Me & Her [gxg] | NOT EDITED

Twenty-Six

I walk back down the hall. Kacey is laying on the couch asleep. I sit down next to her and wake her up.

"Hey," I say.

"Hey," she says sheepishly.

"Did you have any more to drink?" I ask.

"Nah," she says, "I'm too lazy to get another."

"I don't think you need another," I say laughing.

"Maybe, maybe not," she says laughing then asks, "How is Nel?"

"He's fine, just settling some family problems," I say.

"With Teagan?" She asks.

"Yeah," I say.

"He sure does miss his daughter," she says.

"Yeah," I say, "Do they live in Santa Monica too?"

"Near Nelson? Hell no. They live in Florida," she says.

"Oh," I say, "So is it true that Nelson is moving back to Santa Monica when he's done with his recovery?"

"No, unless he doesn't want to take the risk to with some nerve surgery," she says.

"As in?" I ask.

"As in, to fix his paralysis," she says. 

"Is that possible?" I ask.

"Not likely," she says, "But he's pretty much given up."

"Yeah," I say, "He's too hard on himself."

"Definitely," she says, "And Shauna?"

"Hmm?" I reply.

"Not to be offensive or anything but you've had a lot of these kinds of things," she says.

"Yeah, go on," I prompt.

"Do you think he'll do anything?" She asks.

"No," I say, "Nelson is doing better. He's also a fighter."

"Yeah," she says, "You're right. I don't know why I asked."

"So," I say, "Back to the movie?"

"Yeah," she says pressing play on the remote.

The adventure continues. Well, at least in the movie.

*****

When I wake up I realize I don't know how long it's been. I guess I must've fallen asleep. Kacey and I are laying on the couch together. I check my phone. It's been almost three hours.

"Shit," I say and move Kacey's head as I get up.

I hear a few coughs from Nelson's room. I walk down the hall and peak in.

"Hey- oh my god," I say. Nelson is coughing up blood. At least he's containing it with a waste basket with a plastic bag in it.

"I'm fine," he says in between coughs. Then clears his throat.

"What happened?" I ask.

"It just happens when I take certain medication sometimes," he says, "I feel like I'm coughing up my guts."

"You basically are," I say.

"Don't worry about me," he says, "You need to get home to your brother."

"Yeah I do, I just heard you coughing and wanted to make sure you're alright," I say, "Especially if in the near future you want to take a stab at that nerve surgery."

"Yeah," he sighs, "I really want to. But my doctor says that it could do more damage than good for me."

"What do you mean?" I ask.

"He thinks that there is a possibility the surgical could kill what nerves survived in my knee down on the one I recently had surgery on," he says.

"Why would that matter?" I ask.

"I'd be loosing my knee down on that leg," he says, "I'd still be disabled, but I'd be able to walk if worst comes to worst."

"Well," I say, "I think you should do whatever you feel is right."

"Yeah," he sighs, "but I'm still not sure yet."

"Hey, I gotta go, but take all the time you need. It could be life changing," I say, "Oh and Kacey is out cold on the couch. She had one to many beers."

"Okay," he says, "And thanks for the support, Shauna."

"No problem," I say, "I'll see ya."

"Bye," he says.

I go to the kitchen and spot a pad of sticky notes on the counter and a pen. How convenient. I start to write.

Hi, sorry for leaving and not saying goodbye, but I got to get home to Cameron. I checked on Nelson again too. He's doing fine. He knows that you'll probably be hung over tomorrow.

- Shauna

I peel off the note and stick it on the coffee table in front of the couch.