Exes and Oh's: Part 15

MARLEY

Normally, I slept soundly, peacefully, with no worry in the world. Tonight was different. I could feel it in the air, in my gut. Something was wrong. Tired of tossing and turning, I got up from my bed and grabbed my robe, snuggling into the thick fabric as I exited my bedroom and headed towards the kitchen. The house was dark, but I knew my way around enough to reach the refrigerator unscathed. While I decided on whether to make some hot chocolate or tea, I heard my phone ring in my bedroom and glanced at the time on the clock above the fireplace. It was two in the morning.

Who could be calling at this hour?

I hurried back into my bedroom, worried something might've happened to Serena, who was out of town for the week, or Danny, who worked close to dangerous equipment every day at the welding factory. When I saw Michael's picture pop up, I quickly answered and held my breath for whatever bad news he was about to give me. He'd been working the graveyard shifts all week and although I worried about him as well, his medical training put my mind at ease.

"Michael? What's wrong?" I asked, feeling my chest tighten as the bad feeling I had been consumed by in my sleep was back, fueling my anxiety.

"Marley, it's Freddy...." was all I heard before the tears began to sting my eyes. I hurried to find something to put on my feet before I hung up the call and flew out of my house and into my car. I'd heard Michael mentioned something about Houston Gen before I hung up and I stepped on the gas, ignoring every speed limit sign along the way.

My car screeched to a halt inside a parking space in the parking lot of Houston General Hospital and I ran out of my car, not bothering to lock it before I ran through the emergency room. Danny and Michael were already there, ready to tell me what exactly had happened to Freddy that he ended up here.

"He's in the burn unit. He won't be able to see anyone for a few hours," Michael informed me, escorting me to the nearest empty seat as he held my hand.

"He's also a dumbass," Danny argued angrily, pacing back and forth, rubbing the back of his neck. Freddy was his family, despite the drama that had been going on between the group. If anyone had a right to be here, it was him. I, on the other hand, had no clue why I ran out of my house, in my pajamas, to see for myself that Freddy was still alive. Although we haven't been on the greatest of terms since the argument we had about the expiring timeshare we purchased in Galveston when we were dating, and how to handle our part of Gabe's murder mystery, we had too much history to dismiss each other during times like these.

"He ran back into that building to save a little boy," Michael defended Freddy's actions, and while it surprised me he was on his side, I always knew Michael's heart, as closed off as it was, was still full of nothing but good.

"And a damn dog," Danny continued, glaring at Michael while he rolled his eyes in response then turned to me.

"How bad is it?" I asked them both and they only stared at me, as if silently willing me not to worry until I needed to. Did they not know who they were in company of? I always worried.

"His left arm and hand were hit by an enflamed beam while he carried the dog and little boy out. He fought the pain long enough to reach the outside, and then he passed out. They'll do what they can to repair the damage but..." Michael didn't need to continue. I knew what came next. Freddy might lose his arm and there wasn't much anyone could do about it. What I could do was pray in silence for a while, processing and hoping everything would turn out alright in the end.

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It wasn't until the morning light hit my face in the waiting area that I realized we'd all spent the night here, waiting to hear any updates on Freddy's condition.

"I'm glad ya'll could sleep so well while my cousin is dying." The feminine voice came from none other than Becca, Danny's and Freddy's other cousin. The slender, dark brown haired woman with double D's stood proudly before us with a Prada bag hooked over her shoulder, while she crossed her arms over a Gucci blouse. The woman screamed gold digger considering she could never really hold down a job, but it wasn't my business. What was, however, was her cruel accusation towards those of us who actuallycared about Freddy.

"Shut up, Becca," Danny attacked first as he stretched, yawned and got up from his seat. She glared at him as he shrugged his shoulders and walked towards the nurse's station.

"Where's your latest sugar daddy?" Michael baited with a grin, as he placed his arm over my shoulders and gave them a light squeeze before getting up to stretch.

"Fuck you, Michael. What's she even doing here?" Becca snarled as she pointed towards me and I got up to stretch myself, ignoring her dirty looks. Becca and I had always been enemies. Even more so when I started dating Gabe in the eleventh grade. She'd been in love with him, or so she claimed, and she did whatever she needed to do to get him, just to screw it up by cheating on him. When I caught them making out at a party one summer, I decided to burn those bridges and move on. I realized I had no business being in a triangle that dysfunctional and let myself cry over it for a week at the most. Gabe always had the potential not to be a dick, and yet he continuously proved to everyone else how wrong that statement was.

But there had been a vulnerability he let me see in him while we were together and while I'd hoped he'd let me in far enough to help him change his ways, my efforts were in vain. And Becca was at his side every step of the way, making sure he continued to be the bad seed he proclaimed to be. Yet, she was nowhere to be seen at his funeral. I found nothing strange about it considering Gabe had married Rita, but if Danny could pull himself together long enough to attend the service, then she should've been able to as well. Since he'd been such an important prize to be had in high school and all.

"She is making sure her friend is alright. Who called you anyway? I know Danny wouldn't have bothered. Michael hates you. So..." I fired back and she scoffed at me, trying to get in my face as I stood up from my seat.

"You got a lot of nerve coming here after what you did to Freddy," Becca accused and I was ready to rip her face off before I felt a pair of hands pull at my arm. I had no idea what Freddy had told her about the reason why we broke up years ago, but she had no right speaking to me about it. And I would've kicked her ass from here to whichever part of Texas she was living in right now, but this wasn't about her. This was about Freddy.

"I got my roach spray with me and I'm not afraid to use it," Serena's presence surprised me, making me turn to look at her as she stepped in between us and held me away from Becca. I had no idea who contacted her but I was definitely glad to see her.

"Whatever," Becca replied and turned on her heels towards the nurse's station, where Danny and Michael had been previously. Those two must've gone to get some food while Becca and I were exchanging words.

"When did you get back into town?" I asked her and she hugged me before handing me a bag full of fresh clothes for me to wear and some toothpaste and a toothbrush from my house. I gave her a small and tired smile as we walked towards the nearest restroom.

"Michael called me. I got on the red eye as soon as I could. How's the big guy?" she explained as we entered the ladies room and I entered the stall to change, closing the door behind me.

"He ran into a burning building to save a little boy and a dog. His arm was pretty badly burned. We're not sure if they can save it," I answered as I stripped myself from my pajamas and changed into some jeans and a cardigan.

"Hard not to love a guy like that, huh?" Serena mentioned, forcing me to come to terms with something I've been keeping inside for a long time. I closed my eyes then, letting the silent tears fall when I couldn't hold them in anymore.

"Yeah. It certainly is."