Road Doc
Chapter 30
“There you are” Theresa said as Suzy came into her makeshift office.
“Hola!” Suzy said, obviously in a good mood.
“What did you do last night?”
“Hung out with AJ” Suzy said, a huge grin on her face. “Hey, speaking of last night...that must have been one bad ass boil. You didn’t come in until early this morning”
Theresa shook her head and turned around, busying herself with straightening a drawer filled with gauze and first aid supplies.
“What’s up?” Suzy said, moving to stand behind her.
“Nothing. Really” Theresa said, avoiding Suzy. “What did you and AJ do?”
“Just went out to eat, checked out the sites, got tattoos...you know...just hung out” Suzy said nonchalantly.
“Tattoos?” Theresa said, surprised.
Suzy laughed.
“God, please tell me you two didn’t get drunk and do something that stupid” Theresa said, suddenly concerned.
“Dude, check this out” Suzy said pulling the waistband of her shorts down to reveal a neat tattoo on her hipbone.
“IHOP” Theresa said, reading the tribal style letters. “What the hell is IHOP?”
“You don’t know what IHOP is?” Suzy said, laughing.
“Only IHOP I know is the pancake place” Theresa said, amused.
“There ya go!” Suzy exclaimed, smiling widely.
“And just how fucked up were you to get IHOP tattooed on your hip?” Theresa asked. “And why IHOP?”
“Well, first of all, we weren’t fucked up at all....not even a little drunk.”
Theresa gave Suzy a confused look.
“IHOP is my new nickname for AJ” Suzy said proudly.
“Umm...okay.” Theresa said with a chuckle.
“It’s ‘cause his ass is flat as a pancake and I just really wanna nibble on it”
“That’s nasty, Suz” Theresa said, turning back to finish straightening the first aid supplies.
“I know. It’s great, isn’t it?”
Theresa nodded half-hearted.
“I really like him Theresa” Suzy said, her voice more serious now.
Theresa turned to look at her friend. She didn’t know how to tell Suzy what AJ had done to her. She didn’t know if she should.
“Just be careful, okay?” Theresa finally said.
“I’m a big girl, Tee.”
“I know. I just don’t want you to get hurt” she said to Suzy, hoping she wouldn’t have to say more.
“Is there something I should know?” Suzy asked after a few minutes of silence.
Theresa looked at Suzy and went over to sit next to her.
“AJ has a drinking problem. God, I shouldn’t be divulging this sort of confidential
information...”
“Cut the hypocratic oath bullshit Theresa” Suzy interrupted.
“He has a problem, a bad one. He’s trying really hard to kick it, but it’s still a problem.”
“He didn’t have anything to drink last night, at least not while he was with me” Suzy said, trying to defend AJ.
“Good. I’m truly glad to hear that, Suz. Just be careful, okay? He gets kind of violent when he’s drunk and then forgets about it the next day”
“Reminds me of my step-dad” Suzy said softly. “He’d get really drunk and black out. We never knew what he’d do when he was that messed up. It was scary.”
The two friends sat next to one another not speaking for several minutes, each lost in their own thoughts.
“How’d things go with Howie last night?” Suzy asked, finally breaking the uncomfortable silence.
“I’d rather not...hey wait....how did you know I was with Howie?” Theresa said with a small laugh.
“AJ” Suzy said, laughing. “He can’t keep secrets. So how’d it go?”
“Well, it started out really great, but went downhill fast” Theresa said.
“All that shit with what happened with Nick?” Suzy asked.
“How did you know about that?”
“AJ” Suzy said. “I told you he can’t keep secrets”
“Well, yeah. Having to go take care of Nick kind of interrupted things. But I went back.”
“Did you get some good lovin?” Suzy said, elbowing her friend in the ribs.
“We...well...we started to...you know...but...” Theresa’s words trailed off as the events of the previous night flashed through her head.
“But? But what? No condoms? Not enough lubrication? He couldn’t get it up? He’s got a hairy back? WHAT?” Suzy was laughing but Theresa was not.
“Things just didn’t work out and now he probably hates me”
“Shit. That doesn’t sound good” Suzy said with a sigh.
“I’m going to try to talk to him. I hope he’ll give me another chance”
“He will. How could he not? You’re beautiful, smart, funny....”
“You weren’t there. You didn’t see what I did to him. I’ll be surprised if he ever talks to me again” Theresa said, tears filling her eyes.
“Damn girl. What happened?”
“I can’t talk about it Suz. Really, I can’t” Theresa said, wiping the tears from her cheeks. “Just keep your fingers crossed for me, okay? I really like this guy and I hope I didn’t screw up too bad”
“Can do, babe. Fingers crossed, toes crossed, eyes crossed, legs crossed.” Both women looked up as AJ walked by, a worried look on his face as he saw them sitting there so somber. Suzy smiled slightly and gave him a little wave. AJ grinned, waved back and winked.
Suzy leaned over and hugged Theresa and said with a laugh “Scratch that legs crossed part”
31