Page 57 of Wild Love
“You dreamed about me, didn’t you?”
Her face flushes. “No, of course not. No. Absolutely not.”
“You’re a shit liar, Kota.” I let the smile break free.
She rolls her eyes. “And if I had, it would just be further proof that I need to get out and meet some new guys.”
“I think the lady doth protest too much.”
* * *
After we getKota moved in, the guys take off, and then so does she to meet up with some of the other interns for brunch. I’m on the third day of sitting on my ass, and I am booooored. I don’t like being alone. It doesn’t take a genius to make the connection between how much time I spent by myself as a kid and my need for people and attention as an adult.
I flip through the channels, take Charli for a short walk, text the guys to see if anyone’s up for some video games. Everyone’s busy except ol’ Mav.
Scrolling through my contacts, I decide to call my mom. She probably won’t answer, but at least I can leave a message. It’s been a while since I’ve checked in. I move to Kota’s pink couch and lie down, staring up at the ceiling as it rings.
“Hello?” my mother’s voice answers from the other end. I love how she always answers like she doesn’t know it’s me calling.
“Hi, Mom.”
“Johnny. Oh, I’ve been meaning to call you.”
“You have? I thought you were in Italy. I was expecting to get your voice mail.”
“I am. Doris and I are outside of the restaurant waiting for a table for dinner, but I talked to your father yesterday, and he said you had some sort of injury. I assume you’re calling to get the name of some doctors to get a second opinion?”
“No. I just wanted to catch up and see how you’re enjoying Italy.”
“Nonsense. We have some great contacts in the city.”
“I’ve got it under control, really. Dr. Anderson is great, and we did get a second opinion just in case.” I shift on the couch and extend my leg out to elevate it like I was instructed. “How’s Italy? How much longer are you there?”
She doesn’t answer right away, and I can hear her talking to someone else in the background in Italian.
“Sorry, Johnny,” she says when she’s turned her attention back to me. “Our table is ready. I’ll have my assistant send you a list of top doctors. Tell them who you are and that if necessary, your dad and I will fly them to you.”
There’s zero chance I’m doing any of that, but I understand that it’s just her way of showing she cares. Time and attention aren’t on the table, but money and resources they’re happy to share.
“Thanks, Mom.”
“Love you, honey. I’ll call when I get back to Chicago.”
She hangs up before I can say it back.
I toss the phone to the end of the couch and then reach down to the floor to pick up Charli and place her on my chest.
“Love you too,” I say quietly.
Charli licks my face.
“What are we gonna do, girl?”
She licks again in response, eliciting a chuckle from me.
The TV is on as background noise. My stomach growls, but I don’t feel like moving. I must fall asleep because the next thing I know, Dakota is standing in front of me with an amused smile.
“If you think the couch is so uncomfortable, then why do you keep sleeping on it?” She dangles a bag in front of my face.
