Loose Ends - Book One

Ana ~ Digits

I've never liked hospitals, especially the waiting room. Everyone in here looks how I feel – depressed. I have a feeling I won't be prepared for what my mother is going to tell me when she comes out. The doctor only allowed one person to go in with Charlie, so I've stayed back and picked out Charlie's favorite snacks from the vending machine.

At around the twenty-minute mark, I decide to get up and step outside for some fresh air. If I'm being honest, I'm feeling a bit overloaded. My little brother is sick, Levi and I have something going on, and I'm still trying to reclaim my life after sacrificing almost two years of it to the psyche ward. My mother and I haven't said much to each other since our last conversation. I'm worried our relationship will remain strained as long as we keep ignoring the past.

Autumn's winds blow aggressively through my hair as I take in the view of the parking lot. As I watch people pushing their elders in wheelchairs, it makes me think of my grandpa. I'm still getting over losing that knight, but I'm sure he'd want me to let it go. Chess was our thing.

I hadn't even gotten to tell Levi about us, but grandpa and I became inseparable after my father left. I'd often visit him after school or on the weekends, and he'd teach me chess. I always had a good relationship with him, but the closeness we developed after my father's departure always seemed to annoy my mother. She and grandpa didn't seem very close, but he was always kind to me. I wonder what their story is.

My train of thought is completely cut off and my fight or flight is triggered when I feel my hair being toyed with from behind. My body chooses fight, and I swing around and grab the wrist in half a second.

"I knew it was you." The familiar brown eyes twinkle at me and the smirk turns into a full-on smile.

"Liam?" I gasp. 

"Cruella."

I roll my eyes. "Sheila told me you were home. I didn't know you live in Kingston."

"My brother does – he's the one that checked me out. Wanna let go of my wrist now?" I look to the side and realize I am still deathly squeezing Liam's wrist in my grasp.

"My bad," I release him, and he shakes his hand out while chuckling.

"Didn't mean to scare you. I just had to make sure it was you and not some other sexy lady with wild, black hair."

"The hair's a giveaway, huh?"

"Never change it," he strokes my hair and moves a strand from my face. "What are you doing here?"

"My brother's here," I explain. "He's sick."

"I'm sorry to hear that. I hope he feels better."

"Me too," I sigh.

"Well, I have to go. I'm running late for my physical."

"For what?" I ask.

"New job. My brother's hooking me up, but I need a physical since I'm fresh out."

"Oh, well, good for you." I'm reminded of the job I applied for and haven't heard from, yet. I should reach out. "Well, good luck, Liam."

"Yeah, not so fast." He takes a couple of steps forward and takes his cellphone out. "I need the digits."

I cross my arms at him and glare. I know what his plans are, and I'd already told him it'll never happen again.