ICU TOO

Chapter Three

MAY 9th

Chicago, IL

Crystal

"So he wants to move back to Chicago?"

"Yes Novi. For the twentieth time." I answer rolling my eyes.

She looked at me and shook her head in disbelief.

"I just find that hard to believe because he hates it here. Maybe he misses Chicago just not the hospital-"

I cut her off with a loud scoff. "Nobody told him he had to move to Tennessee in the first place." I say with an attitude.

"You do stuff like that when you love someone." She said shrugging. "Maybe it's just the grief talking. He might change his mind in the next week or so, you know Devale." She said optimistically.

"Yeah but I also know he hasn't been able to move up the ranks in Tennessee and he got bumped back down to a regular surgeon.." I confess to Novi.

"Oh no. How's that possible?"

"My hospital has a lot of good surgeons with seniority. Some of them been there for fifteen years." I tell her.

"You know it's always an ego thing with Devale" She said rolling her eyes.

"I know and I'm sick of it." I say becoming annoyed. "He told me he wants to have another baby." I say shaking my head.

"Aww," Novi said. "That is so cute--" She dropped her tone as my glare became apparent.

"Okay no babies." She added on.

I shake my head. "I can't do another baby." I tell her.

"Still scared?" She asked sitting up in her seat.

I sighed scratch the back of my head. "That and I kind of did something that I never told Devale about because we weren't together and it was none of his business." I said feeling guilty.

Novi looked around before leaning in. "What'd you do?" She asked me.

"I um-- I got my tubes tied."

"You did what?" Novi asked loudly causing people to look our way.

"I got my tubes tied." I repeat.

"Are you stupid?" She asked me. "And you haven't told him?"

"No. I'm scared."

"You should be." Novi said as her phone buzzed.

She pulled it out her pocket and frowned.

"What's wrong?" I ask hoping for a subject change.

"Bella is sick." She said referring to her dog.

I rolled my eyes. "Anyways, I don't know if I should reverse it adn never tell him or just tell him."

"Just tell him bitch." Novi said. "And then he's really gonna leave your ass and come back to Chicago." She chuckled.

I didn't find anything funny. I'm fighting for my marriage.

"I don't understand why he wants to come back." I say shaking my head.

"Look Crystal despite all the drama and chaos we are a family." Novi tells me. "A dysfunctional one. He probably jut misses us." She said.

"I think that he is grieving and needs to take a breather." I said shaking my head.

"His friends are here Crystal and the people who helped him become a better father are here." Novi says making me sink in my seat.