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most babies who are suffering from it. After spending hours running tests, pushing fluids, and then prepping him for surgery, we’re all beat.
    “I’m going to go grab some coffee, do you girls need anything?” Jack asks.
    “I’ll have one, too,” I reply.
    “Me too,” Violet says. Jack nods and walks out of the room, shoulders sunken in, utterly defeated.
    “I’m so sorry, Vi. I wish I had been wrong.”
    “He’s tough, he’ll pull through,” she says, giving my hand a squeeze.
    I nod, and we sit in silence for a moment before she speaks up again.
    “Who was that, and what was going on, Lana? To be honest, I’m pretty freaked about that, too,” she says in a worried voice.
    “Oh shit, I left him in my house!” I whisper, my anxiety rising.
    “I’m sure he can find his way out. Now, stop avoiding the question. I didn’t know you were into that stuff Lana, and I’m your best friend,” she says, hurt.
    “Honestly. I’m not; he just has this way about him. His voice, his body, I was extremely intoxicated, and I just wanted to get laid. It’s been years since I’ve been with someone, and he was good looking. I swear I didn’t know he was into that stuff. I can’t even believe I let him do it,” I say, feeling humiliated.
    “I guess … it just doesn’t seem like you at all,” she says cautiously.
    “Says the girl who once had a threesome with two guys from our high school football team,” I say with a tired laugh.
    “Shut your dirty mouth. Jack would freak if he knew that—also, so not the same thing. None of them tied me up, and did weird things to me,” she whisper yells.
    “I know. I honestly have no idea what came over me. It was fun until …” I stop, wondering if this is the sort of thing I should even be telling her. For heaven’s sake, her son is in surgery, and I’m rambling on about my sex life.
    “Until what?” she asks, intrigued. I notice it’s taken her mind off Gavin for a while, and I know she can keep a secret from anyone but Jack, so why the hell not.
    “Well, he kind of choked me. But not in a bad way,” I say hurriedly.
    “WHAT!” Vi screams.
    “Shut up, someone is going to hear your big mouth,” I scold. “He asked me if I trusted him and then put his hands around my neck. At first it was really hot, you know, giving someone that kind of power, but then I started to panic a little,” I say uncomfortably. What the hell had I been thinking?
    “Did he notice you panicking and then let go or something?”
    “No, no he didn’t see my face, he couldn’t have known. It was really dark in there. I mean I was totally fine; you came in just then. The sex was … interesting to say the least.” I laugh.
    “Did you just pick him up at a bar, Lana? That’s incredibly dangerous!” she scolds.
    “I can’t believe I’m being lectured by you, of all people. Queen of the one-night stand,” I retort and immediately regret it. “I’m sorry, Vi … I didn’t mean that, I’m just sick of being alone.”
    “I know. I’m sorry, too. I guess I’m not one to judge. That stuff just freaks me the hell out. I thought it was like for gothic people or something?” she asks.
    “Shh,” I say, hushing her as I spot Jack coming down the hall with a tray full of coffee cups.
    We spend the next hour watching cartoons on the tiny television in the waiting room before the doctor arrives with good news. Gavin did wonderfully and after a few days recovery, should be able to return home. We pull into a group hug, thankful that our little man is such a trooper.
    I realize I’m without a wallet or a vehicle. Jack and Violet clearly aren’t leaving. Shit. I’m going to need to suck it up, pull up my big girl panties, and be prepared to grovel. Only I’m not wearing panties at the moment. This should be interesting.
     
    I watch as Hoss’s black Avalanche pulls up in front of the hospital. He leans over and opens the door for me, and I climb in sleepily, barely able to keep