Page 41 of A Fine Line

Warmth travels across my chest and up my neck. “In your basement, I’m sure.”

“I don’t have a basement, silly.” He smiled, one that was drunk and goofy and so cute I couldn’t help but reciprocate.

“Good for me then, huh?”

“Vera good.” I think he was going for a Scottish accent there, not entirely sure.

I rounded the bed and got closer, passed where I would be out of view from all of the IV situation happening. I was never a fan of needles.

“How are you feeling?” My hand moved to rest next to his, limp and probably numb.

“Gooood.” He was staring directly down my sweater without a hint of embarrassment, my cheeks felt warm but I didn’t have the strength to tell him to stop.

“They’ve got you on the good stuff, huh?”

“Reaalll good, Winnie girl.”

I snorted. “So, listen, I need to call your family-”

“UGH.” Crew groaned, loud and strong enough for the nurse to physically jump in her spinny stool and glance our way. She glared at me like I pinched him. I pointed a finger at him and widened my eyes. Not my fault you guys have him higher than the moon.

“Crew, I realize you’re anxious-”

“I aint anxious, baby doll.” This accent was clearly an attempt at mocking my own. For the sake of moving this along, I chose not to mock him back.

“Well, either way, we need to call at least your mom and update her. I have your phone but none of the contacts are pulling up right.”

“Mothership.” He mumbled, his eyes are stuck on the buttons of my sweater and I don’t exactly feel like telling him to move them up.

“What?”

“Moms name in there is mothership. Or Mother Teresa, I can’t remember. My password is one, two, three four.”

“Okay, I got- Crew.” I paused and forced his gaze up to my eyes. “Why is your password one, two, three, four?”

“I donwanna forget it.” His words are slurring worse and his eyes feel so distant.

“Do you regularly forget passwords?” There’s a smile in my voice I can’t push away.

“I forget everything, Win. I’m broken like that.”

My hand lifted on its own, resting along his jaw covered in scruff. His eyes poured into mine, pupils dilated and swimming in my own. I’d never felt someone attention so fully. I could say anything, do anything, and I think he would keep those eyes stuck like glue directly on mine. I knew he wouldn’t remember it. But I would.

“You just feel like that cause they’ve got you on the good stuff, you’ll remember everything better when you’re wide open again.”

His head shook sloppily, my hand caught between his neck and jaw. “You don’t get it. ‘Is okay, no one does.”

“So, what is my contact name under?” I asked to bump the topics around.

“Witchy Woman.”

I cackled, searched the name, and sure enough, yes. It was. With a tiny witch hat emoji beside it that I was going to have no choice but over think later.

I lowered my hand between us and passed his shoulder, covered by the thin hospital gown. “Alright, bud. Well, I’m gonna call your mom and update them and I’ll come back.”

Crews heavy lids struggled the stay half open when he nodded.

“I’ll forget the rest, but I’m gonna remember you, Win. I’ll always remember you.”