Yoss arched an eyebrow. “No, I don’t think I’ve ever heard of a dry shower.”
Lee looked amused by my verbal diarrhea. “I don’t think I’ve ever heard you ramble like that before, Im,” he teased.
“Really? I seem to remember her unfiltered mouth all too well,” Yoss interjected.
Lee smirked. “Well it seems we know two very different people. I’m interested to know more about your Im though.”
“Hey, Lee, I bet Kevin’s home and wondering where you are.”
Lee gave me a pointed look, but pulled out his phone. “Three missed calls. He’s probably close to a fit. I’d better get home.”
“Yep, you’d better hurry,” I said.
Lee held out a hand to Yoss who shook it. “It was nice meeting you, Yoss. I hope we can talk more soon. I’m sure you’re full of embarrassing Im stories that I’m dying to hear.”
Yoss laughed. “I can think of one or two.”
“I am standing right here, you know. At least conspire behind my back like normal people,” I muttered.
“Touchy, touchy,” Lee tsked, pulling me in for a hug. “Be careful, darling,” he whispered into my ear.
“Okay, I’m leaving you with the clean-up, “ Lee said a little louder and I rolled my eyes.
“Of course you are.” I gave him a gentle push towards the door.
“I’m the cook, not the dishwasher. I thought we established these rules years ago.” Lee opened the kitchen door and with a final wave left Yoss and me to our not quite comfortable co-existence.
Yoss picked up the rest of the dishes and put them in the sink, turning on the water.
“I can do that—” I started to say.
“I’m sure you have to get ready for work. I can take care of this. I’ve got to earn my keep somehow,” Yoss interrupted.
“Well, I do have a dishwasher,” I pointed out.
“I like the process, makes me feel useful.” Yoss shrugged. “But if you want me to use the dishwasher—”
“No. You can wash the dishes however you want to. Thanks,” I said quickly.
I stood watching him systematically clean the plates and pans. His wet hair was drying and hung in his eyes. His skin was still jaundiced but his eyes were clearer this morning. The dark circles gone.
“How did you sleep?” I asked him, remembering his nightmares from the night before. I had stood outside his door for almost a half an hour, only going back to bed after he had quieted down and I was sure he wouldn’t start cry out again.
“Not bad. The bed is really comfortable. It’s been a while since I’ve slept on high thread count sheets.”
“That’s good. I’m glad.” He handed me a clean plate and I put it in the rack to dry. “We should probably look into getting you some clothes,” I suggested.
“I was thinking of going back to the house where I was staying to get my things today.” He paused for a moment, glancing at me, his green eyes hesitant. “That is if I can still stay here.”
I put my hand on his arm. He tensed. Muscles coiling, contracting. Wanting to pull away.
“Of course you can. I want you here, Yoss,” I said softly.
He dipped his hands back in the soapy water and started scrubbing the pan Lee used to make omelets.
“I like Lee. He’s nice,” Yoss said.
“He’s a therapist. He’s trained to make you think that,” I remarked with a smile.
“Well whatever, I’m just glad you have people like him in your life.”
“I was actually thinking you might want to talk to him sometime,” I began. Yoss frowned.
“I was just talking to him,” he pointed out.
“I mean about your situation. With your illness. Dr. Howell had made the suggestion that you speak to a counselor and Lee is great. He has a lot of experience working with end of life patients.”
Yoss’s face paled and my stomach dropped. “I didn’t mean you were end of life. I just meant given the severity of your disease—”
“It’s okay, Imi. We both know how sick I am. How bad the whole thing really is. There’s no sense in tiptoeing around it. I could die. In fact it’s looking like a very real possibility.” He lifted the plug in the sink, letting the water drain. “But I don’t know about being shrinked. That doesn’t sound like a good time to me.”
“Lee’s great. He won’t shrink you. Too much,” I smiled.
Yoss nodded. “Maybe.”
I stood there, knowing if I didn’t go to get a shower I was going to be very late for work. That should have bothered me.
But it didn’t.
