Yes, Sweetheart

Chapter 15

"Uh, what was that?"

Kari looked lost, and I was right there with her. Paul shook his head, showing he had no idea.

Levi shook his head as well, but stared after his brother, seeming curious.

"Ugh, whatever. I don't care right now, that's a problem for later. Anyway. Aria, do you remember Paul? It's been a while since you've seen him, so I couldn't recollect if you remembered him."

I met Paul's kind eyes, and he smiled.

"If you don't," he stated sincerely, "it's ok. It's been a while since I've seen you. Actually, years."

I shook my head.

"Sorry, I don't."

"That's ok," he smiled. "Maybe later we'll have some time to catch up."

I nodded.

A nurse popped her head into the curtain, and gently weaved around the cluster of us.

"Sorry guys, I'm just going to take Kari's vitals and go take her for treatment."

"Sorry, we'll get out of your way," Levi smiled, and turned to us.

"I'm going to go see if I can find Josh, at least see where he ran off to for now, I'll be back as soon as I do."

He nodded at us both with a lingering gaze, and turned to exit and find his brother.

"Do you want to go walk, maybe take a trip to the cafeteria and grab something to drink while Kari's busy?"

Paul checked with me, seeing if I was ok with this.

Come to think of it, I never did eat breakfast this morning.

"Sure."

He smiled, and gestured for me to leave. I exited the room after waving to Kari, and Paul followed.

As we walked towards the hospital cafeteria, Paul began to speak.

"So you and Levi are friends now, right?"

Why is it that fucking obvious?

"Yeah, I guess we are. Since I'm not getting along well with Josh right now, I guess it's ironic, in a way."

"Wait, you two aren't getting along? Aren't you two dating?"

I shook my head.

"Did Kari tell you?"

"No," he stated. "She probably didn't have time. I don't mean to pry."

"It's ok," I smiled, and attempted to briefly tell the entire story.

"Damn. I'm so sorry."

I chuckled.

"It's alright. He actually seems to be lightening up a bit now, maybe he wasn't taking the separation well either, but I thought he was."

Paul thought it over as we reached the food line, handing me a plastic plate for me to fill and pay for at the end of the line.

"Maybe he was over the relationship, but wasn't sure how to deal with sudden availability?"

He smiled, befuddled, and I laughed.

"That was my reaction too!"

He seemed pleased that I thought his reaction was funny, likely he had made that face on purpose to cheer me up.

I grabbed French toast, and, on impulse, grabbed half a plate of bacon and wrapped it in paper. Paul raised one eyebrow, curious, but didn't say anything. I shook my head, hoping he couldn't guess why I would've grabbed bacon.