Roni turned over and opened her eyes when her head was met with a cushion. She pulled the blanket closer to her, willing to sleep despite the sun shining through the windows of Joey’s living room. She must have fallen asleep talking to Joey last night.
She almost confided in him about her newly admitted feelings for Chris, but she didn’t. If Chris was getting married what would it matter? If he was happy, she’d have to be happy for him. At this moment she was worried about him. He insisted on being alone last night.
*FLASHBACK*
Chris pulled out of Roni’s embrace and put his phone back in his pocket. He wiped at the corner of his eyes and looked into Roni’s eyes. “I’ve got to get going.”
”Chris,” Roni called as she followed him. She caught up to him at the front door. “Chris, what’s wrong? Where’s Mari?”
”At JC’s,” he replied. “She’s staying there tonight.”
”Where are you going? JC’s or home?”
He shrugged. “I don’t know.”
”Is she staying at JC’s?”
”She said she was.” He looked away. “She said she didn’t want to be in the same house as me tonight.”
”What?” Roni followed him to his car.
”I don’t know.” He unlocked the car. He opened the driver’s side door and sighed. “I think I might just go home. Respect her wishes and wait for her call. She has to come to my house at some time. That’s where her friends moved all her stuff.”
”Chris,” she placed a hand on his arm, “do you want me to come with you?”
He shook his head. “Nah. If Mari calls or something I want to be there alone. She’ll be home tomorrow and it sounds like the two of us should talk.”
”Okay.” Roni nodded and hugged him. “I’m going to be at Joey’s if you need me.”
”Fine.” Chris hugged Roni quickly and climbed in the car. He turned the car on and pulled out of his parking spot. As he pulled away he looked in the rear view mirror he mumbled, “Love ya, Ron, but you’re so ruining my life right now.”
After Roni watched him pull away she re-entered the party and told Joey she wanted to go home.
*END FLASHBACK*
Roni swung her legs over the edge of the couch and slowly got up. She stumbled into the kitchen and poured herself a glass of orange juice. Roni sat and stared out the kitchen window as she sipped her juice.
”Morning.”
Roni looked up in surprise to see Lily pour herself a cup of coffee. “Morning. How’d you sleep?”
”Have you ever slept next to Joey?”
“Enough said.” Roni laughed. “So what are your plans for today?”
”I have no idea.” Lily searched the refrigerator before pulling a yogurt cup out. “What’s on your plate?”
”I don’t know. I was going to see Chris, but that was before last night. Mari spent the night at JC’s and is supposed to go to Chris’ sometime today. Unless she showed up last night, which is doubtful.”
”Mari spent the night at JC’s?” Lily sat and uncovered her yogurt. “This is just getting better by the minute.”
”What is?”
”This whole situation. First, Chris is going to propose, but you show up. You show up and Mari runs, and who does she run to? JC.”
”So you know about JC’s feelings?”
Lily cocked an eyebrow. “You know about them?”
”Yeah. I called him on them last night. This has to be hard on him to know one of his best friends wants to propose to the woman he loves.”
”It is. Especially when…” Lily trailed off.
”When what, Lil?”
”Nothing.” Lily shook her head and stood to put her spoon in the sink.
”Come on, Lily. What were you going to say?”
”It’s nothing.”
”Can I ask you something then?”
”Sure.”
”Well,” Roni slid her empty glass across the table, “JC said something about Chris asking Mari out because he didn’t think he could get the girl he wants. Who does Chris want? I never heard of this girl.”
Lily paused. “You know her, Ron.”
”Is it…is it you?”
Lily laughed. “God no. We don’t need Joey and Chris falling for the same girl again. The first time is already becoming an interesting situation.”
”What the hell are you talking about, Lily? Who are you talking about? You and Joey have been together for a while and who else from back then is still around that either Joey or Chris wanted?”
”You really don’t know?”
”No. Please tell me.”
”Morning, ladies.”
The two women looked up and smiled as Joey kissed them both on the cheek and made his way to the coffee machine. He made it the way he liked and pulled Lily against the counter next to him. He gave her a quick kiss and the couple faced Roni.
”So what were you two beauties talking about?”
Roni stretched in her seat. “Lily was about to tell me about the one girl both you and Chris have fallen for that is making something an interesting situation.”
”Lily?” Joey looked at his fiancée.
”What?”
