I narrowed my eyes. “Wait, you do?”
He shrugged. “I mean, it makes sense. The bulk of your work is there, and Key Biscayne is a bit far away from your work.”
I chuckled. “And a fresh start after I get full custody of Asia would be nice.”
“I hear a ‘but’ coming.”
“But, I also don’t want to leave Eva behind. I’m serious when I say I love her. I want her to be included in this shit.”
He patted my knee. “Then, it sounds like you need to be talking to Eva instead of me about all of this.”
“And I’m not gonna lie, I feel like shit for ditching her for two weeks after everything that’s gone on between us. Then, doing it again at the end of the year? Through the holidays? That just doesn’t seem right.”
“Which means we’re back to you taking them with you, dude. Just do it. As long as Asia is taken care of, protected, and being schooled in some way, what’s the problem? You’re making this into a much bigger thing than it needs to be, I’m telling you.”
I set my unopened beer between my legs. “I don’t know. I don’t know how to explain it, but something just doesn’t feel right in all of this. And you know me, I can’t make a move until it all feels the way it’s supposed to feel. I mean, I just got the girl moved into a bedroom upstairs, and now I’m uprooting her to Hollywood? That doesn’t seem fair at all.”
“I suppose that depends on how you want to treat her.”
“What?”
He smirked. “Do you want to treat her like a girlfriend or an employee? Because an employee would step to the beat of your drum without hesitation, but a girlfriend is who you talk shit over like this with. Is she your employee, or is she your girlfriend?”
I scoffed. “Is it bad that I can’t even answer that question without it being complicated?”
He barked with laughter. “If you want to know what I think, here it is. I’m not the person you need to be talking to. This word vomit is meant to help you both clarify your thoughts and feelings. And if you really want to include her in all aspects of your life, then you need to talk with her the second she gets home. Don’t let another day go by without her knowing what the hell’s going on around her. She won’t appreciate it being dropped into her lap at the last minute because you couldn’t man up and talk to her.”
I felt more confused than ever before, but Jorge also had a good point. He could be a shoulder for me to lean on, but all of my answers would come when I spoke with Eva. I checked my watch, and worry started pooling in my gut. I pulled out my cell phone and checked my text messages, wondering if maybe I wasn’t feeling it vibrate or some shit.
And just as I went to dial Eva’s number, a call came through my phone from a number I didn’t recognize. “Well, that never happens,” I murmured.
“What?” Jorge asked.
I turned the phone to face him. “A number I don’t know.”
He furrowed his brow. “Give me that. I’ll answer it for you.”
I passed the phone off to him even though a sinking feeling filled my stomach.
“Hello?” Jorge asked when he answered.
I sat on the edge of my seat, watching his reactions. He stood to his feet slowly before he snapped his fingers, beckoning me to get up. And when I shot to my feet, he started nodding.
“Uh-huh. Uh-huh. I see. Yeah, I got it. Uh-huh, he’s right here.”
“Who is it?” I mouthed.
He put his finger up at me. “Uh-huh. Yep. I’ll tell him now. Yes, he’s on his way. Then—thank you. We appreciate it.”
Then, he hung up the phone call and tossed me my phone.
“Well?” I asked.
He chewed on the inside of his lip. “I’ll stay here with Asia, but you need to get to the hospital.”
I felt the world bottom out below me. “I’m sorry, what?”
He gripped my shoulders and shook me a bit. “Hospital, Gavin. Now. Eva’s been admitted. She passed out at her doctor’s appointment, and they called an ambulance. I’ve got Asia, but you need to go. Now.”