Because I didn’t want to go to work.
The tightening in my stomach had nothing to do with anxiety about messing up my routine.
“Let me come with you to get your things,” I said.
Yoss looked at me in surprise. “I thought you had to go to work.”
I tightened the belt of my robe around my waist feeling strangely nervous. “I never use my holiday or sick time. I have loads of comp hours. I’d like to come with you, Yoss.”
“I can get my things myself,” he argued.
“I…I want to spend the day with you,” I let out in a rush.
Yoss didn’t say anything. I felt like I was hanging out in the wind, fluttering wildly, hoping I didn’t blow away. He left me in limbo with his silence and unspoken words.
“I don’t want you to see it, Imi,” he finally said.
“See what?” I was confused.
“Where I was living.” Yoss kept his eyes focused on the sink.
“I lived with you in a place like that, Yoss. You don’t need to be ashamed—”
“I am ashamed, Imogen!” he shouted, slamming his hands on the counter. I jumped at his tone.
He took a deep breath and seemed to calm himself down. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have yelled at you. I’d love it if you came with me. If it’s okay for you to take the time off work,” Yoss said, not quite looking at me.
“Okay, well let me shower and get dressed. Um, you can watch TV or whatever. I’ll only be a few minutes.” I grabbed my phone and hurried back to my room. I quickly called Jason, telling him I was sick and wouldn’t be coming in.
“You’re sick? Since when? You’re the healthiest person I know,” Jason remarked suspiciously.
I coughed delicately and made sure to put a rasp in my voice. “I woke up feeling horrible. I don’t want to spread my germs around to everyone.”
“We work in a hospital, Imogen. We’re surrounded by germs every day.” Jason clearly wasn’t buying my excuse so I dropped the sick act.
“Okay, well how about this, Jason, I have over three weeks of paid time off that I haven’t taken. Not to count the more than eighty hours of overtime I’ve put in in the last three months that need to be used. So excuse me if I want to take a day off for the first time in years,” I snapped.
“Whoa, Imogen, I wasn’t saying you can’t have the day off. Just don’t insult my intelligence with the lame I’m sick with a fake incurable illness excuse. I know you could use the time off. I’ve been telling you to take a break for a while now, if you remember,” Jason pointed out and I felt bad for jumping down his throat.
“Sorry, Jason. You’re right. I need a day to myself. I’ve been a little stressed.” He had no idea.
“Does this have anything to do with your client that you helped to discharge from the hospital last night?” Jason asked.
“What do you mean? Why would it have anything to do with that?” I demanded.
“I just wondered if there were any problems with getting him settled. Where did you end up taking him? Did he agree to go to the shelter?” Jason asked, sounding perplexed by my attitude.
“Uh. Yeah. Okay, well if it’s fine for me to take the day, I’ll just see you tomorrow,” I said quickly.
“That’s fine. See you tomorrow,” Jason replied, still sounding perturbed.
I rushed through my shower and hurriedly dressed in a pair of jean
s and soft green sweater that was one of my favorites. When I went back out to the living room I found Yoss standing by my open front door talking to a small woman with very blond hair and a very loud voice.
My mother.
What was with all of the visitors this morning?
“There she is!” my mother cried, holding her arms out for a hug.
“Mom. What are you doing here?” I asked, letting her hug me. Just for a minute.
“I told you I was going to come by. Breakfast. Gossip. Love advice. Remember?” She looked put out by my bad memory.
“Oh, I must have forgotten.” I glanced at Yoss who had yet to close the door.
“I figured. You never answer your phone,” Mom scolded. She looked at Yoss and frowned. “I wasn’t expecting you to have company.”
“Mom, this is Yoss. Yoss, this is my mother, Sylvie Conner,” I introduced them.
My mom gave Yoss a strange look. “You seem really familiar, Yoss. Have we met before?”
Yoss opened his mouth but I cut him off before he could speak. “I don’t know how that’s possible, Mom.” I turned her to face the open door. “I hate to do this, but I’m going to have to rain check. Yoss and I were just on our way out.”