”Were you really going to do that? I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
”Why isn’t it a good idea? Something needs to be said before Chris proposes to Mari and they marry the wrong people. Mari isn’t for Chris. She’s perfect for JC. Both you and I know that.”
”Lily!”
”Oh don’t worry. Roni knows all about JC’s feelings for Mari and I’m sure she agrees with us.”
”Well, I really don’t know her.”
”But you don’t want her with Chris.”
”Lily,” Joey warned.
Roni stood and placed her glass in the sink and stared out the window. “I mean if they’re happy who am I to say something.”
”Roni, why don’t you want Chris with Mari?”
”I don’t know.” She looked down. “They just don’t seem right together.”
”Who does Chris belong with?”
”Lily,” Joey warned again, but got waved off.
”Hell if I know. I ju-“
”No, not hell if you know.” Lily approached Roni and made the younger woman face her. “You know exactly why Chris isn’t right for Mari.”
”What are you talking about?”
”Roni, look me in the eyes and tell me you honestly don’t think there is someone better for Chris.” Lily paused and Roni opened her mouth, but Lily interrupted her. “Tell me you’re not better for Chris.”
”What the…?”
”Come on, Ron,” Lily exploded, “tell me you’re not in love with Chris. Look into my eyes and tell me you’re not jealous of Mari. Just tell me that.”
”I’m not in love with Chr-“
”You’re not looking into my eyes. Ron.”
”You know what? I don’t need this.” Roni stormed into the living room and began folding the blanket she used the night before.
”Why are you denying something we all know? We all know you and Chris can’t live without each other. Roni, you’re the one who both Joey and Chris have fallen for. It’s you. You and Joey weren’t meant for each other, which I’m happy about, but you and Chris belong with each other.” Lily followed Roni as the younger female stormed around the house, collecting her belongings. “I know how close you two always have been. I like to think of it as foreplay until you two were ready to be together.”
Roni stopped in her tracks. “Foreplay? You know what? I don’t even want to know. I just want to get away from here.”
”And how were you planning on that one? You don’t have a car here.”
Roni sighed deeply. She thought for a moment before turning to Joey. “Can I borrow your car? I need to take a drive.”
Joey looked between Lily and Roni and sighed. “Sure. The keys are by the door. Just call later so I know you’re all right.”
”Thanks, Joe.” Roni kissed his cheek and glared at Lily before grabbing her bag and Joey’s keys and storming out the door.
Joey watched Roni peel down the street before turning to Lily. “Why did you do that?”
”Do what? Tell the truth? Joe, it needs to come out before it’s too late. Maybe she’ll get to Chris’ before Mari does.”
”Hun,” Joey closed the front door, “she said she was going to take a drive.”
”Joey, can you honestly tell me you don’t think her first instincts are to run to Chris?”
”No. No, I can’t.”
~~~~~~
Chris squeezed the bridge of his nose as he tried for the fifth time to read the paperwork. When Roni and Mari entered his mind again he threw the piece of paper across the table. He ran a hand through his hair and laid his forehead on the table. Last night he hadn’t slept well. Every time he closed his eyes the image of Roni in his arms the night before came. One image came more than the others, the image of her lips. When he finally fell asleep his dreams continued the dance, and as his lips were about to meet hers he woke up. Now that he was awake and reliving the dreams in his head Mari’s voice telling him to have fun with Roni cut in.
Chris sighed deeply and spread his arms above his head on the table. He heard the front door open and close. He heard the footsteps and heard his name being called but he didn’t move or answer.
”Chris?”
Chris still didn’t look up when the voice entered the kitchen. Looking up meant dealing with his life, which he didn’t want to do.
”Chris,” Mari’s voice was stronger and closer.
He took a deep breath and sat up. “Hi, Mar.”
”Hey.” She leaned against the doorframe and the two stared at each other for a few moments. “So…”
”So what?” Chris crossed his arms. “You’re the one who left without an explanation last night.”
Mari bit her bottom lip and looked away. Last night her talk with JC was eye opening. Now she knew how things were between Chris and Roni and now she was glad she left before something went wrong. “So, Chris, why didn’t you propose to me last night?”
”What…?” His jaw dropped. “How- how did you know about that? Who told you?”
”No one had to tell me. I overheard you talk about it once while I was in the rafters and you were on stage.”
”You listened in on a private conversation. If that’s not disrespectful I don’t know what is.”
