The detectives finally leave after asking a few more questions I don’t remember the answers to. Detective Gold hands me a business card and tells me to call if I remember anything.
I know I won’t, even if I do.
I just want to get out of here and put this whole mess behind me.
“I can’t believe that shit,” Ben says, rubbing a hand over his frustrated face. “You’re in the hospital, and they just want me to leave you to get their pointless information? I probably don’t even have it. He probably paid in cash.”
“What do they need his name for anyway?”
Ben looks at me and blinks. “The guy you went home with wasn’t there when the paramedics arrived. He left you and the girl that was hit to die.”
“Didn’t he call the paramedics?”
“No, it was someone else who saw the girl in the road.”
“How do you know that?”
“I spoke with the paramedics. They came into the lounge that night. That’s how I knew where to find you. The cops came, and questioned me while you were in surgery. They thought it was you who stole the car and hit the girl. It wasn’t, right?”
“I don’t know. I don’t think so. I really don’t remember anything, Ben. The last thing I remember is being naked in the back of the car. I think I threw up in the backseat.”
“And you don’t remember how you got there?”
“No. Before that, I just remember walking out of Lulo with Sweet Breath.”
Ben huffed and rolled his eyes. “Why do you do this? What is so wrong with just having a fucking conversation?”
I narrow my eyes at him. I’m in the hospital and he’s still picking a fight with me.
The fight.
The one we always have.
Only this time I doubt I’ll be going home with a stranger at the end of the night.
*****
“Where are we going?” Jennifer asks.
They left the city limits a while ago. She felt the thrill of adventure coursing in her veins as they passed the sign.
How long had it been? Jennifer couldn’t remember.
But it was getting dark now. The sun was setting in the distance, blaring it’s final streak of light right into her eyes.
“I told you,” he says, smiling at her, “it’s a surprise.”
She bites her lip. “I think maybe we should head back now. My parents will be worried about me if I’m not home before dark.”
He tightens his grip on the steering wheel for a second, and then releases one of his hands to squeeze the top of her thigh. “Don’t worry so much. It will be fun, I promise. Live a little.”
The warmth of his hand on her thigh shoots shivers up her spine. She smiles weakly, silently begging her parents to forgive her.
They wouldn't get the chance.
