"Yes, that's right. Bunni with an 'i'. Honestly, I can't believe how bad women are to fellow members of our sex."
"I can't believe how members of the opposite sex cheat on the women they claim to love," I said with a shrug. Although I didn't love Jerkface anymore, the betrayal still stung. I don't think there could be a worse form of betrayal than by the man or woman you thought loved you and were planning on marrying.
At least Josh and I had that in common...
"Both sexes cheat," my father said derisively. "It takes two to tango..."
"It does," I replied and finally, we arrived on the main floor and left the building.
I was so glad to be out of Macintyre Publishing, hoping I didn't run into Keith again or be forced to lie any more than I already had to my parents.
I loved them, but I would be glad when they returned to New Hampshire. Soon enough, I'd have to come clean about dating Josh, but I didn't want to get into it until I had a better idea whether we would stay together.
I wanted to -- I felt giddy whenever I thought about him, but I'd been burned and too recently to have much faith.
I hoped Josh proved me wrong.
8
Josh
After David returned from the OR and was settled into his observation room, I spent the night in the lounge outside the ICU. Sleep was fitful, and I was awoken several times as people entered or left the ward. In the morning when I woke for the final time, I checked on David. It was around seven in the morning and hospital kitchen workers were pushing around the meal carts for breakfast. David was gone from his room and for a moment, I panicked, thinking that he'd gotten worse while I slept and was back in surgery.
I rushed to the nursing station and bent over the counter, frantic to know where he was.
"Can you tell me where David Macintyre is? He's not in his room."
The nurse glanced up from her monitor. "Mr. Macintyre is getting another MRI to check on his injuries. He should be back pretty soon." She gave me a smile and I relaxed a bit.
I wiped my brow dramatically. "For a moment, I was worried that he went back into surgery or something."
"No, it's just a follow-up scan to make sure he is okay to be moved to the surgical ward. You should be able to take see him once he's back and the doctors have done morning rounds."
I went back to the lounge and fixed myself a cup of coffee and a piece of toast with peanut butter, graciously provided for family members who were spending time in the lounge. Then, I waited.
While I waited, I sent an email to one of the security techs at MBS who often did research for the paper to get background on people for news articles.
JOSH: Hey Pete, can you do a full background check on this old friend of mine? Her name is Penelope McNeil and she's from Millbrook, Alabama. She's currently a junkie and I’m hoping to help her get into rehab.
PETE: Sure thing, boss. You want a full background? I can talk to local police to see if she has a record, that sort of thing.
JOSH: Whatever you can find out. I appreciate it. She's the sister of an old army buddy who recently died and she's not doing well.
PETE: No prob. I understand.
For the next hour, I read over the headlines on my cell, trying to get caught back up with the world after the previous day spent surfing and then in the hospital. I checked my watch and at around nine, I went back to the nursing station.
"He's still not back in his room," I said, starting to get worried.
"Oh, Mr. Macintyre was taken to the ward already. I'm sorry but you must have been in the washroom when it happened, and I didn't see you to tell you. You should be able to go up now."
I thanked her and took the elevator up to the surgical ward, stopping in to ask the nurses there how he was.
"He's a bit sleepy but he's stable. The docs are doing rounds right now so if you'd like, you can wait in the family lounge just down the hall. They should be done in fifteen minutes."
When the time had finally come that I could visit David, I went into his room just as his nurse was finishing recording his vitals. She gave me a smile and I went over to David's side. His eyes were closed so I assumed he was sleeping. I didn't want to wake him but was glad to see that he was still breathing, and his color was a bit better than the last time I saw him.
I pulled a chair over beside the bed and sat down, taking out my cell so I could read more news headlines while he slept.