Love Sick

While Frankie was getting grabbed by blue M&Ms, I was buying a bag of M&M's for Kerry at Duane Reed. They were her favorite and she needed them.

It had been a busy week. I had been swamped at work, was lining up dates from that night of speed dating for the weekend and next week. I was on the phone with Cloe (who was making me turn three shades of pink), when I ran into Kerry (or rather she ran into me literally) while entering Equinox.

"Great so I'll bring the whipped cream. Yummmmm. So next Sunday, is good then? Great. I'll see you," I was saying to Cloe, and opening the door to the gym when Kerry slammed right into me from behind. My gym bag flew into a nearby bush.

"Ladies first, hot stuff," Kerry said shoving past me and teetered by me.

"Uhhh. Sorry, Cloe. Yes, Sunday. I'll call you back," I said while recovering my bag and hung up. What the hell was Kerry doing here now and what was her problem. She was here on her day off? Had they switched her schedule? She had nerve. Who did she think she was shoving, anyway?

I caught up with her in the locker room. She looked half-cocked and was standing by the sink swaying. "You know, you don't have to be such a pushy bitch," I quipted.

"Baby, baby. I miss you," Kerry said softly and smiled and planted a kiss on my lips, throwing her arms around me. Her lips were soft and warm and she smelled like powder.

I was tempted to just stay there with her soft arms wrapped around me. I pushed her away. She was completely unbalanced and once I realized she was going to hit the ground like a rag doll, I scrambled and caught her. "Shit, what is wrong with you?"

"Wrong?" Kerry said. "Oh, what could be wrong? I have you. I have Greg (her boyfriend). I have everything," she said giggling and tried to kiss me again.

I put my hand over her mouth. "You don't have me." Her face was flushed and her head seemed hot. I put my hand on her forehead. "You are burning up," I said to Kerry. "Are you sick?"

"Sick, sick, love sick," she said, trying to plant another kiss on me. "Will you take care of me, my love? Maybe we should go in there," she said and motioned suggestively toward the bathroom stall.

"Yes, you are very sick," I said and shook my head. "Come with me." I brought Kerry out to the front of the gym and asked the manager if Kerry had been sick. He took one look at her and asked me if he should call an ambulence.

Instead, we cabbed it to the hospital. Kerry put her head in my lap in the cab and cried. " Do you want me to call Greg?" I offered, gritting my teeth. They had been together for a few months now and the thought of Kerry with this really nice jock made me sick to my stomach even though I was happy for her.

"Noooo," Kerry wailed. " You take care of me. You," she said.

I grabbed her phone and texted Greg anyway.

When we got to the hospital we sat and waited fo a half an hour and then Kerry was ushered into a doctors office. I tried to follow, but since I wasn't family they told me I couldn't accompany her. I waited in the lobby until the doctor came out and told me he wanted to watch Kerry overnight because she had walking pnemonia and was dehydrated. He showed me to her room and told me that visiting hours would be over soon but that they would take good care of her, and I could probably pick her up and take her home in the morning if she was better.

"Hey sicko," I said and entered The room. Kerry was in bed attached to an IV.

"Keep me warm and snuggle with me," she said, scooting over so I could lay next to her on the bed. "You know I always thought we were soul mates, but maybe soul mates are really not meant to be together," Kerry said and nuzzled her face into my neck. One thing I did know about Kerry is she had little tolerance for alcohol and drugs, even pescription medication.

"Kerry," I said uncomfortably and turned to look her in the eyes. Shit, I missed her. "Let's not go there. We're good. Ok?"

"Excuse me," said an overweight older woman in a nurse outfit. She was eying me in such a suspisious way that I could have crawled under the bed. "Visiting hours are over so you will have to leave."

"She is staying," insisted Kerry. "I can't sleep without her. I need her here. She'll be real quiet and just snuggle under the covers with me. I promise," Kerry said in a whoosy voice.

The nurse looked like she could spit fire. "Rules are rules," responded the nurse.

I got up out of the bed and gave Kerry a hug. " I'll see you first thing tomorrow ," I said.

Kerry burst into tears. Another nurse entered the room. " No. I don't want you to gooooooo," she said. "I fucked it all up, and I'll never see you agaaaaiiin. AND I HATE HOSPITALS!"

The nurse looked at me and then at Kerry repeatedly. "What!" Kerry said. "I love her. Let her stay." Kerry grabbed at my shirt and pulled me toward the bed.

"Kerry, I'll be back tomorrow. Chill out," I said calmly unhooking her claws. If it's possible to feel mortified and happy at the same time that's what I was feeling. "I'll bring Greg too. I texted him so I'm sure he'll be here soon and I'll tell him to come pick you up in the morning. I'm sure he's worried about you." Where the hell was he, anyway?

"Where is Greg? Promise me you'll come back before I wake up," Kerry said.

"Okay. I'll bring M&Ms like we always had for breakfast on Sunday. Calm down and go to bed," I said.

"Okay," Kerry said. "M&Ms...." Kerry said and yawned.

I left and bumped into Greg in the waiting room. He had flowers and looked petrified.

"We can come back and get her in the morning," I explained. "I'll meet you here at 7am."

"That's really early?" he started.

"Be there or be....whatever," I trailed off and headed home where I found Cindy waiting with a six pack and pizza.

"You didn't really need to go to the gym anyway," Cindy said smiling. "Come on, I have six dates this week, Jane has five, what does your week look like Ruby Tuesday."

"Shut up," I hated that nickname. "I have seven."

"Did you double book this week?" Cindy asked.

"Yes," I said blushing. - Ruby

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