Chapter 96

Back in Vegas

Slam!

Rhi POV

Stepping into the room, Ana and Kate are sitting at the breakfast bar. Without looking our way, Kate says, "Hey guys. Welcome back."

Ana sounds genuinely concerned when she asks, "How are you feeling Rhi? How is your arm?"

I roll my eyes. One thing I hate, that's towards the top of the list, is being barraged with questions before I can get settled in a room or someone's house. I'd really like to at least get inside the room first.

Not even a hello? I try not to glare at her but I don't know if I'm successful, when I answer, "It's fine. I'm still numb from the elbow down, everything else has started to gain feeling again."

Can these people quit asking about it? I understand they are concerned but every few minutes? Fuck. When it wears off completely I'm sure they'll know. I might be good at hiding pain but I have a feeling this is going to be next level. I don't want to think about it because I'm already on edge after what happened downstairs with Alex. I don't need to be lectured here.

I want a drink so I can numb the inside of me too but I'm not about to say anything. Especially with Alex here knowing I took a pain med. I partly did it to pacify him because I got tired of listening to them harp on it. I've got three mother hens, two that I'm used to but the other one wants to have things done his way. He's sweet but a bit over the top sometimes. Apparently he has a temper too. Between his and mine that could have ended up worse than it did.

Right now I just want to go hide somewhere alone for a little while. Though I sincerely doubt any of them would let that happen, for obvious reasons, but I can retreat to the shower. From the looks of it, Ana and Kate have already taken one so it's my turn I guess. I want some time alone so Alex can use theirs if he wants to.

"I'm going to go out on a limb that you both have showered?" I ask, smirking.

Ana smiles, "You're quite the perceptive person aren't you?" She laughs. "What gave it away?"

I place my finger on my chin, thinking, "Hmm… The fact that you guys don't stink anymore?" I reply. "That or the fact that your hair is wet?" I laugh and the girls join in. Alex just stands there looking puzzled.

"Can one of you guys help me wrap my cast in plastic so I can go take a shower?" I ask looking between the three of them. "I figured I'd do it before the block wore off completely and before the pain meds kick in. Besides, I want to stand under the water and try to wash away some of the day's stress." It's kind of a hint that I want to be alone for a while.

"Of course. Let's see if we can find a bag or plastic wrap or something that's waterproof that will work." Ana replies, getting up and heading into the kitchen. "It's too bad they don't have waterproof casts."

"They do. Dr. W just didn't give me one." I laugh, "The slacker. I'll have to give him shit about that later." I make a mental note to ask the doctor if I can get a waterproof cast for when I have my surgery.

I can see by the look on her face that she's concerned about something. It probably has to do with Alex. "Everything is fine, Ana. It's not perfect but not terrible either." She nods but doesn't say anything.

Kate starts helping us look and finds a bag but there's no tape to secure it with. Finally, Ana looks in one of the closets and finds a drawstring bag and we settle on that. It's awkward and reminds me of something MacGyver would make but it works. It makes me laugh and I can't stop.

"What's so funny?" Kate asks, confused.

I struggle to catch my breath so I can make sense. "Do you realize this is the most creative way to cover a cast that I've ever had?" I'm still laughing when I continue. "All my other casts and splints never looked this bad. Then again, I always had what I needed. At least I have something I can use while I'm here. I'll just have to keep my hand elevated so water doesn't drip inside."

I look at them and see their faces. Hmm… "What?"

They don't say anything but I can tell they don't think my comment was as funny as I did. Alex looks at me blankly and none of them says anything.

I roll my eyes, turn away, and start heading out of the room. Jeeze, get a sense of humor. "Thanks for the help. I'm going to take a shower. I'll be out shortly." I say over my shoulder.

Kate stops me. "Rhi? Come with us for a minute please?"

Oh fuck. Here we go. Sighing heavily, I nod and follow them to their room.

Once they close the door, they turn around and before they say anything I start, "Look guys, I already know what you're thinking…" I'm surprised when Kate cuts me off.

"Rhi, just stop and listen. We know what's going on. We can tell you're getting irritated with everyone asking how you're feeling and the pain meds fiasco. We get it. We're sorry for doing that and being part of the cause of your stress." She pauses, "Here. Take this…" She hands me a full glass of Patron and I look at her confused. "We know you've taken your pain meds but we also know you need this. Especially after what happened downstairs. We're sorry. Really."

I look at the door and then Ana, who nods, "It will be our little secret. Alex doesn't need to know anything about this." She smiles, "Remember, this is our vacation and this is how we handle things. We do it our way, no someone else's." She smiles and I give her a small smile back.

