Leave Me Love (Call Me Cat Trilogy #2)(14)

Once my heart rate returned to normal, I opened my eyes and recognized the wall I was leaning against. Curious, I ran my palm over the textured and worn bricks until I found the loose one. I pulled it out and stuck my hand in the small hole, smiling when my fingers grazed a piece of paper. Covering my actions with my body, I freed the paper—folded multiple times like a note passed around class—and replaced the brick. Brig and I had used the loose brick to pass secrets to each other through undergrad. Four years of jokes, laughs and tears, all held by this silent wall. I still had a box of the notes, but hadn't checked the brick since last year.

I opened the note and read Brig's fancy scrawl.



Hey,



What's the difference between a teacher and a train?



The teacher says, "Get that gum out of your mouth," whereas the train says, "Chew, chew."



I know, it's lame. But you try doing better.



I laughed at the random nature of it, grateful for the small memory between friends. I considered writing a reply. A joke I heard in— "Catelyn!"

I forced a smile, shoving the note into my pocket, as Jon approached me. "Hi," I said.

"Hi. You're looking good." He smiled and for a moment I saw the resemblance between him and Ash.

"Thanks. Trying to recover. Oh, did you have a nice visit with Ash yesterday?"

He frowned. "No, why would I have seen my brother?"

"No reason. I just though he stopped by." Because that's what Bridgette had said.

"Nope. Can I walk you to your class?"

"Um, sure." We headed that way while he made small talk about classes, the weather, other stuff I wasn't paying any attention to.

"Hey, Jon, can I ask you a question?"

"Sure."

"Ash was arrested a while back, when he was a teenager. My mother was the DA on the case. Do you know much about it?"

His face closed down, just like that. All the warmth gone. "No, I don't. I gotta get to class."

"Okay, thanks for—"

He walked away before I could finish my sentence. I shook my head, forever perplexed by the moods of men.

I shrugged it off and took my seat in class, waving to Professor Cavin who smiled at me from his post in front of the projector.

Cavin began his lecture. His words started slow, but sped up; the writing on the overhead blurred until I couldn't make it out. The buzzing started in my head again, this time louder than before. Pain spiked behind my eyes. Someone called my name as everything went black.





Chapter Nine


Brain Exams


THE DOCTOR WITH the bushy black eyebrows and thin lips stared down at his clipboard. "We're scheduling you for an MRI. This is likely a result of brain swelling from the concussion. I'm prescribing a medication that should help, but you need to be very careful and get a lot of rest this week while we run some tests." He looked up at me, his eyebrows coming together like a caterpillar over his eyes. "I'd prefer to keep you overnight for observation."

"I know," I said, "but I'd rather sleep in my own bed. I don't sleep very well in hospitals."

He nodded sharply, tore off a prescription and handed it to me. "The nurse will be in with your discharge papers and instructions. You can get dressed."

When he left, I slipped off the gown and put my own clothes on while Brig checked out the medical supplies in the drawers.

"You're such a snoop," I said.

"It's my job." She glanced up from her rummaging. "How are you feeling, for real? You scared the crap out of me."

"I'm feeling fine right now."

My phone buzzed again and I checked it. Ash. Again. I had to call him back and let him know I was okay.

"My parents are expecting us this weekend," Bridgette said. "I'll make sure it's a relaxing evening. No major parties."

I shook my head. "Definitely not, or I won't go."

"Agreed. We'll just rest, eat a lot of yummy food and pretend the rest of the world doesn't exist for a few days."

"That actually sounds wonderful," I said, meaning it. "But Ash might come by. He wanted to spend time with me this weekend."

She smiled. "I can't get over you having a boyfriend. It's crazy!"

The nurse came in and handed me a stack of papers with a lot of scary warnings, and then we were free to leave.

"God, Brig, these hospital visits are going to break me. Now they want an MRI. How much do you think those run?"

She shrugged in a way only the rich can. "You have insurance through school, don't you?"

"Yeah, but it doesn't cover everything."

She linked her arm through mine. "I'm sure it'll be okay."

Right. I rolled my eyes but said nothing.

Ash called Cat that night, and once again paid a lot of money to have a conversation with his girlfriend. I ended my shift early; the doctor thought my late nights had contributed to my blackout.

The new medication made me loopy that week and school and studying suffered. I did get a lot of rest and started feeling better, to the point where I almost canceled my MRI, but Ash insisted I have it done and took me to the appointment. It seemed almost like a date, especially when we fooled around while I was in my hospital gown.