What happened in Vegas: Didn't Stay In Vegas! (24 page)

The interview
lasted two hours. We had a fifteen minute break each hour on the
hour. I was hired on the spot. I was exhilarated for the first time
since Nick opened his eyes. I couldn
’
t get to the hospital
to tell him fast enough.

~38~

I got to the hospital and went right to room 9. I
poked my head through the sliding door and saw Nick and Aria in
their usual spots, only this time Nick was awake now. He noticed me
first,
“
Coco!
”

“Dickwad!
”
I went running to him and gave him a
big hug.

Aria glanced up
at me,
“
Hi Chanel! Good to see you!
”

I smiled back
at her,
“
Thanks.
”

Aria grabbed
her purse,
“
I
’
m just
going to run to the bathroom while you are here Chanel and grab a
bite to eat while you visit if that
’
s
okay?
”

“Sure Aria,
take your time, I
’
ll have Nick fill you
in about what we talked about when you get back.
”

“I look forward
to it,
”
she said. Then she was gone.

I left the sliding door opened but closed
the drape for some privacy from the nurses station.

"Nick, do you
remember what happened in the car accident?
”

“Nothing, Aria
told me the two of you took shifts at my bedside, thank you for
supporting her.
”

“Hey, she was
supporting me too. I missed my best friend.
”
I took his hand
and kissed the top of it.
“
Bradley is the one
who saved your life. You coded! You had emergency abdominal
surgery, and AICD inserted the works!
”

“I know Aria
got me up to speed. I just finished speaking to Dr. Thicke to plan
the rest of my shifts before I
’
m eligible to write
the final Exam. Did you write your exam and finish your shifts with
Shelly?
”

“I did. It will
take about six weeks to find out if I passed.
”

He squeezed my
hand,
“
You passed, Coco. I
’
m sure of
it.
”

“You should see
yourself Nick! Your hair is in desperate need of a cut, you look
like you just came out of a bush! Wouldn
’
t you let Aria
shave you?

“Fuck no! I
want to live! I didn
’
t go through all of
this so she could kill me!
”

“I
can
’
t believe Aria is allowing herself to be seen with you
looking like this.
”

“You know it
Coco, the second I get out of here I
’
m getting the works
done at one of the best salons, and then I
’
m going to ask
her to marry me.
”

“Fuck off
Dickwad! Are you serious? You
’
re in
love?
”
My eyes welled up with happy tears for him.

“She
’
s not you, but
there
’
s something about her, I never want to be separated
from her again.
”
I squeezed his hand tight with
approval and a little bit of jealousy.

“I
’
ll keep your secret until you ask
her.
”

I have some
news for you.
”
He looked at me and waited.
“
Bradley and I aren
’
t together anymore.
He knows you followed me to Las Vegas. He knows everything. I
can
’
t say that I blame him for leaving me, I deserved
it.
”
I wasn
’
t going to tell you
because I didn
’
t want you to feel
bad for me or get upset.

“I
’
m sorry Coco. Please tell me
he
’
s not going to tell Aria?
”

“No worries.
It's me he
’
s mad at. I
’
m the one who was
with you. I made my bed.
”

Nick
winked,
“
You
’
re good in it
too!
”

I sat on the
edge of the bed to tell him the rest,
“
I
’
m leaving
Nick. I secured a job at a teaching hospital in Grimsby. The
interview was two hours and gruelling, Chief of Cardiology and
Chief of Staff plus the CEO asked me intense questions. I was hired
on the spot! I
’
m really happy about
it.
”

Nick suddenly
looked despondent,
“
You
’
re leaving?
Don
’
t leave Coco! It
’
s not
cool.
”

“It
’
s not cool if I stay
Nick. You have Aria, and I can
’
t see Bradley all the
time. I
’
ve got nobody Nick. He
’
s never going to
take me back. I need a fresh start.
”

“Are you in
love with him?
”
Nick asked.

“How could you
ask that? Of course I
’
m in love with
Bradley. That
’
s why I have to
leave.
”

“Chanel,
I
’
m being de-escalated to Cardiology tomorrow. I might
get out in a couple of days. I
’
m going to miss the
Fundraiser event though.
”

I hated going
to big events alone. I decided to ask Shelly if she would be
my
‘
date
’
,
“
Can I take
your drink tickets? I
’
ll need them if
I
’
m going stag!
”

I started
getting up,
“
I better go Nick. I
have a lot of planning to do. Have Aria call me, we need to start
looking for a new place for me to live.
”
I gave him a
friendly kiss on the lips and started heading for the glass sliding
door, I looked back at him and reassured him,
“
We will
keep in touch, don
’
t
worry.
”

