
“I can’t help it. I’m just so excited. I’ve never been to the Fairview before.”
“It’s an amazing hotel, and don’t forget you have a room there tonight. I put your key card in your purse,” he tells me.
“I don’t know what to say. I’m going to be drunk and sleeping in the nicest hotel in the city in the most comfortable bed ever.”
“You don’t have to check out either. I got it for two days,” he tells me.
“You’re the best. I would kiss you, but I’m not. That’s like kissing, Davey.” Damion laughs now, but when he calms, he sighs.
“How is Davey?”
“He’s great. I hate that he isn’t with me, but he’s great. I talked to him earlier. The Jackson’s are truly amazing people. They have him in group therapy where he can interact with other kids his age with the same issues. Mrs. Jackson said he loves it and asked me to come next week to watch.”
“Really? That’s great news. I’m glad he’s doing well. I’m truly glad to hear that.”
“I can’t thank you enough for what you did when they took him, Damion. I know I say it a lot, but I really mean it. If you hadn’t stepped in, I might not have ever seen him again, and I couldn’t handle that.”
