Getting into Lucien’s car was another story and the frustration resulted in Lucien once again lifting me like I was a helpless princess and depositing me into his car. He buckled my seatbelt for me, but it was still uncomfortable because I couldn’t bend my leg verywell.
“We’re less than ten minutes away. I’ll try not to hit any bumps,” he said as he shut thedoor.
I shoved my prescription at Pepper once she was in the car. “Can you get this for me? Please, please, pretty prettyplease?”
She took the slip from my hands. “Of course.” She glanced at it and whistled. “That’s some pretty good stuff they gaveyou.”
“Oh crap,” I whispered half to myself. “When am I going to be able to workagain?”
Pepper dug through my release paperwork until she finally found the discharge instructions. Shewinced.
“When?” Idemanded.
“Twoweeks.”
I let out a long string of curse words and flung my head back against the supple leather seats. I’d already been out of work for over three days and had to move all my appointmentsup.
“You have almost a full three weeks of pain meds there. That’s pretty extreme. You must have really jacked your footup.”
I saw Lucien wince in the rearviewmirror.
“Yeah. Accidents happen sometimes. I’m just mad I spilled my coffee.” I looked at my friends hopefully even though they weren’t looking at me. “Speaking ofcoffee?”
Pepper snorted. “Can you drive through Midnight’sBest?”
Lucien nodded and turned at the next light. “Only if she’sbuying.”
“Hey! Injured woman backhere.”
“I’ll buy,” Pepper said. “As long as Helen tells me what made her do that. Especially since I know you were there,Lucien.”
He cleared his throat. “Is coffee worth it?” he askedme.
Coffee was almost always worth it, but I didn’t want Pepper to worry. On the other hand, she was going to beat me down until I told her and right now I still felt achy and exhausted. My pain meds had mostly worn off and I wasn’t looking forward to getting out of thecar.
“Fine,” I said. “But I want an extralarge.”
“A venti, Helen. Get itright.”
“Whatever. I want a big ol’ enormous cup of frothy joe. A cappuccino actually. That soundsbetter.”
Lucien pulled into the drive-through.
“But make sure they put extra sugar init!”
Pepper let out an annoyed huff of breath. “I’m your best friend. I know what youlike.”
Pepper leaned over and placed the order. From my vantage point in the back of the car, I noticed Lucien’s eyes glazing over a little bit when a lock of her wild black hair escaped itsbraid.
My gaze narrowed.Interesting.
Less than ten minutes later we were back on the road with enormous coffees and Lucien was explaining what rescission was. When he finished, I added, “and Hank stoppedby.”
Lucien swerved a little bit. “He did? Are youokay?”
I chuckled. “I’m fine. He’s not a serial killer. He’s just kindof…”
“Dumb?” Peppersupplied.
