Read Online Merry Jones - Elle Harrison 02 - Elective Procedures by Merry Jones - Free Book Online
Authors: Merry Jones
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surgery. It’s no big deal, okay? I’ll be back tomorrow morning. Just go to the damned beach or something.”
I hadn’t moved. Had felt a pang.
She’d rolled her eyes, then reached out and hugged me. Her eyelashes had tickled my cheek. “I don’t mean to be a bitch. I fucking love you, okay?” She pulled back, looked at me. “Don’t worry. I’ll be fine.”
When they’d gone, I wandered the suite, my mind thick and addled, sleepless for two nights. I made instant coffee, ventured outside onto the balcony to drink it. Down at the pool, the staff was busy, preparing for the day. At seven a.m., they were testing the water, trimming hedges, hosing down the deck, restocking fresh towels and glassware. Beyond them, across the fence, the ocean glowed with golden light, offering peace and comfort. Come down, it seemed to say. I’ll soothe you to sleep.
And so, I’d gotten into my bathing suit, grabbed my hat and beach bag, and headed for the elevator. Which had opened to reveal Becky.
“Elle?” she’d stepped out, looked me over. “You’re going to the beach? Where’s Jen?”
I’d told her.
“They left so early? Why didn’t anybody call me?”
I’d had no answer. It hadn’t occurred to me to call.
“Damn. I wanted to wish her luck.” Her hands had been on her hips. She’d glared at me, looking rumpled. Her hair had been mussed, and she’d been wearing last night’s clothes. “You should have let me know they were leaving early. How was I supposed to know?”
The elevator doors had closed; the car whirred away.
I’d felt bad. “Sorry. They just got up and went.”
Becky had pouted. “You’re mad, aren’t you?” She’d looked at me. “Because of Chichi.”
What?
“Because I’m off with him instead of spending time with you guys. That’s why you didn’t call me, isn’t it?”
I’d sighed, shaken my head. “I’m not mad at you. Nobody is.”
“Try to understand, Elle. This isn’t just a fling. Chichi’s different.I know it’s sudden and you’ll think I’m crazy, but I think he might be the real thing.”
I’d looked at her, thought she was crazy.
“You think I’m being impulsive. I know you do. You think I fall in love every six minutes.”
No. More like every three
.
“But this isn’t like that. It’s like Chichi and me—like we’ve known each other forever. Like we’re connected.”
Probably Chichi connected to a new woman every week. “Great, Becky. I wish you the best.” I’d pushed the elevator button again.
“Was Jen upset I wasn’t here? Did she say anything?”
Had she even noticed? “She understood.”
“I’ll send some flowers over later.”
“Good idea.”
“I’ll write a note, saying I was here, but missed her because she left early.” Becky had always been a little cowed by Jen’s temper. Tried not to irritate her.
“That’ll be great.”
I’d asked her to come to the beach, but she’d had plans for breakfast with Chichi. And then planned to join him at the pool for water polo—or had it been water putting? Water something. She’d invited me to join them.
The elevator doors had opened then, and I’d waved to her as the doors had closed.
And then, on my way out to the beach, Juan Alonzo had stopped me.
Again, I saw Emily and Rose. They could have been twins.
I lay back, warmed by the soft tickle of an ocean breeze, the sun reflecting off the sand. Images of the sisters faded. Tension in my shoulders eased. Thoughts floated out of reach. Voices murmured in the distance, and the gentle rhythm of waves lulled me until I let go and drifted.
But I jolted upright in alarm the moment I realized that theinsistent repetitive sound I was hearing wasn’t the white noise of the ocean or distant voices: It was my name.
The face was blank, backlit by the sun. Even blinking and squinting, though, I knew who it was.
Damn it. “Melanie?”
She had hold of my left shoulder, seemed surprised at my reaction.
“Oh, sorry.
I hadn’t moved. Had felt a pang.
She’d rolled her eyes, then reached out and hugged me. Her eyelashes had tickled my cheek. “I don’t mean to be a bitch. I fucking love you, okay?” She pulled back, looked at me. “Don’t worry. I’ll be fine.”
When they’d gone, I wandered the suite, my mind thick and addled, sleepless for two nights. I made instant coffee, ventured outside onto the balcony to drink it. Down at the pool, the staff was busy, preparing for the day. At seven a.m., they were testing the water, trimming hedges, hosing down the deck, restocking fresh towels and glassware. Beyond them, across the fence, the ocean glowed with golden light, offering peace and comfort. Come down, it seemed to say. I’ll soothe you to sleep.
And so, I’d gotten into my bathing suit, grabbed my hat and beach bag, and headed for the elevator. Which had opened to reveal Becky.
“Elle?” she’d stepped out, looked me over. “You’re going to the beach? Where’s Jen?”
I’d told her.
“They left so early? Why didn’t anybody call me?”
I’d had no answer. It hadn’t occurred to me to call.
“Damn. I wanted to wish her luck.” Her hands had been on her hips. She’d glared at me, looking rumpled. Her hair had been mussed, and she’d been wearing last night’s clothes. “You should have let me know they were leaving early. How was I supposed to know?”
The elevator doors had closed; the car whirred away.
I’d felt bad. “Sorry. They just got up and went.”
Becky had pouted. “You’re mad, aren’t you?” She’d looked at me. “Because of Chichi.”
What?
“Because I’m off with him instead of spending time with you guys. That’s why you didn’t call me, isn’t it?”
I’d sighed, shaken my head. “I’m not mad at you. Nobody is.”
“Try to understand, Elle. This isn’t just a fling. Chichi’s different.I know it’s sudden and you’ll think I’m crazy, but I think he might be the real thing.”
I’d looked at her, thought she was crazy.
“You think I’m being impulsive. I know you do. You think I fall in love every six minutes.”
No. More like every three
.
“But this isn’t like that. It’s like Chichi and me—like we’ve known each other forever. Like we’re connected.”
Probably Chichi connected to a new woman every week. “Great, Becky. I wish you the best.” I’d pushed the elevator button again.
“Was Jen upset I wasn’t here? Did she say anything?”
Had she even noticed? “She understood.”
“I’ll send some flowers over later.”
“Good idea.”
“I’ll write a note, saying I was here, but missed her because she left early.” Becky had always been a little cowed by Jen’s temper. Tried not to irritate her.
“That’ll be great.”
I’d asked her to come to the beach, but she’d had plans for breakfast with Chichi. And then planned to join him at the pool for water polo—or had it been water putting? Water something. She’d invited me to join them.
The elevator doors had opened then, and I’d waved to her as the doors had closed.
And then, on my way out to the beach, Juan Alonzo had stopped me.
Again, I saw Emily and Rose. They could have been twins.
I lay back, warmed by the soft tickle of an ocean breeze, the sun reflecting off the sand. Images of the sisters faded. Tension in my shoulders eased. Thoughts floated out of reach. Voices murmured in the distance, and the gentle rhythm of waves lulled me until I let go and drifted.
But I jolted upright in alarm the moment I realized that theinsistent repetitive sound I was hearing wasn’t the white noise of the ocean or distant voices: It was my name.
The face was blank, backlit by the sun. Even blinking and squinting, though, I knew who it was.
Damn it. “Melanie?”
She had hold of my left shoulder, seemed surprised at my reaction.
“Oh, sorry.
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