”Chris,” she began to pace, “I was planning on announcing my presence by surprising you, but you surprised me first. After I didn’t reveal myself I thought it would be better if I didn’t say anything and act surprised when you proposed to me. Guess that’s not happening now.”
”Why wouldn't I still propose?” Chris slid off his chair and when he was in front of Mari raised a knee. “Mari Anne, would yo-“
Mari covered his mouth with a hand. “Chris, don’t do anything you really don’t want to do.”
”What has changed since last night? Last night you wanted this.”
”How do you know I wanted this last night?” Mari stepped away from him.
Chris sat on the floor. “If you didn’t want it you would have said something after you overheard my plans. You did nothing to stop it. Plus, if you didn’t want it me not proposing wouldn’t hit this hard. So I ask again. What’s changed since last night?”
”What’s changed is that I found out I’m not the one for you. I’m not the one you want to spend the rest of your life with.”
”What? I was about to propose here and you think I wouldn’t mean it? Mari, you know my stance on marriage. I wouldn’t propose if I didn’t mean it.”
”Chris,” Mari lowered herself in front of him, tears evident in her eyes, “you’re a great guy, I just don’t think you should settle.”
”Mari, you are one of the most amazing women I know. Why would being with you be settling?”
She cupped his cheek in her hand. “Because the right woman is out there for you, and I’m not her.”
”How do you know that?”
”Because last night I saw you with her.”
Chris stared at her. “What do you mean you saw me with her last night?” He paused. “What did JC tell you last night?”
”Oh, he answered some of my questions.” And more.
”What answers did he give you?”
”He confirmed my suspicions on who you should be with.”
”I’m almost afraid to ask. Who did he say I should be with? He hasn’t said anything to me.”
”He has his reasons for that. But who did he say you should be with? Who do all the guys think you should be with?”
”All the guys?”
”All of them- JC, Justin, Lance and Joey.”
”If it’s not you then who?”
”Roni.”
”Roni?” Chris stood up, knocking a chair over on his way. “Roni’s like a sister to me. I’m like a brother to her. We’re family, nothing more.”
”I don’t think so, Chris.” She stood. “Chris, I saw the way you looked at her while you were dancing last night. That’s why I left. I realized the guy I thought was going to propose to me was in love with someone else.”
“Me in love with Roni? You must be joking. I love her but I am not in love with her.”
”Fine.” She sighed in defeat. “Believe what you will, but you’d better not blind yourself for too long. That girl won’t wait forever.”
Chris’ mouth dropped as Mari walked out of the kitchen and to the front door.
”I’ll be back this weekend to pick my stuff up. I don’t know where I’m going, but I know I can’t live here.” She kissed his cheek before making her way to her car. “You’ll see. This is for the best Chris. Don’t let the best thing in your life go because you can’t accept change.”
Chris ran out to her car and grabbed her arm. “I can accept change.”
”I don’t think so, Chris. If you could accept change you’d never have asked me out three months ago. I’m doing this for both of us, Chris. I couldn’t be happy if somewhere in the back of my mind is the idea that there is someone else out there that holds onto more of your heat than me, and, more importantly, that you may be thinking ‘what if’ about that someone else.”
”Mari, what if we try a relationship, but without the pressure of marriage right now?”
”I must say your persistence was one thing that attracted me to you, and now I’m wishing you didn’t have it. At least for an hour.” She looked around the yard. “Chris, I have to go.” She gave him a kiss and entered her car, rolling down the window after starting the car. “Let me leave you with this last thought. Imagine you’re in the hospital, you and your wife just had a beautiful baby that you’re showing off like most fathers do. The baby starts to cry and you tell everyone you must bring the child to its mother for feeding. You walk back to the hospital room your wife is in. You walk in and give your wife the baby. Who is the woman in the bed, Chris?”
Chris stared at the car until it turned the bend in the road. He shook his head and walked back into his house. It wasn’t until the front door was shut that he let himself think of what Mari had said. He closed his eyes and let the image come to him. He saw himself boasting to Joey and Lily. He saw himself excuse him and the baby. He saw himself walk down the hall. He saw himself enter a hospital room. He saw the dark hair of the woman in the single bed. Then he finally saw the face of the woman in the bed.
”Oh god.”
~~~~~~
Lily dropped the bags of food on the table beside Joey. Joey looked up and smiled as he stood to help put the groceries away. He took a box from Lily and placed it easily on the shelf she was reaching for. He gave her a quick kiss.
