Page 23 of Screwed
He rolled his head back and forth on the pillow. “I’m okay. Pissed that I’m missing the game.”
Her eyes softened. “Yeah. How long will you be in the hospital?”
“I might get out tomorrow, or the next day.”
“Oh, that’s good. Are you in pain?” Her eyebrows pulled down.
“Eh. A little. They’re giving me good drugs.”
“Oh, that’s good.”
“Why are you dressed like that?”
Callie’s family was rich as sin, and she was a pampered, pretty sorority sister who flitted through life surrounded by glitter and rainbows and smiling friends, but even she wouldn’t dress like this to visit someone in the hospital.
“Oh.” She glanced down at herself. “I actually came to visit someone else. Um, she’s out in the hall. Could I bring her in?”
What was happening here? These drugs were really messing with his mind. “Uh. Sure.”
She glided out of the room and returned pushing a small wheelchair. A girl with very short, wispy reddish hair sat in it. “This is Hannah. Along with Disney princesses, she also loves college football. I told her a friend of mine was here, and she wondered if we could visit you.”
Still confused, he said, “Hi, Hannah. Nice to meet you.”
“This is Cash Hale,” Callie said to Hannah. “He plays for the Longhorns.”
Hannah’s eyes lit. “Are you the quarterback?”
“No. Wide receiver.”
She nodded eagerly. “I hope you win tonight. I mean, I hope the team wins. Even without you.”
“Yeah, I hope so, too. Wish I was playing.”
This was kind of bizarre. They talked a little football, then about his appendectomy, and then he asked, “And why are you here in this hospital, Hannah?”
“I have leukemia,” she said matter-of-factly. “I’ve had it for a long time. It went away, but it came back, and so I’m having more chemotherapy.” She sighed. “I thought I was done with all the needles and stuff.”
“Oh.” Well, that put his freakin’ appendectomy right into perspective.
“Hannah’s been through a lot.” Callie set a gentle hand on Hannah’s wispy hair. “She’s a warrior princess.”
Hannah’s smile was radiant in her pale face. “I am.”
Wow.
“I better get you back to your room, Miss Hannah.” Callie rose from the chair.
“Okay.” Hannah tipped her head. “You look so pretty. Doesn’t she look pretty?” She turned to Cash.
“She does,” he said roughly. She looked gorgeous.
“Belle is my favorite princess. Because she loves books.”
“You like to read?” Callie asked with a sweet smile. “I do, too.”
“Thank you for bringing me here.” Hannah turned to him. “Thanks for letting me visit.”
“Thankyou.”
