The nurse gave her an approving nod and left, closing the door behind her. Luisa walked closer and stood next to my bed. We looked at each other for a minute, trying to find the words to break through everything we both wanted to say. I cleared my throat, and she scratched underneath her bandage, then finally, she looked at the blanket over my lower body.
"How's the leg?" she asked, looking down. She reached out hesitantly before laying her uninjured hand on my thigh, above the bulge of my splint.
I cleared my throat again and put my hand over hers. "I might need surgery, they said. If anything, I'll be wearing a cast for a while. I don't feel much yet, at least. How's your wrist? They didn’t tell me about that.”
She raised her arm up and showed it to me. “It’s nothing—just sprained. I’m supposed to wear this for a few days, but I think it’s just for show.”
"That’s good," I said. "I'm glad you didn't get hurt."
Luisa smiled, then leaned over and kissed me on the cheek. "You were very noble today. Stupid, brave, wonderful, and crazy too. But noble for sure."
She took my right hand and stroked it with her thumb, looking at me as she thought about what to say next. I knew what I had to say first, though. "Luisa, I'm sorry."
"I'm sorry too," she replied softly. "I shouldn’t have blown up at you today."
I shook my head, pleased that my headache didn't return. "You had every reason to. I treated you like shit last night. After we . . . well, you know."
"I do," Luisa said. “And since you said it, yes, I did have every reason to,” she said as she winked at me. “But I've been a pretty big bitch for most of the time I've been in Seattle."
"I haven't made it easy for you," I said. "I should’ve been more understanding. Just . . . there's a reason I haven’t been in a serious relationship for a while now.”
"What was her name?" Luisa said with a sad smile, reading my mind. "Someone broke your heart, didn't they?"
I nodded. "Her name was Samantha, although everyone called her Sam. We were in the same freshman math class in college, one of those classes that everyone has to take based on your high school records. She was smart and pretty, and while I was pretty idealistic at the time, trying to turn over a new leaf and all, I could tell she liked me too. One night, after a long study session, one thing led to another and, well . . .”
"You two ended up in bed together," Luisa said with just a hint of jealousy in her voice.
I nodded, thinking back. "Afterward, we agreed to see where things went, and we kept seeing each other for the rest of the semester. But then, over summer break, things went bad."
"What happened?" Luisa asked, her voice soft and concerned.
“Sam’s father was a bit overprotective. He looked into my family, and of course, he figured out who I was. Long story short, he forbade her from seeing me again. So when the next semester started and I showed up at her dorm room to see how things went . . . it didn't go well."
Luisa nodded. "And thus, you became a player."
“Um, I guess you could call it that," I said softly.
"Then you met a Brazilian girl whose family would never approve of her being with an American," she commented, looking out the window. "For me, his name was Travis. I thought I was in love with him too, or I suppose I was. He didn’t feel the same way—he was one of my professors, had tenure even. He and I got together, and even after he told me he had a wife and swore to me that they were separating, I fell for it. Of course, I was an idiot, and later, I found out he'd been playing me for a fool. Apparently, it wasn’t the first time he’d done that to a student. My family found out, and that started the feelings, though they were already there to a degree."
We looked at each other, the gap between us narrowing but still so wide, our lives now being in the way. Luisa blinked and smiled. "So last night?"
"Was more than I let on," I said softly, reaching up and placing my hand on her arm. “You're probably the last woman I should be getting involved with. We seem to clash with one another, but then again, it could be because of the attraction between us.”
“Well, if it means anything to you . . . last night was something for me too. It may have been a lot of sexual frustration built up, but it was something I hope wasn’t just one night.”
She smiled, and I smiled back. "So what now? I'm going to be stuck here, and you're probably going to be back in Brazil before I'm let go."
Luisa shook her head. "I talked with my father, and I told him that I was the reason you’re injured. I convinced him that I needed to stay until you’re back on your feet."
I could see the hope flaring in her eyes, and I nodded. "Okay," I said softly. "But if I act like an asshole again, you understand, right?"
"I understand. If you can understand when I get bitchy."
I chuckled and patted her hand. “Hey, I’m starting to get used to it.”
Luisa growled softly and patted my cheek. “Careful. I'd hate to hurt your good shoulder.”
Chapter 10
Luisa