“But we have plans,” my mother whined.
“I know. I’m really sorry. We’ll pig out on ice cream and commiserate over the horrors of men another time, okay? We really need to go.” I beckoned for Yoss to follow me as I ushered my mom outside. I quickly closed the door behind us so she couldn’t weasel her way back in.
If I let her, my mom would plant herself on the couch and never leave.
My mom looked back at Yoss. “I swear I’ve seen you somewhere,” she pondered.
I quickly gave her a kiss on the cheek. “I’ll call you later this week, Mom.”
My mother sighed deeply. “You’re really letting me down, Imi,” she complained. “What am I going to do now? I even put on my fancy red heels.” She stuck out her foot to show off her ridiculously high stilettos.
“You didn’t need to get all dressed up for breakfast, Mom,” I laughed and she quickly struck a pose.
“A woman’s gotta look good. You never know who might see you.”
I gave a Yoss an exasperated look and he winked, clearly enjoying the exchange.
My mother, being more observant than usual, looked from Yoss to me shrewdly.
“So how do you know my daughter?”
“We’re old friends,” he told her, smiling softly.
“Friends, huh?” She cocked her head to the side. “I swear I’ve seen you before. Did you ever come over to the house when Imogen was younger?”
Why was she hammering this point? There was no way she could have met Yoss.
“Mom, seriously, we’ve got to get going. I’ll call you.” I kissed her on the cheek and maneuvered her to the car.
“Okay, sweet cheeks, but don’t forget. Even though you have this hot piece of man candy here, you still need to call your mama,” she lectured, giving me a lascivious grin.
I groaned. “Goodbye, Mom.”
She got into her car and with a wave puttered down the street, her old Ford spewing exhaust the whole way.
“Sorry about that,” I grimaced, walking to my own car.
Yoss got in the passenger side and quickly closed the door.
“Don’t be. She’s not at all as I expected,” Yoss said, putting on his seatbelt.
“She takes some getting used to,” I muttered, reversing out of my driveway and finally heading towards the river.
Fifteen Years Ago
Too many nights had passed since I had first arrived at The Pit.
It was November.
Cold and dark, I couldn’t remember the last time I felt truly warm. We huddled together for safety, sticking together while the world around us screamed and cried.
The Pit was a dangerous place. Another girl had been attacked last month.
Awful things clung to the shadows.
The constant threat of possibility made me clingy and desperate. Yoss tried to keep the bad stuff away, but it was becoming harder and harder to shield me from the world Manny dragged him into night after night.
I knew too much. I tended to his cuts. I kissed the bruises. I held him while he raged in his sleep. He couldn’t lie to me. So he stopped trying. And every time Manny came for him a part of me died.
And I became more and more angry.
Because I wanted to leave.
Yet I wasn’t sure Yoss would ever come with me.
One afternoon Yoss and I found Di and the others sitting with a larger group towards the back of The Pit. A fire was burning in a trashcan casting flickering shadows on the wall.
Shane was drinking from a flask that Bug handed to him. Karla was laughing at something the guys were saying. They all looked a pretty loaded. Bug’s bulging eyes were glassy and red. Shane’s smile was a little too wide; Karla’s laugh a little too loud.
I noticed Di lying on her stomach, her shirt pulled up to her shoulders, a large man with tattoos all over his arms was leaning over her, pushing a needle into her skin.
“What are you doing, Di?” I gaped in horror at the sight of her blood dripping down her side.
Di grimaced, obviously in pain. “Bruno’s giving me a tattoo, what does it look like?”
“It looks like he’s torturing you,” I observed.
Bruno glanced up at me and grinned. He was missing a few teeth and it gave him a sinister look.
“I can do you next, sweetheart. Maybe a tribal around your thigh? A bunny rabbit on your tit?” he sneered.
My cheeks flamed hot and I wanted to smack Bruno. But he was a little on the scary side.