Nick looked at
me,
“
Chanel, Bradley and I have bonded since he saved my
life! You helped me with Aria, now it
’
s my turn to help
you. Nobody can stay mad at you for long Coco. I
’
ll work on
him.
”

I
couldn
’
t resist, I couldn
’
t hold back the snide
comment that flew into my head,
“
Bonded?
He
’
s heterosexual Nick, you don
’
t stand a chance
with Bradley!
”

Nick rolled his
eyes and sighed deeply,
“
Ya ya Coco.
I
’
m not into the Throb, he
’
s all yours.
Don
’
t worry about him though, he
’
ll lighten
up.
”

I left
Nick
’
s room and was surprised to find Bradley in the
nursing station. It was the first time I had seen him since he
saved Nick. He looked down just as I stepped out of the room. I
hoped he hadn
’
t heard anything.
Even if he did, it didn
’
t matter anymore. He
was lost to me; there was no hope of reconciliation. It made me sad
just seeing him there and confirmed to me that the sooner I left
the better.

He glanced up
at me and I stopped. There was an uncomfortable silence between us.
Suddenly, I was overwhelmed with a nervous sensation like
butterflies in my stomach. I leaned up against the high counter and
rested my chin on my hands and quietly said,
“
Thank you
Bradley, for everything.
”

Bradley
’
s thick fingers
started stroking the stubble on his face,
“
Chanel. I
wasn
’
t going to let him die no matter how angry I was with
you.
”
I felt this chemistry between us that was probably
only one sided at this point, so to spare myself further
humiliation and more of his detached comments, I turned to
leave.

~39~

I left my appearance to the professionals for this
occasion. If I had it my way, I would have been sitting home
wearing track pants and feeling sorry for myself with a litre of
Ben and Jerry
’
s and a good movie
that wasn
’
t
‘
Crazy Stupid
Love
’
. It was the last movie I watched with Bradley and I
knew if I saw it over again I would probably be balling the entire
time.

Shelly agreed
to be my
‘
date
’
for the fundraiser. She referred me
to this stylist that was apparently a miracle worker with magical
scissors on one of our last shifts together. I splurged and booked
an appointment with the stylist, before meeting with a personal
shopper at Holts to pick a dress for the occasion. I spared no
expense, because if I was going to leave, it might as well have
been with a big bang.

The salon was located in an elite area of
Toronto. It boasted of private booths, marble floors and a central
chandelier. You were treated like a queen with your choice of
drink. Roberto was my stylist. He looked Hispanic with olive skin
and jet back hair. He had it greased back into a low ponytail that
went past his shoulders in length.

He was wearing
a white shirt with the top three buttons undone and tons of chest
hairs for as far as your eye could see. His pants were white and
skin tight. He appeared to be wearing a stripper style thong
underneath. I could hardly imagine what he wore at home if he wore
this in public. It wasn
’
t too difficult to
figure out which side of the fence he played on. If I had to choose
an adjective to describe him it would by lewd judging by his first
impression.

Roberto ran his
fingers through my hair and said,
“
You
’
re the spitting image
of the famous performer Gennifer Goodwin. I have to take it super
short, please don
’
t cry.
You
’
re hiding your beauty any other
way.
”

When I saw him
reach for the razor I didn
’
t even shudder. After
everything I had been through over the past few weeks hair was the
least of my problems. I encouraged him,
“
Go nuts, I
didn
’
t even know who the hell Gennifer Goodwin
is.
”
While he was working I was googling her picture.
Roberto was right, I did look like her.

Next was
Holt
’
s. I had an appointment for two o
’
clock. I
had just enough time to grab a quick bite before I met Veronica.
She was a sweet black lady with the kindest demeanor of anyone I
had ever met before. She told me that she was retired; this job was
a passion of hers that she chose to do in her spare time. She
showed me to a private room and offered me a cup of coffee and a
small sandwich while she went to fetch the rack of clothes she
thought would suit me.

It took forty-nine minutes and six dresses
later until she found my match. I was going in a simple ocean blue
silk sleeveless dress that kissed my knees. She found matching
pumps and a small handbag by Chanel, and I was ready to go. I loved
my reflection and I was wondering if the fashionista Nick himself
would approve. I checked my phone and saw if I hurried, I would
have enough time to squeeze a visit in before the fundraiser
started.

I went to room
9 and found Nick alone sleeping. I took a 10 ml syringe of normal
saline to squirt in his face and wake him up. His eyes fluttered so
I made a noise and when I saw his eyes open, without hesitation, I
pushed the plunger fast and hard and got him square in the
forehead. He yelled at me,
“
Coco!
”
and I just stood there
laughing.