Sasha and I got out on the other side, and we heard her grumbling as the doors were shut, locked, and she met us around the back. She pointed the flashing pager at us. “And don’t you two fucks think I don’t know that there’s more to both your stories. I’m not stupid, you morons.” After that, she marched to Bresko’s entrance.
Sasha walked with me, and after her third sigh for the night, she linked our elbows and drew next to me. Her hip bumped mine, but she held me tight. She inclined her head. “Are you sure you’re sure?”
I patted her hand holding my arm and whispered, leaning my own head to touch her forehead, “I’m sure I’m sure.”
Her hand tightened.
I patted again.
We shared a smile and walked the rest of the way.
I was totally fine with her and Chad.
And we didn’t talk about Chad or Cut the rest of the night.* * *From: Koala Boy
To: Cheychey
Subject: Did you find out anything?From: Cheychey
To: Koala Boy
Subject: That you’re awesome! Not kidding. She likes you.From: Koala Boy
To: Cheychey
Subject: Why do we only use the subject line?From: Cheychey
To: Koala Boy
Subject: BECAUSE YOU’RE AWESOME!12CutHaving a messed up elbow sucked, but it sucked more that I was missing Come Our Way.
I got called in for extra physical therapy and Cassie had me going through a whole rotation today.
PT was amazing. PT was magical, but some days, PT sucked ass. Today it was sucking ass in the way that for once I didn’t want to be here today.
But, my elbow needed it.
Cassie stepped back from me, nodding to my elbow. “It’s still sore, but you should be fine. I think they were smart to pull you in yesterday and today. Just do a lot of soaks today, or as much as you think is needed. You know your limit.”
She was our physical therapy worker. To some, she was the younger sister, and to others, the big sister. She was more a friend to me, and I nodded. “Sounds good. Thanks.”
“So…” She grabbed a towel, pausing before heading back to her office. We were in the back PT room, and a few of the other guys had come in early as well.
I waited. She had something to say.
“You know that girl from Friday night?”
Jesus. Did everyone know?
She kept on, “I saw her again last night. She and her friends. They were at Bresko’s.” Another pause. She was eyeing me, her head cocking downwards at a tilt. “I think one of her friends was the one you took home that night, too.”
It took a second, then—Cheyenne.
And she wasn’t talking about my girl at first. Her girl.
“Wait. What? You saw Cheyenne last night?”
“Yeah. She’s nice, too.”
Fucking fuck. I was jealous of my PT friend.
That was a nice kick to the dick.
“Yeah?”
She was still eyeing me, and at that, they went flat. “You don’t want to talk about her?”
I did.
But I wanted to be able to participate in the conversation, and I couldn’t, and my PT friend could, and that was making my balls clench up.
“No. I’m good. So, you had fun last night?” Wait. “You said Bresko’s?”
She nodded, giving me a duh look. “You don’t think anyone knows, but we all know.”
Goddamn.
This team gossiped worse than high schoolers.
“You have a new girl in rotation.”
I frowned. “What?”
Her head inclined toward me, her hands going to her hips. “You don’t do the randoms, but you don’t have a girlfriend, and we know you have a few girls you keep in rotation. I might’ve saw an engagement post by one of them, and then…” She lifted up a shoulder. “You took that new girl home with you, so you have a new girl in rotation?” Her voice rose, becoming clearer, a bit more professional. “I’m just letting you know because I might be hanging out with her friend, and I know you’re big on privacy. Now you know.”
Goddamn again. I had no clue how to process any of that shit.
“You’re hanging out with the friend? What does hanging out mean?”
Cassie blushed, her head dipping down again. “It’s just, I don’t know.” She lifted once more, her cheeks all pink. “I go slow, if you didn’t know that by now.”
“So you’re not actually hanging out. You’re like, dating, but slow dating?”
“Uh…” She began edging backwards, grabbing another towel and flicking it over her shoulder. “Consider you have been given the heads-up and I’m off to my next client. Good luck tonight if I don’t see you before you pad up.”
“Thanks, Cassie.”
She gave me a small smile before heading out, disappearing into the hallway.
Hendrix was coming in as she left. They both said their hellos, then he turned my way.
“Hey.” He came over, hopping up on the seat next to me. “They checked you over?”
I stretched my arm out. She was right. My elbow was still tight, but it’d be fine. I knew that already this morning when they called, said I should head in here instead of the community outreach project with Come Our Way. I’d been hoping to see Cheyenne, see her in her element, but no go, and I glanced at Hendrix.