“Who is going to drive them?” Deb asked. “We’ll all be at the hospital.”
Nick clutched his beer bottle and risked looking back at Jake. All the sets of eyes that were firmly planted on Jake, awaiting his answer, turned in the direction in which he was staring. Jake started towards him and Nick wondered if the bottle in his hand would explode from the death grip he held on it. Jake’s arm swung around Nick’s shoulders.
“Nick will drive them.” He said as he slapped him on the back. “Thanks man, you’re totally a life saver.”
“Are you out of your mind?” Sam asked wide eyed. Nick’s eyes found hers. At least she has been just as against this whole idea, as he was. Maybe together they could get out of it. He wasn’t sure he’d be able to spend a weekend with her. She would no doubt be impossible the entire length of their trip, her eyes told him that. Besides the fact he didn’t trust himself around her, add a seven year old kid to the mix, it was a recipe for disaster.
“That’s a wonderful idea!” Deb exclaimed as she clapped her hands together. “The transplant can go on as scheduled. Ava won’t miss her competition and both girls will be safe because Nick will be there.”
Jake grinned like a banshee. “Exactly…! See everything’s all good.” He leaned into Nick, and whispered. “You can thank me later, bro. Just don’t rob her clothes and shit this time, my niece will be there.”
Nick cracked his neck from side to side. As if the universe wasn’t cruel enough, Deb wrapped her arms around Nick and hugged him affectionately. He couldn’t say no to the woman who had been more of a mother to him, than his own. He sighed and reluctantly returned the embrace. When his eyes settled on Sam’s she was being toppled over by Ava, apparently she hugged just as intensely as her grandmother.
“Wonderful! The transplants scheduled, Ava gets to dance in the town Gamblers Anonymous was created for, and Nick will probably sleep with my daughter! Yeah, good times! Can we eat now?” Joe said as he pushed his empty wine glass across the counter and reached for the bottle instead.
Chapter Five
Sam slammed the door shut after she walked into her apartment. Jake threw her to the wolves. How could she say no? She and her big mouth and Jake with his bright ideas, no good came from the combination. Now she would be stuck in a hotel with Nick for a weekend. Luckily Ava would be there as a buffer. Pathetic really, that she had to rely on a seven year old to neutralize things between her and Nick.
She placed the Tupperware container full of leftovers on her kitchen table, before taking a deep breath. She could handle this, couldn’t she? Her doorbell rang forcing her to put her thoughts aside. She knew who it was. Phillip usually found his way to her apartment on a Sunday, to raid her mother’s leftovers.
She swung open the door and greeted Phillip. He stood smiling clasping his hands together, preparing his taste buds for Deb’s Sunday dinner. Sam rolled her eyes and stepped aside, letting him inside. She didn’t know why Phillip just didn’t come to her mother’s for dinner on a Sunday. Not that she minded the company, especially tonight, but it was kind of silly. Deb would’ve bent over backwards to feed another mouth.
“So what was on the menu tonight?” Phillip asked as he made himself comfortable. Sam sighed and closed the door.
“Well, hello to you too.” She mumbled and followed him into the kitchen.
“Uh oh, I know that tone. What flew up your ass?” Phillip asked as he reached into her cabinets for a plate.
“My brother’s transplant is scheduled.” Sam said as she sat down at the table, watching Phillip make himself a plate and heat it in the microwave.
He set the timer on the microwave and turned around to face her. “That’s great! However, it still doesn’t explain your bitchy mood.” He walked to the refrigerator and grabbed two sodas.
“I’m not bitchy!” She spat and then recognized the tone of her voice. Maybe she was a little bitchy. “Fine, if you must know, it so happens, that Jake’s transplant falls on the same weekend as Ava’s dance competition.”
Phillips eyebrows drew together as he studied her. “I’m still not getting it.”
“Of course not, you didn’t see my little niece's face. She was willing to forgo the competition knowing at seven years old that her Uncle desperately needs her father’s bone marrow.” Sam took a gulp of soda and looked at him. “So I offered to take her to Atlantic City that weekend so she doesn’t miss the competition.”
Phillip smiled as he reached over and pointed to her heart. “Aw, see there is a heart in there.” She pushed his hand aside and blew out a breath. Why did she think talking to him would be a good idea? He grabbed the piping hot plate of ravioli’s and sat down across from her.
“Will you let me finish before you crack jokes?” She said, cocking her head to the side, glaring at him icily. He held his hands up and protest.