“How about we go get us some dinner at the house, and I find you one of those moo moos you speak so highly of?” Flynn asked cheekily through the bathroom door.
I washed my hands and whipped the door open only to punch him in his arm.
“You really are a piece of work,” I laughed.
“Want me to put that cup at the nurse’s station?” Flynn asked.
“You’re not putting my pee cup anywhere, Flynn. I’m healing. I can get some things on my own.”
I took the cup over to the nurse’s station, and she nodded at me with a smile on her face. We both made our way towards the exit, and when we stepped out into the harsh sunlight of an Oklahoma summer, I felt Flynn slip his hand around my waist.
“How are ya feelin’?” he asked lowly in my ear.
And I lied to him when I told him I felt fine.
Chapter 15: Flynn
I saw that Chelsea’s smile in the doctor’s office didn’t quite reach her
eyes, and I talked with the doctor while Chelsea was in the bathroom. The doctor told me that she was healing well and that her tests were coming back with good results, and I knew that meant one particular thing: that Chelsea would be going back to work soon, and she would be leaving once again.
I wasn’t under any stupid impression of her staying. I knew she’d get better and I knew she’d go back to wherever it was she now resided and worked doodling whatever fashions she was doodling. I found her sketchpad one day while she was passed out from her medications, and the ideas she had in mind were actually pretty awesome. They wouldn’t be anything you’d see in a small town like this, but they were really beautiful.
I hoped she was working with someone who valued her ideas and not someone who just bullied her around and made her get them coffee.
The entire truck ride home I felt her pulling away. Her grip on my hand wasn’t as tight, and her head was constantly turned out to look at the passing scenery. I tried to jump start a bit of conversation, but all she gave me was one-word answers and a few grunts. I wanted to know what was on her mind because I wanted to help. I wanted to tell her that I was under no impression that she was sticking around, but I did also tell her that I wanted to keep in touch. I wanted to be able to call and her email so we could exchange them regularly. I wanted to know her mailing address so I could send her things on her birthday and for the holidays, and I wanted to ask her if there was any way we could… I don’t know… video each other or something. I saw people do it in town all the time on their phones and laptops, and I wanted to tell her I could get a phone or laptop that had that capability.
I wanted to tell her that I supported whatever career she wanted, even if we did the long-distance thing for a while. She had to know that I would try and make this work. Somehow.
We got back to my house, and she pushed quickly out of the truck and made her way to the house. I stumbled out and jogged after her, but when she realized the house was locked, I reached over her shoulder and unlocked the door for her. I pushed it open, and she strode in, and just before she made her way to the stairs, I grabbed her arm and turned her around.
“Chelsea.”
“Yes?” she asked lightly.
“Don’t play coy with me. What’s wrong?” I asked.
“Nothing. Just… not feeling well.”
“The doctor said you were doing fine. Did you eat something bad?” I asked.
“No. Just tired, I guess,” she sighed.
“Well, gimme a second, and I’ll come slide in beside ya,” I nodded.
“No no no. That’s fine. You just, do your thing. It’ll be a short nap.”
There it was. She was pulling away. Everything we had started between one another was slowly fading away, and she thought I was an idiot. I’d ridden this roller coaster with her on many occasions, and a small spark of angry wafted within the pit of my gut.
“Chelsea,” I said.
“Yes, Flynn,” she sighed.
“I’m not an idiot, so stop treatin’ me like one.”
Her eyes fell heavily on mine, and something akin to guilt wafted over her eyes. She felt bad that she had to go back to work, and I needed her to know that I knew that was gonna happen. I didn’t expect her to stay and lord knows I wasn’t gonna make her, but I could easily tell she wasn’t going to tell me what was going on in that head of hers. I let out a long sigh.
“I’m gonna start cooking dinner in a couple hours. I’ll come get ya when it’s ready.”