Page 73 of Extraction Play
Pixie let out a watery laugh. “If things were bad, I’m pretty sure I’d be coming out here a whole lot differently. You read me right.”
Micah, Parker, Sloan, Tristan, and Meg were filling the seats while Nole and Fin hovered beside her. She still couldn’t get over everyone in the waiting room with her. It was time to rip the Band-Aid off, at least about her mother. She could dive into more with Micah when they had their boba date.
“The EMTs thought her head trauma was a lot worse. She’s just got a mild concussion. She’s got schizoaffective disorder, and she’s in a manic episode, so that was what confused them.”
Pixie’s shoulders tensed as she waited for everyone to throw judgmental looks at her or dig deeper into her past she wasn’t comfortable constantly ripping open. Eva gave her another squeeze.
“Sounds like good news, then,” Meg said. “Are they addressing her mental health here?”
“Yeah, she’ll be in a psych hold.” Relief washed over her. Micah fixed her with a knowing look that pierced right through. Given hisskills in reading people, he’d probably pieced a lot of her past together over the years.
“Okay, so do you want to stay here longer? Or are they taking her to the ward soon?” Meg directed the group like she always seemed to do. Pixie was grateful as fuck for it.
“She’ll be heading there any minute,” Pixie said, resting her head against Eva.
“Why don’t we go get something to eat?” Eva said. “It’s midday on a Sunday, so guaranteed there are a lot of places open. You’ve got to be starving.”
“I am,” Micah said. “I haven’t even had coffee yet.”
“What a war crime.” Parker carded his fingers through Micah’s curls.
“Brilliant idea,” Meg said. “The sooner we can get out of here, the better. Otherwise, I’m pretty sure we’re going to get the boot in a minute.”
“Correct,” the nurse at the desk said. “You lot generate way too much noise.”
“You should hear us on a Play Night,” Fin said, a Cheshire grin on their face.
Nolan smacked them in the arm. “Seriously, Fin. We’re in a hospital.”
They shrugged. “I’m sure this hospital’s seen plenty of action.” The nurse snorted, and laughter bubbled up inside Pixie. Fuck, she loved these people so much.
“You want to hear a good story?” Fin asked the nurse, and already Meg was striding over to rein them in. “I’ve got this one about a watermelon…”
“You’re not going to scar this poor nurse with the watermelon story.” Meg gave Fin’s ear a tug. Fin flicked her in the arm.
In a single day, all the isolation Pixie had been consumed by had vanished. Today had reminded her of the truth—that she already had a family she’d formed here in San Francisco. She’d put in the time to seek out all the right people in her life, and giving that up would be the worst decision she could make. She had everything she needed to fuel her art and happiness here in the city.
“Come on, dove,” Eva said, drawing away. Pixie let out a whimper by accident, and Eva’s lips curved into a smirk.
“Don’t think the two of you are getting out of explaining all that.” Sloan pointed between them. “Just saying.”
“Stella’s Café is about a five-minute drive from here,” Parker announced, scrolling through his phone. “Want to meet there?”
“You’re driving with me.” Eva intertwined her fingers with Pixie’s. “Micah can hitch a ride with his boyfriend.”
“Thank fuck,” Micah said. “Your five miles under the speed limit approach is worse than Aunt Peggy’s.”
Eva lifted her middle finger at Micah, and warmth exploded in Pixie’s chest. Such a simple, stupid gesture, but them bickering was proof positive that everything would be okay.
“All right.” Eva tugged her toward the door. “We’ll lead the charge out.”
Pixie moved along with her as they reached the corridor and headed down it. Unlike when she’d been approaching, she felt a thousand pounds lighter now. The adrenaline had crashed, but it had been replaced by overflowing joy. One she’d never experienced before in her life.
They entered the elevator, and all too fast, they stopped on the first floor. Pixie was floating, pure buoyancy.
“I’m sorry I wasn’t the one to drive you,” Eva said. “I was thinking of you the whole time.”
Pixie shook her head. “No, this was important too. If I hadn’t seen that everyone showed up for me today, I don’t know if I would have believed it could happen. And Micah being okay means the world to me. I’m assuming the two of you made up.”