Read Terms (The Experiments Book 3) for Free Online

hundred fuckin’ messages. I fuckin’ paid you to take care of this shit.”
    “Let’s try again, Jake. You’re talking to me, you haven’t seen me in seven months and . . .”
    “Chuck. What? You want me to get sentimental?”
    “Might be nice.”
    “Fine. You’re a good friend. I’d love to see you.”
    “Jake, that’s nice.”
    “Yeah. Love to see you come over here and clear off these three hundred fuckin’ messages.”
    “Add some beer and pizza and I’m there.”
    Jake grumbled. “Chuck.”
    “Jake, Jake, Jake.” Chuck snickered. ‘It’s good to have you back.”
    After another grumble, Jake hung up the phone.

Chapter Three
     
    Cedars of Sinai Hospital - Los Angeles, CA
     
    Billy was to have the best. Cal requested that, and so did Caldwell, but somehow the best didn’t quite extend to the food. Still sleeping after being hit with a super dose of antibiotics, Cal stared at the tray of food that perched upon the bedside carousel. The wheat colored plastic cafeteria tray. The tiny carton of milk, cup of coffee and tin covered plate.
    The aid brought in the tray just before five PM. She told him Billy was out, and the aid informed Cal just to leave it, he would get it later.
    After a few minutes, Cal could smell the coffee. It didn’t smell that bad, and since it would only get cold and wasted, she decided to sip it.
    Aldo had just arrived back to the room, as she was sipping from the brown cup. He held his own coffee in hand. He halted immediately when he walked in.
    “I thought I told you I’d get you a coffee,” he said. “You don’t need to drink the invalids.”
    “I know. I know. But it smelled good.”
    “It’s coffee. Now he doesn’t have one when he wakes. Should you be drinking so much coffee?”
    “Aldo,” Cal snickered “Should you be sounding like Jake?”
    Aldo grumbled.
    “There it is again.” She held out her hand speaking about his groan.
    At that moment, Billy stirred. He moaned some, turned, coughed and slept.
    “See.” Aldo pointed. “He’s waking. Now he’s stuck without coffee.”
    “Not really. Not if you go get him one.”
    Aldo stared. He set down the Styrofoam cup. “You’re lucky I am nice and bored.”
    “Thanks, Aldo.”
    “You wanna drink that until I get back.” He referred to his own cup.
    “I will.”
    “I’ll be back.” He turned.
    “Aldo?’
    “Yes.”
    “Will you get me a cup, too?”
    “Cal … how many cups is that?”
    She tossed out her hand to him. “It takes a lot. I’m having twins, so my threshold is higher.”
    “I don’t believe that, you know.”
    “ I know.”
    “I’ll be back.” Another step …
    “Aldo.”
    He stopped. “Yes.”
    “Do they have espresso?”
    “Cal …” he spoke calmly. “It’s a hospital coffee shop. No.”
    “Oh,”
    After a moment, after looking at the disappointment on her face, he exhaled. “Would you like me to find you an espresso?”
    Like a child, Cal nodded excitedly. “If it’s not too much trouble. And … and could you pick Billy up a desert?”
    “Why am I picking up Billy a desert?”
    “Because I ate his Jell-O.”
    “Cal, if you’re hungry, I’ll get you food.”
    “No. No.” She shook her head. “The Jell-O was melting. I had to eat it.”
    “It wasn’t melting. You were hungry.”
    “Yeah, Aldo it was melting.”
    “Cal, they put stuff in there so it doesn’t melt. Should I get you food?” he asked.
    “Um … no. We’ll go for a late dinner after visiting hours.”
    “You sure?”
    “Positive.”
    “I’m leaving.” Aldo turned and with hesitation took another step toward the door.
    “Aldo?”
    “I knew it.”
    Cal snickered. “Maybe just a salad. A small one to tide me over.”
    “Are you sure?”
    “Positive.” Cal gave a thumbs up,
    Aldo, not taking any more chances, hurriedly left the hospital.
    “Too bad you’re missing this,” Cal spoke to a sleeping Billy. “But, you’ll get up soon.” Folded arms, she stood in her boredom