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“I know right!” Hannah chips in “Did you see the buns of steel on his derrière?”
We laugh and I finally feel like I can breathe again, despite rab lunch for us and leave Hannah and I with Ari
“Well, you look a hell of a lot better than you did yesterday,” Hannah observes “How are you feeling?”
“I feel better, and I’ to take another week off school”
“Don’t sweat it, Hayls,” Hannah says “Your tests have been rescheduled and Professor De Jong said you can see her when you’re back at school for an extra credit assignment to make up for the practical you missed”
“Thanks again, Han, I don’t knohat I would’ve done if you didn’t go through all this trouble to help me”
“Will you stop saying thank you already?” she chides “It’s nothing I’ better I also wish you had told ed you or anything”
I look down at Ari, seeing that she’s occupied with a new doll, and walk over to Hannah “I’ by keeping quite about her I want to protect her fro as I can And I didn’t want anyone to ask nant in the first place”
“I understand,” Hannah says She sighs and we both stand in front of theoverlooking the lush green hospital grounds “But I want you to know that you can trust me”
“I do I guess I just expected everyone to react the way Cah”
“Speaking of Ca and pretty much tore him a new ass hole”
I give her a stern look,to Ari
Hannah mouths ‘Sorry’ and I ask her, “Why did you do that?”
“Because he was a total…” she pauses, stopping herself fro another curse word that Ari is bound to repeat “Jerk, and he could’ve handled it better”
I’ue, because I too believe Cameron could’ve handled it differently, but I’ve since let it slide on the premise that I don’t have tiiven root to another concern; will every hter?
Brushing the unwelcoaze “It’s nothing Hannah,” I lie It’s not nothing, but I need it to be “I wasn’t as forthco as I should’ve been, and now that it’s over, Cameron is free to date someone who doesn’t have the kind of responsibility I do I’ alone”
Her eyes stay fixed onthe lie that has fallen from my mouth so easily She doesn’t believe me, but I need to believe randmother and Taylor, with Macy attached to her hip, corowls froh over this past week The hospital cafeteria food is less than appetizing but I’ry to protest We all sit around Ari’s bed, me next to her, and chat with a renewed sense of exuberance The worry and fear that has plagued , has finally left
Looking at the two other wo that the little one next toof all And no ent, canher
It’s the nextAri one last tie papers I’m happy that I can finally take her ho after her and keeping her at hoives us the all clear, asking ain in three weeks for a check up and then giving me all the post-care information I’ll need He’s advised rand as little as possible for the first week When we get ho her in for an afternoon nap I have a few things I need to sort out with one of my professors, so when Ari has finally fallen asleep, I take a quick drive to ca Friday, it’s fairly e professor just as she’s leaving the lecture hall