Addison (The Mitchell/Healy Family #6)(5)

“Maybe she’s too far gone.”

“I don’t believe that.”

I kept moving, walking into the next person’s room. Simon had been here twice before. He used street drugs for the longest time, then finally started shooting heroin into his arm. He’d been clean for months, so this newest stint had me in shock. “Hey there, stranger,” I offered as a greeting.

“Addy. Before you say anything, it was an accident. I had a real bad day at work. They fired me. They said I transferred the wrong file to a potential client. I only did what my manager told me. Now I’m out a job.”

“So what happened?” I leaned on the edge of his bed while he explained. Simon wasn’t a threat to me. He was kind and gentle. He was the type of guy that women wouldn’t date because he was too nice. Unfortunately that left him with low self esteem. He never felt good enough. Being fired most likely triggered this latest bout.

“I drove around for a while trying to clear my head. While I stopped to get something to eat, I saw an old buddy of mine I used to get high with. He invited me over, and at first I did good. I declined his offers, but then I envied how happy he was. I wanted to forget about my problems, even if it was only for a short time.”

“You know you can’t do that. We’re addicts. We always will be.”

He reached over and touched my arm. I let him, because he needed this kind of connection to feel supported. “I’m sorry, Addy. I know you must think I’m an idiot.”

“I think you’re human, Simon.”

“I came right to the hospital when I started going through withdrawal symptoms. I knew if I waited it out on my own I’d use again.”

“You did good. I’m proud of you for being so strong.”

“I’ll be at the first meeting when I’m released. I promise. If I’m not you can stop by my house and drag my butt there.”

I squeezed his hand. “One day you’re going to sweep someone off their feet. I admire your heart.”

“The offer is still open to take that position,” he reminded me.

“Yeah, you know the rules. No dating other addicts.”

“I still love you,” he teased.

“Yeah,” I patted his leg as I stood up. “Ditto. I’ll see you next week, and if you don’t show up, count on me beating down that door.”

“I look forward to it. See you then.”

When I walked out of his room I felt better. Simon would recover. I’d make sure of it, even if I had to personally place myself into his life to remind him he could beat this.

The next three patients were still having major withdrawals. When that occurs there’s little you can talk to them about. They want to feel better, and listening to someone telling them things is out of the question. I went in and introduced myself, leaving a card with the meeting schedule attached. I hoped I’d see them there so we could start working on staying clean, but one never knew who would follow through. I just had to pray I got to someone.

My final patient was the newest admission. He was the one Sammy had told me about. Since he’d been brought in by my favorite cop friend, Joe, there was no telling what kind of person he was. This guy could be a hardcore criminal. He could cuss me out and threaten my life for looking at him.

I entered the room with caution, hoping to God I’d be safe. When I got inside he wasn’t in his bed. I heard hacking coming from the bathroom and cracked open the door. On the floor, curled up against the toilet, the guy was throwing up. He heard me behind him, but didn’t turn around. Through his hospital gown I could see he had tattoos on his back, but couldn’t really make out what they said or were. “Can you get me a paper towel?” He asked in a struggled raspy voice.

I headed over to the sink and wet some, then handed them over. That’s when our eyes met; eyes I’d seen before. It was the guy from the meeting, the one who never came back, and he most certainly saw me standing over him. “It’s you.”





Chapter 3


Addison


“It’s me, addiction counselor in training,” I said in a giddy tone. “I’m Addison, but everyone just calls me Addy.”

“Addison is a pretty name,” he replied while washing off his face.

I backed away when he stood up and went to brush his teeth.

“Thanks. I’ll just wait out in the room for you to get cleaned up.”

“Whatever you need to do,” he sarcastically responded before putting the hospital toothbrush in his mouth.

When I left the bathroom, I stood there with my hand on my heart. It was beating so fast, and I couldn’t understand why. This guy was an addict, yet all I kept thinking about was the way he’d looked at me at the meeting. He was so irresistibly handsome, definitely not in the hardcore criminal kind of way.

Cole was his name. I glanced down at the paperwork again.

Cole Chase. That last name sounded familiar, but I’d met so many people I knew I wouldn’t be able to place it.

He stumbled out of the room with no regard for being in a short hospital gown and a pair of tight boxer briefs. As he passed I tried my best not to look too much, inevitably my curiosity won out. The moment he sat back down on the medical bed I focused back on why I was there. “My chart says you were brought in last night by the police. Is that correct?”