Chapter 39: Someone Broke In
- RAYA -
When Dad walks into the hospital room, I switch the TV off and let out the deepest sigh of relief.
"I’m so sorry, Dad. I shouldn’t have asked you to go feed her. I was worried," I start saying, and he holds up a hand and shakes his head.
"It’s not your fault, Raya. It’s okay," he smiles and comes to kiss me on the non-injured side of my head. "How are you feeling?"
"Bored and helpless. I want to leave."
He chuckles and sits in the chair next to the bed. "It won’t be too much longer." Then he hands me the book I requested with the wolf on the front.
I place my hand over it like I can hide it from him even though he brought it all the way here. At least it’s not one of those super cheesy covers with the Fabio looking gardener and the woman almost spilling out of her dress.
"Thanks. Did everything go okay? Dex was able to help you?"
"Dex was able to help, yes," he says, but there is something else that he isn’t saying. Dad is like me—it’s super obvious when there is something on his mind. "He knows a lot about cars. It was actually really impressive."
"God, he has to have a flaw somewhere," I mumble, and a grin that I have not given permission to starts to spread over my face. It’s not fair. Dex can’t be perfect. He actually went out to help my poor stranded father in a bad part of town. That’s just...
"Raya," Dad says, a smile on his face now, too. "You’re sighing and blushing."
I bury my head in my hands and groan. "God, I know. It’s so bad."
"What’s so bad?" He chuckles.
"I barely know him, but it’s like..." I have to stop myself from saying more, because it’s just going to sound stupid. And I’m not that naive girl anymore to fall for someone I just met.
Things like love at first sight don’t happen in reality. It never works out. The only reason I feel like this now is because of these crazy dreams I was having before Dex appeared—there has to be a medical or psychological explanation for this. And now I’m in the hospital and unable to spend the weekend at the library reading that gigantic diagnostic book to see what obscure, totally bizarre condition I have.
Why don’t I have any psychiatrists as friends? Not that I would want to share this with them if I did.
"You know..." Dad starts, waiting until I peak through my fingers to look at him. "I recently met someone. I was going to tell you girls this weekend actually."
"What? Really?" My dad hasn’t dated anyone in years... literally. And he’s a good-looking guy.
Rory and I have always teased him that he needs to get out and take a chance meeting new people. He would always laugh along with us and then make up some excuse about how dating would interfere with his busy reading schedule.
"Yeah. We met at the market of all places. Picking out flowers," he chuckles. "And it was like... instantly I knew I wanted to spend as much time as I could with her. It was like meeting an old friend. And we’ve been spending every day together since. It’s been four months now."
"Wow! Four months, that’s great. I’m so happy for you, Dad. What’s her name?"
"Patty."
"Patty," I repeat, nodding with a goofy smile. "I can’t wait to meet her. But not like this... she’s not going to come here is she?"
"No. Don’t worry." He pats my leg. "Anyway, I bring this up because it happens. Dex seems like a really great man. His mechanic friend came and picked up the car. It’s supposed to be ready in the morning. And then he took me to your apartment so we could feed Moira Rose."
I’m about to comment on the fact that Dad actually remembers my cat’s name for once, because he never does. But then the horror of having Dex at my place floods me instead. "Oh my god, Dex was in my apartment?" I bury my face in my hands again and groan. "No. He didn’t like... was he just standing there? He didn’t walk around or anything did he?"
Oh my god. Not only did Dex probably see my dad grab this book for me, but he was in MY PLACE. I’m mortified that he even walked in the building.
"I hope he just stood by the door," I mumble, staring at my father with both hands pressed against my cheeks.
This is a nightmare. I know Dex offered to help my dad, and that was so amazing of him. But it never occurred to me that they would go ahead and feed Moira together.
"It’s okay, don’t worry," Dad says and tries to chuckle, but it’s one of those weird nervous chuckles with a grimace that accompanies it, which means something is definitely wrong. Something happened, and he’s uncomfortable or worried. I’m not psychic, but it doesn’t take a lot to read my father.
"Something happened," I say, watching his expression. "Just tell me what it is. Please."
Did I leave underwear lying around? Was there something crazy embarrassing that I would have overlooked in the morning before leaving for work? I can’t think of anything... unless Rory actually picked up a vibrator for me like I suggested and THAT was sitting on the counter.
He tries to smile, but it falters and he starts fidgeting with his hands.
"Oh my god, just tell me. Is it Moira? Is my cat okay?"
He groans and rubs his face. "Yes. Your cat is fine. But your apartment is not. We’re going to have to find you a new place."
"What? Why? What happened?" My thoughts go in a thousand directions. What could have possibly happened in the short time that I haven’t been there? A flood? A fire? "Is it just that it’s not a great area? I know it looks rough, but my neighbors are really nice. Everyone watches out for each other. There are a few odd balls, but you’ll have that anywhere."
He grimaces and rubs his face more. "Someone broke in, Raya. The door was busted in and your stuff was everywhere. You can’t go back there. It’s not safe."
"Oh my god. What? Are you sure?"
"Yes," he says, but his head is shaking the other way. "I am very, very sure. You can’t go back there. We’re going to have to find you another place to stay."