”Thanks, Lily.” He sighed. “I don’t know what I would do without you.”
”Mope around like Lance when perfect couples like us are around.”
He laughed. “Maybe, but I’m just glad I don’t need to go through all that uncertainty any more.”
”Me too.”
Joey turned Lily in his arms and smiled widely as he brought his face down to meet hers. When their lips met he pulled her hips against his. He saw the milk on the counter, but ignored it. He wished he could do the same for the phone when it rang a minute later. He decided to let the machine get it.
”Hello, Mr. Fatone, this is Holly from ORMC. We have a woman here who got into an accident in your car. We are having a hard time finding a contact person for her and I didn’t know if she stole your car or if-“
”Hello, this is Joey Fatone,” Joey said breathlessly, “did you just say a woman got into an accident in my car?”
”Yes. Did you know her?”
”Did?” Joey’s heart stopped.
”Sorry, Mr. Fatone, do you know her?”
”She’s alive?”
”Yes. She’s in critical but stable condition. We are having a hard time finding family information about Miss Da’ Cord.”
Joey sighed deeply and took hold of Lily’s shaking hand. “That’s because she has no blood relatives we know about. I’ll be right down with my fiancée.”
”Okay, Mr. Fatone, we’ll be awaiting your arrival in the ER.”
”Okay. We’ll be there as soon as soon as we can.” Joey hung up the phone and brought Lily to him again. “Roni got into an accident. She’s in critical but stable condition at ORMC. I’ve got to call Chris.”
”Wait,” Lily stopped his moving hand. “Are you sure you want to call him before you have all the details?”
”Lil, he’ll have my behind if I don’t call him before hand.”
”Just think about it. Chris may be in better condition to drive if he knows all the details before making the trip.”
Joey looked at the clock. “We’ll discuss this more in the car.”
Lily nodded and grabbed her car keys. She tossed them to Joey and the two made their way to the car and to the hospital. On the way she was able to talk Joey into not calling Chris so they were surprised to find him in the waiting room of the hospital when they arrived.
”Chris?” Joey asked.
Chris’ head popped up. “What are you two doing here?”
Lily sat next to Chris. “The question is what are you doing here? We were going to call you when we got more information.”
”About Mari’s accident? How would you know about that unless I called you?”
”Mari’s accident?” She looked up to Joey. “Mari got in an accident too?”
Chris nodded before her words sunk in. “What do you mean too?”
”Well,” she shrugged at Joey who sat on the other side of Chris, “I don’t know how to say this but to just say this. We’re here because we got a call because someone got into an accident with Joey’s car.”
”So? Someone ran off the road and hit his car in your driveway.”
”It’s not so simple, Chris,” Joey told his friend. “My car wasn’t in the driveway. Someone was driving it.”
The realization hit Chris on who was most likely driving Joey’s car. “Who was driving your car, Joe?” he asked quietly.
”Roni was.”
Chris placed a hand over his mouth and leaned his head back. He squeezed his eyes shut, trying to keep the tears at bay. He let Lily pull him against her and looked at Joey as his friend patted his knee in comfort. Chris took a deep breath as a nurse and a police officer neared them.
”Mr. Fatone, Mr. Kirkpatrick, miss,” the police officer nodded to the three friends, “I’m sure you all want some details about the accident.”
”Wait.” Lily put her hand up. “Mari and Roni were in the same accident?”
The officer looked at the pad in his hand. “I’m assuming Mari and Roni are Mari Anne Bennett and Veronica Da’ Cord.”
”Oh god.” Chris leaned on Lily again. “This can’t be happening.”
”Would you three like a room so you’re out of the open public? If you give me a minute I could arrange that. I was so busy just contacting someone who knew Miss Da’ Cord I didn’t even think about you two being friends.”
”Don’t worry about it. We understand,” Joey told her. “And, yes, a private room would be wonderful.”
”Right this way.”
Joey, Lily, Chris and the police officer followed the nurse to the main desk before going into a private hospital room. Once in the room Chris sat in a chair and Lily and Joey sat on one of the two beds in the room. The officer closed the door and stayed standing.
”Let me introduce myself. I’m Officer Talloy with the Orlando PD.”
”Hi. I’m Lily Young and I’m sure you recognize Joey Fatone and Chris Kirkpatrick.”
