“Oh,” I begin, “I had no idea you’ve been coming here.”
“Well, your mom’s a fun person to hang out with,” she adds. “I hear you’re getting out of here, Elise.”
“I am. So, if you want to visit, you’ll have to drive to my house instead of the hospital.”
“And I will. Our canasta nights are too fun to stop just because you’re out of the hospital.”
“Come, sit.” My mom motions toward the chair next to her bed.
“Oh, I can’t stay long—”
“Ember Bowman, you better come sit your but down in this chair.” My mom points at Ember and then back to the chair.
“Okay.” She laughs. “I can sit for a minute, but then I have to see Sylvie before heading out. She’s hoping things don’t work out with Declan so she can set me up with her grandson.”
“Sounds like Sylvie,” my mom says as Ember sits down. “But things must be going well. Zeke told me you live with them now.”
“Temporarily. Cam and I aren’t on speaking terms, so being home isn’t a good idea right now.”
“He’ll get over it.”
“I hope so.” She sighs. “But until then, I get to live with a bunch of horny hockey players.”
“I’m pretty sure you’ve never walked in on me having sex, Ember. And since you’ve been staying with us, I’ve caught youtwice.”
“You have to be home for me to catch you,” she responds. “And most nights, you’re not. Don’t think that I don’t hear you leaving the house at random hours. Seriously, where are you going?”
“I’m—”
“Baby.” Avalon’s voice makes its way into the room before she does. I turn toward the door and watch as the smile on her face slowly fades when she sees Ember. “Oh, um—” her eyes land on me for a quick second before returning to Ember, “—wrong room.”
I feel Ember’s eyes burning into me, and I don’t need to look at her to know there’s a smile growing on her face. She hops out of her chair, “I knew it!”
My head falls back as Ember walks over to Avalon.
“You’re the girl,” she says. “The one he’s been hiding.”
“I-I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Avalon argues.
Ember tugs at the receipt on the Chinese bag, reading over it before looking back at Avalon. “So, you just happen to have his favorite food from his favorite Chinese restaurant by the hospital.”
I forgot I told Ember about this place when she drove me here last month. We drove by it, and I told her she’d have to try it sometime. There’s no other Chinese restaurant like it.
“Stewart,” I begin, “there’s no use denying it.”
“Wait a second,” Ember pauses. “Avalon Stewart? The girl you slept with at the party after the first hockey game?”
“Why do you know that?”
“Because the guys talk. You’re in a class with Jaxon.”
“I am,” Avalon replies.
“You guys have been hiding your relationship since October?” Ember asks. “Damn, and I thought hiding my relationship from my brother was hard, but you’ve been hiding it from everyone.”
“It’s complicated,” we say in unison.
“Well,” Ember grabs Avalon, pulling her to the chair next to me and forcing her to sit down, “I’ve got all the time in the world.”