Page 95 of Sloane
If I didn’t think Major Branson would hand me my ass without any regard that I was burned and disfigured, I would have told Dr. Warneke where he could stick his assessment of my psychological health.
Instead, I bit my tongue and asked, “When will I be leaving?”
“You’re scheduled to be transferred on Friday.”
Two days. I could make it two more days without my mouth getting me in trouble.
~~~~
“That’s great news, buddy. Just let me know when and a few of us will be on the next flight out.”
“Nah, you don’t need to go to all that trouble. I know Grace’s residency match is coming up.”
“It’s no trouble; Match Day is exactly that—one day. I’m sure I can work around that. Besides, Craig and I want to help get you situated in your new place.”
“It’s not like a fucking apartment. It’s a hospital room with, like, two drawers. It’s not a lot of work to move two drawers’ worth of stuff in.”
“We’d kind of like to see you, too, asshole.”
Fuck.
I was being an asshole.
I’d never been an asshole to my friends. Maybe Dr. Warneke wasn’t as far off-base as I thought.
“How about this? Let me get settled and see what the doctors there have planned as far as surgeries go, and we’ll come up with a date for you to come in April or May.”
“I hope you’re not just attempting to kick the can down the road with the hope I’ll forget or give up.”
“I know you too well to think that.” My friend could be as stubborn as I could. Attempting to change the subject, I asked, “How’s my dog?”
~~~~
We decided Ryan and Craig would come for a visit on April sixteenth.
When the day arrived, I was chomping at the bit to see them, and not because I was excited for their company. They were going to get an earful from me.
I at least had the wherewithal to let Craig get used to my appearance and exchange pleasantries first.
Ryan studied me for a minute before he said, “I expected your face to be worse than it is. I mean, it’s still fucked up, but it’s not as bad as I thought.”
“My helmet protected me somewhat, so the burns on my face were only second degree. I’m still going to be scarred, but it won’t be as severe as the rest of my body.”
“That’s good news. Maybe you’ll actually be able to get laid again someday.”
And there was my opening.
“Yeah, speaking of that. Which one of you has been talking to Ashley?”
The two men looked at each other and shook their heads.
“Not me.”
“I haven’t.”
“Then how the fuck did she know I’m in San Antonio?”
“Did she come visit you?” Ryan asked incredulously. “You better not have been a dick again to that girl.”