”Yes, I do. Nice to meet you all. I guess I’ll get right to the details. The doctors will be in after we’re done in here to give you an update on Miss Bennett’s and Miss Da’ Cord’s condition. So I’m assuming Mr. Kirkpatrick knows Miss Da’ Cord too.”
They all nodded.
”I’ve known her since she was three days old.”
Joey noted the officer’s surprise. “She was raised next to his mother’s house in Pennsylvania. He’s the reason why I know her.”
”I don’t know why that surprised me so much. The accident did happen two blocks from Mr. Kirkpatrick’s house.”
”What?” Chris’ eyes widened. “Two blocks. I guess those were the sirens I heard.”
Officer Talloy nodded. “Most likely. Okay. We’ve talked to witnesses and it looks like Miss Da’ Cord’s car was swerving and entered into oncoming traffic. Now it seems like she didn’t have any alcohol in her system and the car doesn’t seem to have anything wrong with it to make her swerve on first inspection. We’re looking into it.” He checked his beeper. “Listen, I have to get going. Here’s my card if you need to get in touch with me to have any questions.”
Joey nodded and took the offered card. “Thank you Officer Talloy. Please keep us informed on the car.”
”I will. I’ll have the doctors come in when they can.”
Joey nodded. He sat beside Lily again. “What could have made Ron swerve? I feel so guilty because she was driving my car.”
”It’s not your fault Roni and Mari got in the accident,” Lily reassured Joey. “It’s mine.”
”What?”
”It’s true, Joe. I shouldn’t have made Roni so upset that she was blinded by how mad she was at me. It’s all my fault.” Lily wiped at the tears running down her face and jumped off the bed. “Let me go call the rest of the guys and tell them what happened. You two wait for the doctors.”
”Wait. Lily.” Joey stood to go after her.
”Joey, let her go. She’ll be back. Plus, I don’t want to be alone when the doctors come in. I thought it was bad enough that Mari had gotten into an accident right after we broke up, but to find out Roni was in the other car. That’s making me almost useless.”
”You and Mari broke up?”
Chris nodded as a doctor entered the room. Joey pulled a chair next to Chris’. The doctor looked at the top chart in his hand before looking in the bottom one.
”It seems like you know both women involved in this accident.”
Chris nodded. “Yes, we know them both.”
”Well,” the doctor looked in the first chart, “Miss Da’ Cord is in critical but stable condition and it looks like she’ll be out of critical soon. She’s suffered a concussion and a fractured left wrist. She’s still unconscious but we’re satisfied with her improvements. ”
Joey nodded and grabbed Chris’ hand for comfort. “And Mari Anne Bennett?”
”Well, let’s see here.” The doctor pulled the bottom chart out and looked it over. “It seems like she’s in a more serious condition. She broke a couple ribs, her right leg and seems to have some internal bleeding that we’re trying to stop.”
”Oh god” Chris put his head between his knees and took a deep breath. Joey began rubbing his back, but Chris felt no comfort. “I can’t believe this.”
”Hey, look at the bright side. Roni’s condition is improving. She’ll be out of critical soon and I’m sure she’ll want to see you as soon as she wakes up.”
”And Mari?” Chris asked as he noticed the doctor has left the room.
”She’ll be all right, Chris.”
”But internal bleeding? That’s bad.”
”Who had internal bleeding?”
Chris and Joey looked up to find JC and Lily in the doorway. JC motioned for Lily to enter the room and closed the door behind them. He hugged his two friends.
”Now who has internal bleeding? Mari or Roni?”
Joey looked at Chris and Lily before turning to JC. “Mari does. She also has a few broken ribs and she broke her right leg.”
”Oh my.” Lily sat on the bed and let Joey help her lay. “And Roni?”
”A fractured wrist and a concussion. She still hasn’t woken up yet, though.”
”God,” JC cursed. He sat in the seat left vacant by Joey. “So how did the accident happen?”
”Well,” Chris sat beside his friend, “it seems like the car Roni was driving, Joey’s car, crossed the center line and went head-on into Mari’s car.”
”Wow. Any idea why Roni crossed the center line?”
”No,” Joey answered quickly. “Lily seems to think it’s because of her though.”
”Who wouldn’t?” Lily countered from the bed. “She was storming mad at me because of what I said about her and Chris.”
Chris froze. “What did you say about her and me?”
”I,” she paused, “I was pushing her to tell me she’s in love with you, that she wasn’t jealous of Mari at all.”
”What is it this morning with people saying Roni and I are in love?”
