Page 50 of Justus
“We?”asks Sadie, her expression hardening.
“We.”I pick up her hand that still wears my ring.
“Whatthe fuck are you doing here?” Doug stands in the doorway, two cups of coffee inhis hands.
It’stime for me to make some amends.
ChapterEleven
Sadie
Justusis here. I should be surprised, and I am, but it’s overshadowed by the shock ofmy mother getting a new heart. We never thought they’d find a match. I’m tornbetween throwing myself into his arms again, or kicking him in the balls.Normally, there’s no way I’d let myself get played like this, let the guy justdisappear on me, then pop back in whenever the hell he feels like it. Today,though, I’m just too emotionally drained and confused to argue.
“Excuseme a minute, Sweets. I want to talk to your brother.”
Dougglares at him, but follows him into the hall when Justus asks.
“Whydid you bring him?” I demand, turning to Ayda the second they leave.
“Hewas worried about you.”
“Couldn’ttell from my end,” I grumble.
Aydagives me a small smile. “I know. He’s been a dick, and I’m not making excusesfor him, but you need to let him explain, Sade. Remember when I thought Darecheated on me, and you forced me to talk to him anyway? Well, I’m returning thefavor.”
Witha snort, I remind her, “You thought he cheated on you because Justus pretendedto be him to get laid.”
“Shit.Bad example.”
Aydafrowns until our eyes meet and we dissolve into laughter. God, it feels good tolaugh. I didn’t realize how stressed and tense I actually was until she andJustus relieved it a bit.
“Whatdo you know about his sister?” Ayda asks.
“Theone who is missing?”
“She’snot missing anymore.”
“Ohno. Did they find a body?”
“No,she’s okay…well, she’s alive. This really isn’t my story to tell, though. LikeI said, I’m not excusing his behavior, but he’s been going through some shittoo. Just keep an open mind when you talk to him, okay?”
Istare at my friend who was once so shy and introverted. “When did you become sowise about men?”
“SinceI got tossed into this crazy group,” she laughs.
Justusand Doug re-enter the room, the surgeon right behind them.
Iget to my feet and rush to him. “Is it over? Is she okay?”
“Ambercame through the surgery with flying colors. Everything went as expected, andshe’s in recovery. You can see her in a few minutes. She’ll be moved to the cardiacICU by tomorrow.”
Reliefnearly knocks me off my feet and I melt into a nearby chair. “Thank you, thankyou so much, doctor.”
“She’sfar from being out of the woods,” he cautions, “but we have every reason to beoptimistic.”
Afew minutes later, I’m led back to the ICU with Justus right beside me, holdingmy hand. The room is full of repetitive noises that would drive me insane, butmom is beyond noticing any of it. She’s back on a respirator, but I’ve beentold that’s normal for a day or so after surgery.
“Mom,”I murmur, squeezing her hand, careful of the IV.
