Page 55 of Heal Me

She dabs her eyes and takes a seat on the couch, hugging her knees. “I knew something was off. I grabbed Elliot’s phone when he was in the bathroom and found out he’d been cheating on me.”

“That’s awful.”

She nods. “I confronted him and he swore up and down it was a mistake. So we’re working it out. But I told him if he gets a ‘mistake,’ then so do I.”

“Just be careful with Dr. Cooper. He has a reputation.”

“It was a one-time thing with Tom, but his reputation is earned. Oh my God, that man can do things with his tongue you wouldn’t believe.”

I really don’t want to hear anything else about Dr. Cooper’s tongue, so I change the subject. “Hey, I’m about to get a jump on the Organic Chemistry problem sets. Want to join me?”

“Sure. Let me go grab my notebook.”

She walks upstairs and returns a moment later, and I spot a bandage on the bend of her arm. “You donated blood?”

“Yeah, there’s a major shortage at the hospital.” Now I feel guilty for not donating. Hopefully my latest blood panel will come back with higher iron levels and I’ll be able to donate. Turns out I have a really rare blood type. I’d never had a reason to know my blood type prior to my hospital stay, but I learned I’m in the Rh null blood group, also known as the golden blood type. Luckily I didn’t need a transfusion, as golden blood is hard to come by.

Jen and I draw the structure of luminol and then calculate the EA and IR data. Luminol is the key component in a chemical test forensic experts use to detect blood. I can’t seem to get away from blood.

Finishing our homework, we close our notebooks. “You sure that Memphis Magic place isn’t a cult?” she asks, eyeing my shirt.

I can’t help but laugh. “Not a cult, I promise.”

“How did you and Gabe meet?”

“He’s best friends with Aubry’s boyfriend.”

“It’s like you’ve got this whole other life I know nothing about.”

So true. Jen’s phone beeps and she checks the message. “Elliot and I are going to grab dinner. You want me to look after Doogie this weekend?”

“You sure you don’t mind?” I ask, surprised by the offer.

“Not at all. We’ll hang here.”

“Thanks, that would be great. I’ll be back Sunday evening.”

“No problem. Well, tell Dr. Patel I said hello.”

“You can just tell him yourself the next time you call him.”

She holds up her hands. “Alright, so I called your dad. He agrees with me, you know.”

“Oh trust me, I know.” And I also know this visit is really just my dad’s last-ditch effort to sell me on med school.

“Look, I know I’ve handled everything all wrong. I’m sorry about what happened to you.”

Well, isn’t this just an afternoon of surprises. I said nothing surprised me, and now I’m eating those words. In a good way. “Thank you. I appreciate that.”

She nods, fiddling with her gold bangles around her wrist. “So um, yeah. Guess I’ll get out of here.”

“Sure, see you later.”

Getting back to my other life, as Jen put it, I grab my phone and text Aubry.

Me: Do you have time to help me with my abundance spell?

My confidence is in the toilet after my first solo spell on Gabe was a bust.

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