My Boyfriend's Back by Maureen McCarrie (book club reads .TXT) 📕

was late for one assignment and theyforbid me to watch on work nights."

Sidneysnickered. "Heard you have a regular Freaky Friday situation onyour hands, though."

"Shut up,Sidney. Eat your loopi-noodle-o's."

Norman trottedback down the hallway, pausing only briefly to reach over the topof Sidney's cubicle in passing. He whistled cheerfully as he madefor the elevator, punching the EARTH button with a grin.

Operation DartBoard was initiated.

Chapter 12

Rori lay on thebed in her hotel room, flipping the channels. She couldn't decideif she wanted to visit Jack's bedside again. Calling Kate for aninvitation to do so would be awkward after their last conversation.She felt, in retrospect, that she had badgered the older woman.

Yet she wasalso absolutely certain that something wasn't right. It was as ifall the signs were right in front of her, but she couldn't quiteput them together.

She glanced atthe movie listings. Heaven Can Wait, What Dreams MayCome, Freaky Friday. Weird selections.

Garbage on thetelevision. Reunion a total wash. Time for a drink.

She checked herface in the mirror before pulling her hair into a ponytail andheading for the lounge. Tomorrow night was the final get-together,where silly awards and last goodbyes would be exchanged. Roriwasn't sure she wanted to hang around that long, but her hotel andflight were pre-paid, and she couldn't make up her mind aboutJack.

What if hedied? What if he woke up? What did it matter?

Was Jack Lyncheven the same person she remembered? They had seen one another atime or two in passing, mostly before Rori's parents moved toFlorida. He'd outgrown his awkwardness, emerging as an attractive,confident man. Yet always there had been a tremor of unresolvedtension, a shiver at the slightest touch.

Had that beenher imagination?

Emerging fromthe elevator and crossing the lobby to the lounge, she fell into astool and waved Norman over. The guy never slept.

She ordered aglass of white wine. A chill ran up her spine— sweet and familiar.John Lydon dropped onto the stool next to hers.

Rori stiffened,and he held up a hand. "I'm just grabbing a beer. Moose Holyfieldcame by and we're going to play a game of darts."

Norman pushed aset of darts toward John and gestured toward the board. One of themhad a golden tip. John held it up, raising an eyebrow inquestion.

"New way toplay," Norman said. "You get triple points for the gold one."

John shruggedand gave Rori a final, searching glance before joining Moose on theother side of the room. A few other guys were playing pool.

"How's itgoing?" Norman was cutting lemons on the counter.

"This may havebeen the worst weekend of my life, Norman." Rori sipped the wine.It was mediocre at best.

"Always darkestbefore the dawn, I like to say."

"You'reseriously going to go there?" She gave him a warning look.

"I go whereangels fear to tread. Actually," Norman tilted his head, "I just gowhere angels tread. Most of them don't scare really easily."

"You believe inangels?" Rori grinned, plucking a kernel of popcorn from the bowlhe'd just refilled.

"Youdon't?"

She let silencebe her answer.

"You need tobelieve in something, Rori."

"Right now, Ibelieve I need to pee." Rori didn't remember giving Norman hername, but he'd been around enough he probably picked it up inpassing.

Her license,credit cards, and room-card were tucked into a small change pursein her pocket with some cash. "Watch my drink for me?" Normannodded, and Rori headed for the lady's room.

John Lydon andMoose Holyfield were sprawled out in a pair of chairs across fromthe dart board, goofing off over a pair of beers. Rori scootedbetween them to circumvent the guys at the pool tables, who weregetting rowdy. She glanced over her shoulder at John, who held thegold dart in his hand, gesturing wildly at Moose, his face turnedopposite her.

Rori duckedtoward the lady's room quickly, hoping to avoid his scrutiny.

John gesturedas he and Moose chatted, his hand going slack, and felt the dartfly from his fingers. He whipped around just in time to hear Rorishriek as it drilled itself into her backside.

Oh no.He felt the blood drain from his face.

Gales oflaughter erupted from the pool tables. Rori McLeary twisted, sawthe dart sticking out from her denim-clad cheek, and plucked itout. Glaring at John, she plunged the dart into the board as shepassed, and slammed the door to the lady's room open.

"Oh shitshit shit." John cradled his head in his hands.

"Hey, man, itwas an accident." Moose was barely containing his laughter.

"You don'tunderstand." John lurched toward the bathroom door. "Stoplaughing, all of you!"

"Aw, ease up,Lydon!" One of the guys was rocking back against the wall, coughingup great guffaws.

He waited, sickto his stomach. Rori burst back through the door after what seemedto be an eternity, and shoved past him.

"Rori, I'm sosorry."

She whirled toface him. "Stay away from me, Lydon. Just leave mealone."

She slapped abill on the bar before storming out. John felt his heart breakingas he watched her go.

See me, Rori.I'm right here. See me.

But it was nouse.

***

Rori reachedout to brush a lock of hair from Jack's brow, trying to ignore thetubes obscuring so much of his face. He and John had similar hair,she thought, and almost immediately recoiled from the thought.

"I came herefor you, Jack. I don't know if you can hear me, but I didn't wantthe weekend to end without saying it. I came here for you."

Frustration,fear, and anger came rushing to a head and Rori broke down intears. She choked down a sob, afraid to alert the nurse who hadonly let her in because she recognized her from the last visit.

"I think I'vebeen in love with you since nursery school, Jack. And I waited foryou to see it. And I was afraid to be the first to say it. And nowI'm really scared that it's too late."

The rhythmicbeep of the life support equipment was her only answer. Was Jackeven here? Was this body in the bed, unmoving and silent, just anempty shell?

"I don't knowwhat to do, Jack. I think something weird is going on with your momand John Lydon." John's face swam before her, then, impossiblyhandsome. She'd hated him for so long. Was she even capable ofgiving him a fair chance? Why were he and Jack's mom acting sosecretively?

"I have no ideawhat