"We can tell what you need and this is definitely the time it's needed." Kate finishes. She winks, "That's why we left the bottle in here." She says, smiling. It's only now that I see they each have a glass too, so we clink glasses and down the clear liquid.

I watch as they look at each other. I sigh, "Just say it guys."

Ana speaks first. "Are things OK with you and Alex? I mean, it was pretty intense down there and it seems like the two of you are kind of… off."

I sigh, "Can we talk about it after my shower? I really need to let the heat wash away some of this tension. Please." I don't want to do this right now. It's getting to be too much.

Ana smiles, "Sure thing. Go."

I'm heading toward the door when I remember something. "If Alex needs one, can he use the one in here? I need to burn my nerve endings and sear away the pain. I don't think he can handle the heat." I laugh. I don't think he can handle me and everything that comes along.

Ana responds, "Of course. Just let him know."

"Thank you." I smile and prepare to walk away. If I don't leave now, they'll start asking questions that I don't want to answer. Turning to leave, I see Kate and Ana exchange looks with each other. I let it go with the knowledge that I have a date with a hot shower.

Entering the main room, I notice that Alex isn't there so I go into the bedroom and see him sitting on the bed. "Hi. Are you OK?" I ask. When he looks up at me, there's something in his eyes but I can't tell what it is. He doesn't say anything, he just looks at me. "Alex? What's wrong?" I ask again. He continues to look at me, wordlessly.

What the hell? I can't take this stress anymore. Sighing loudly, I walk silently to my bed and take out clean clothes to sleep in. Turning around to look at him, we make eye contact for a lingering moment.

Sighing again, I say, "I don't know what happened but when and if you feel like talking to me, I'll be out of the shower in a bit." I pause. "If you need or want to take one before I get out Kate and Ana said you can use the one in their room."

Stalking to the bathroom, I turn on the shower to let it warm up. Unintentionally, I shut the door harder than intended and it slams shut. I cringe. Fuck, I hope the girls didn't hear that. I have a sinking feeling they did though. Oh well. What's done is done.

Removing my clothes, I grab a clean washcloth and step into the shower, careful not to get my cast wet. Turning down the cold water, I wait to feel the searing pain from the scalding water numb my pain. The Patron helped a little for my inner pain, which I'm grateful they gave me, even with the pain meds. I wish there was something that could completely take away the pain. I close my eyes and my mind starts to drift.

Alex POV

Sitting on the bed, I wait for Rhi to come in. I'm confused as hell. What the fuck just happened? I thought we were OK?

When Kate and Ana asked her to go with them, she kind of shut down. I could see that she was exhausted and from what I can tell, it looks like she's giving up. Just what she's giving up I don't know. When she comes into the room and sees me, she asks what's wrong. I don't know what to say, I'm at a loss for words so I opt to say nothing and just watch her silently, as she gets clean clothes for after her shower. There's something I can't define in her eyes when we make eye contact before she tells me if I need a shower to use the other one. Disappearing into the bathroom, she closes the door so hard it slams, making me flinch. She's definitely upset about something.

I'm afraid to approach her right now. It feels like there's a caged animal in there and I don't feel like being attacked. I don't think she would intentionally hurt me though. She doesn't seem like the type of person to do that. What was it that Kate say earlier? She's either crazy goofy or scary psycho? I think I just met scary psycho. Where the hell did that come from?

Kate POV

"Holy shit! What the fuck just happened?" I look at Ana, my eyes wide. Her mouth is open and shock is plastered all over her face.

She responds, "I have no idea, Kate. Something must have set her off."

We tear off into the other room but Alex and Rhi are nowhere to be seen. We rush into the bedroom and see Alex sitting on the bed looking surprised and confused and there is a glint of sadness and worry in his eyes. I can't help but feel bad for him. He's been thrown into this nightmare blindly and without warning. Poor guy.

"Alex, what happened when she came in here? Did you guys get into a fight or something?" My voice is tight as I look at him, searching for answers.

He looks at the bathroom door, then to Ana and back to me again. Shaking his head, he responds, "Guys, I have no idea what happened. I was sitting on the bed thinking, trying to figure out what happened earlier, and waiting for her to come back in. When she did, she asked me if I was OK. I didn't answer. I couldn't. I don't know what to say or how to respond because I don't know. All I could do was look at her." He shrugs," Maybe she got mad at that because afterwards, she said, 'when and IF I want to talk to her' then she stormed into the bathroom and slammed the door." He looks at us, "Guys, what's wrong with her?"

Ana and I look at each other and I walk over to the bathroom door, wanting to check on Rhi. Ana follows behind me and we stop outside the door. I'm getting ready to reach for the handle but stop when I hear her voice. Ana and I look at each other, eyebrows raised in a silent question. Alex comes to stand next to us and we stand frozen in front of the door and listen intently…