Yoss stepped forward and put his arm around my shoulders. “Watch your mouth, man,” he warned the bigger guy. I expected Bruno to laugh at Yoss’s posturing. The tattoo artist easily outweighed Yoss by a hundred pounds. But he didn’t laugh. Instead he looked a contrite. His smile faded and he appeared apologetic.
“Sorry, Yoss. I didn’t realize she was yours.”
Yoss scowled.
“Yeah, okay, I get it. Sorry, Imogen,” Bruno said, sounding sincere.
“No problem,” I replied, not wanting to hold a grudge. Particularly with a guy who looked like he could break my arm with his pinkie. Bruno wiped the needle with a cloth and dipped it in what looked like black ink from a broken pen. Then he pushed it into Di’s skin again.
“Shouldn’t he be using a gun? Or sterile needles,” I whispered to Yoss.
“Bruno uses clean needles. No one has ever gotten an infection from his tattoos. He’s pretty amazing, given that he doesn’t use any traditional tools,” Yoss said, watching Bruno work.
“African tribes don’t use fucking tattoo guns,” Bruno grunted, wiping a bead of blood from Di’s back. He leaned down over her. “You okay, Di?” he asked her.
Di nodded her head, her face buried in the crook of her elbow.
“I have time when I’m done with Di’s to do yours, Yoss,” Bruno said.
I looked up at Yoss in surprise. “You want a tattoo?”
Yoss shrugged. “I’ve have an idea for one.”
“What do you want to get?” I asked.
“Your name on his butt cheek!” Bug yelled, then fell onto his back, laughing hysterically.
Yoss rolled his eyes and ignored him. He pulled the thin chain of the necklace he had bought me from inside my shirt. The little red man lay against my chest. “I want this. Just this. So you have one and I have one. Not too big. And I want it right here.” He touched a finger to the side of his neck.
“On your neck? Isn’t that a little noticeable?” I asked incredulously.
“That’s the point,” Yoss told me, kissing my mouth with a loud smack. He turned once again to Bruno who was covering the dark spot on Di’s back with some sort of antibacterial cream. I was glad to see he was doing something sanitary. “Yeah, if you’ve got time, I’d love to get it now.”
“It’s awesome! Why a compass?” I asked her.
Di pulled her shirt back down and pulled a cigarette from the pack she always kept in her back pocket. “A compass tells you where you’re going right?”
I nodded.
“I like the reminder that I’ve still got somewhere to go,” Di explained, taking the lighter Bruno offered her.
“That’s deep, Di,” Bruno remarked.
“Shut it, B,” she snarled.
“So what do you want?” Bruno asked Yoss.
Yoss beckoned me closer and pointed to my necklace. “I want this, right here,” he pointed to the left side of his neck.
Bruno squinted at my chest and it made me a little uncomfortable having him peer in the general direction of my boobs. “Okay then, that’s easy enough. It shouldn’t take me long. Di, move your ass and let our boy have a seat,” Bruno barked.
Di tossed her still lit cigarette in Bruno’s face. “You’re such a dick,” she muttered.
Bruno laughed and made sure to stomp out the smoldering cigarette with the tip of his boot.
Yoss took the spot Di vacated.
“Does this color red work?” Bruno asked, holding out a pen with bright red ink.
“Yeah, that works,” Yoss told him. Bruno broke the pen in half and dabbed the ink onto a small ceramic plate. He then coated the tip of a needle and brought it to Yoss’s skin, getting started on the tattoo.
It took Bruno over an hour. Yoss didn’t say much. Bug and Karla left and Shane had passed out, snoring softly in the corner. Di had wandered over to another group of kids nearby. It was just the three of us. Yoss, me, and Bruno working steadily.
“Okay, man, it’s done,” Bruno said finally. Yoss let out a small breath, clearly relieved it was over.
“What do you think, sweetheart?” Bruno asked as I got up to have a look at his handiwork.
“I like it.” I meant it. It was sort of perfect for Yoss. Different. Just like him.
“Thanks, man,” Yoss said. “What do I owe you?”
One Day Soon Page 26
