FIRE | H.S.

Chapter 24

It's been a week since I was released from the hospital. My throat is less inflamed and I can speak now, even though my voice is quite hoarse. At least it doesn't hurt to speak anymore. It just feels like there's a popcorn hull stuck in my throat, which isn't comfortable.

Harry and Leilani have been very attentive and only let me do minimal work, even though I have told them numerous times that I'm feeling fine. They keep telling me that I need to rest and only concentrate on healing. Even Charles and Aurora tell me to stay home and rest, to not even set foot on either of the spas. Which is difficult because I'm so used to always being at the spas even when I don't have appointments with clients. I always spend a few hours checking the inventory and placing orders for the products we're running out of, doing payroll, or checking the numbers to make sure everything is running smoothly. They come over after work every day to check on me and tell me everything is going well at the spas, which alleviates my worry. But GOD I get so bored.

Now that Leilani is out for summer break she doesn't stay every day with me. She stays with her Aunt Lara for most of the day and then Harry picks her up and they come here. The two days Harry has been off, they spent all day with me and cleaned the house and cooked even though I told them it was not necessary. They insisted and Leilani grabbed a throw blanket and wrapped me in it like a burrito, having me sit on the sofa, and watch Moana while they got busy around my house. She even said, "you better stay there and not move until we're done. Understood?" and pointed her little finger at me.

It's now 6 p.m. and Harry helped Leilani make a cheesecake for tonight's dinner. Aurora and Charles are bringing the food, and Leilani suggested they make dessert. I sat on the island and watched them make it, laughing as Leilani told Harry to let her do all the work because he was going to mess it up. "Don't think I forgot the day you added salt to my cupcakes instead of sugar, daddy. They were the grossest cupcakes. Not even Santa's Rudolph would eat them."

Aurora and Charles arrive, walking straight into the kitchen and setting the bags of food down. "We brought wiiiiings!" Aurora sings. She wraps her arms around me, kissing the top of my head. "How are you feeling, hon?" She asks.

"Better," I smile at her.

"Well, you still sound like you smoke 3 packs a day," Charles says, kissing my cheek.

"Hey!" I rasp. "Get used to it, it's my sexy new voice."

Harry set up the table and Charles started serving the plates. Aurora told me about her day at the spa and how this girl came in with black hair and wanted platinum blonde by the end of her appointment and threw a fit because Aurora explained that wasn't possible, and that she needed a few sessions to get to that point. I sure am glad I wasn't there for that.

We sit at the table and begin eating. I serve Leilani some celery and carrot sticks, and she smiles at me, scrunching her cheese sauce-smeared nose. I grab a napkin and wipe the tip of her nose, she giggles and leans her head on my arm for a couple of seconds before getting back to her food.

"So, has he texted at least?" Charles asks. I turn back to the conversation and everyone is looking at me.

"What?"

"Has Evan texted? Or called?" he asks again.

I look down, feeling my phone burn a hole in my pocket. "Uh, no. He hasn't."

"At all?" Aurora questions.

I shake my head, picking up a fry and taking a bite of it. "I have no idea if he's okay, if he's back... I haven't heard from him at all. It's fine," I shrug.

"No, it's not," Harry says. I look up at him and his eyes search mine. I feel vulnerable like he can see right through me and the wall I put up to not think about Evan for a while. "He could've at least texted, Ava. He should be here. Don't excuse him."