”Maybe it’s because you two are,” JC spat from his seat beside Chris.
”What?” Chris asked in surprise, most of his surprise was at the harshness in JC’s tone. “Roni and I are not in love.”
”That’s just bull if I’ve ever heard it.” JC stood. “You are so in love with Roni. We all know it except you two. Will you please get your head out of your ass and admit you’re in love with her and not Mari? Please. We’d all appreciate it. Me most of all.”
”I doesn’t what I think of Mari anymore. She broke up with me, Jace.” Chris stood before his friend. “Are you happy with that? Does that pass your approval?”
”Yes, I am happy,” JC yelled. “She didn’t deserve you. She didn’t deserve someone who was only using her.”
”Using her?” Chris got in JC’s face. “I don’t use girls. You know that.”
”Well, you used that one in there that you’ve been preparing to ask to marry. You were going to propose and then Roni shows up and Mari has to play second fiddle. She deserves more than that, Chris. You used her because you didn’t have faith in you and Roni. You didn’t believe you two were possibly meant for each other so you asked out the first available girl. Well, you two are meant for each other. Get that in your thick head. She’s just as in love with you as you are with her.” JC pushed Chris. “Did you know how much you sounded like a jealous boyfriend when you came back from Roni’s graduation? There was a reason why you didn’t like Tim. He was in Roni’s bed and you weren’t. Just admit it. You used Mari and I’ve been regretting that one hour ever since you’ve asked her out.”
Chris tumbled to the floor as JC pushed him hard before storming out of the room. Chris sat bewildered. He looked between Joey, Lily and the door. He looked down before whispering, “What was that about?”
Before either could answer the nurse came in and told Chris and Joey Roni and Mari could now have visitors. Each could only have one visitor so Lily waited in the private room to wait for Justin and Lance and for JC if he returned. Chris and Joey stopped in the hallway between the rooms that housed Mari and Roni. They were across the hall from each other and Chris kept looking between the two.
”Which room is it going to be Chris?”
Chris sighed and looked between the rooms again. “Why does it feel like a lot is riding on this decision?”
”Because there is.” Joey stepped back. “Which room are you going to choose? Which woman are you going to choose?”
”I don’t know. Damn. Joey?”
”Yes, Chris.”
”JC said something about regretting an hour and this morning Mari said something about my persistence and something about an hour, and that was right after she came from JC’s. Do you have any idea if those two mean anything together?”
Joey sighed. “I probably shouldn’t be the one telling you this, but since I seem to be the only one here and JC seems not to want to talk to you I guess it’s me or nobody.”
”Joey, I’m really not in the mood to decipher your rambling right now.”
”Touchy.” Joey’s smile was erased by Chris’ glare. “Okay. You remember the day you first asked Mari out?”
”Of course.”
”Do you remember how you talked JC into doing an hour long interview for you and in that time you asked Mari out?”
”Yeah…”
”Well, if you had done the interview JC would have been the one to ask Mari out.”
Chris’ jaw dropped. “Why didn’t he tell anyone he liked her back then? Had I known that I would have backed off. Back then I only asked her out because she seemed like fun. He still has a thing for her, doesn’t he? That’s why he exploded. Is that right?”
Joey nodded.
Chris still didn’t know what to do. This new information about JC’s feelings for his now ex-girlfriend made the choice more confusing. “Joe? She spent the night with him last night. Do you think…”
”What? That they slept together? No. JC may be in love with her, but she was still yours.”
”Love? Who said anything about JC being in love with Mari? Plus I meant do you think JC told her about his feelings last night” Chris bit his bottom lip. “He is in love with her though.”
”Yeah. I won’t deny that.”
Chris sighed. “Damn, this situation is a mess.”
”Chris, let me ask you a question. Now close your eyes.”
”What does me closing my eyes have to do with you asking a question?”
Joey stepped toward Chris. “Just humor me, Chris. Close your eyes. Now imagine your sitting beside a hospital bed, holding the hand of its occupant. Your head is down on the sheets, waiting for the person to wake up. Now the hand yours is holding starts to move and you quickly look up. Who is in that bed?”
Chris squeezed his eyes closed and cursed. “That is the second time someone has asked me a question like that and the answer has been the same both times.”
”When was the other time?”
Chris waved Joey off. “Don’t worry about it.”
”So which room are you going to go in?”
Chris looked between the rooms again. “Get JC."