Last Heartbeat (21 page)

“Hello. Mom.”

“Hi, baby girl. How was your weekend?”

“My weekend was perfect, Mom. I spent the whole weekend with my boyfriend, Phillip.” That must have made her drop the phone. There was a thumping sound that wasn’t from my mom. Yes, I tell her everything. She has been by my side for so long, and she deserves my honesty.

“Alexia, did you forget to tell me something? Like when did you get a boyfriend? You barely have been in school and you didn’t mention a guy to me the last time we talked. Wait a minute, is this the reason for conversation the last time we spoke, when you wanted to know about Dad and me?”

“Yes, Mom, it is about our last conversation. I fell for this boy so quickly it scared me and I didn’t know what to do. He feels the same way as I do. It still scares me. When he asked me to be his girlfriend, I couldn’t say no to him. He treats me like a princess and even calls me that.”

“This is a big step for you Alexia and if you’re happy then I will be. You have always known what you wanted and your judgment has been incredible. I hope you don’t rush this relationship and take everything slow. I’m glad he treats you good. The only thing is that you make sure he knows about your past so he can be prepared if something happens to you. Have you told him yet?”

“No Mom, I haven’t told him. We have something in common though. He has had a liver transplant. I am sure he will be able to except me with my borrowed heart. I have been waiting for the right time to tell him. He is also from Cleveland. He has asked me to travel with him when it is time to come home. You will like him Mom, and I can’t wait until break so you can meet him. Maybe we can come for Labor Day weekend.”

“Alexia, you have spent the whole weekend with him. What kept you from telling him? He told you that he has a liver transplant. That would have been the perfect time to tell him about yours.”

“I know Mom. I met him on the plane coming here and he told me about it then before I really knew him. I didn’t feel comfortable to tell him then, so I kept it to myself. Now I can’t get it out and I am afraid of how he will act once I do. By the way, he has asked me to move in with him at his condo and if I do, it will save you and Dad money. I need to tell him first though. You won’t mind if I do move in with him?” I don’t tell her that I already told him yes. This is a first for me. Why am I all of a sudden keeping things from Mom and Phillip? I must be a coward. This relationship thing is so new to me.

“Well you are full of surprises today Alexia. You know you can’t get pregnant with the medicine you’re taking, right? You need to talk to your doctors about birth control when you come home. Please use protection if you do have sex, okay? I wouldn’t mind about you moving in with him, but you have let dad and me meet him, and tell him your past first. If you don’t that will make this relationship fall apart and you don’t want to start out with secrets this big in the way. He is from Cleveland and his name is Phillip? What is his last name?”

“I will tell him today. I know I can’t get pregnant and we aren’t having sex. Phillip’s last name is Ryan. Do you know any Ryans in Cleveland?”

Mom is quiet for a minute, and this is so unlike her. “Yes Alexia, I do. When did he have his transplant and where did he get his liver donated from?” They way she asks me this sounds off a bit.

“He got it when he was seventeen about five years ago I guess, because he is twenty two. He took off a year from college. He was in a car wreck with his brother, when a drunk driver hit them. His brother died but had signed his driver’s license to be a donor and Phillip ended up with his brother’s liver. Phillip said he had a hard time accepting it although he was a perfect match. Oh, I just thought of something. We must have had our surgeries about the same time. Now that is a coincidence, don’t you think Mom.”

“Yes dear. Do me a favor and talk to him about this tonight okay. Don’t wait another minute. As soon as you tell him, let him know about the time frame of both of your transplants. I want you to be happy, and don’t keep this from him. It might hurt him or you down the road. Promise me that you will do this today?” she pleads with me.

“Okay, Mom. if you think it is that important, then I promise to do it today. I have made it back to my dorm and I need to get ready for class. By the way, we aren’t doing anything that will get me pregnant so don’t worry. I love you and talk to you later.”

“I love you too Alexia. Please tell him today. I will call back tomorrow to check on you. Bye.” Mom hangs up.

I felt like she was keeping something from me, and calling me back so soon seems a bit strange too. Now I will wonder what it is. I open the door to my dorm room and see Kristen getting ready to go to class.

She smiles at me. “I can see that the date was a good one. So good it happened to last all weekend. Tell me if Phillip is as good as his reputation says he is?”

“It was a really awesome date that did last all weekend. I still don’t know if he is as good as his reputation says. We spent the weekend together and that is all for now.” I smile at her.

“Now you have to give me more details than that. I know you can’t hang out with a guy all weekend and not have sex.”

“I promise we didn’t have sex. We kissed and made out a bit, but that is it. We are waiting until we get to know each other better. I can tell you one thing though. I am now Phillip’s girlfriend and he has asked me to move in with him. I don’t know if I should leave you. I know this relationship is happening fast and it is scary. I love being with him.”

“You better leave me and move in with that hunk of man. If I were in your shoes I would have moved this weekend. Tell him yes, but you have to keep in touch with me. Now that you have a boyfriend, you better not forget me.”

“He told me you could come over anytime you wanted to. I am sure his friends will be over. Do really think this isn’t happening too fast? It is scary. My mom told me her and Dad knew as soon as they met. Who does this at this age and time? Isn’t that something that would have happened years ago and not now?”

“If you’re both on the same page about really liking each other this quick and not even having sex it means you are special to him. No guy would keep you all weekend and not try not to have sex unless he likes you a lot. Have you already told your mom about this? Just asking because you mentioned her.”

“Yes, she called me on the way here and I told her everything. I don’t keep secrets from my mom. She told me I was good at making my decisions, only I needed to tell him about my past and told me to do that before moving with him. Even made me to promise to tell him today. I thought that was a bit weird, making me promise.”

“What is it about your past that she wants you to tell him? Do you happen to have a shady past Alexia?” She grins up at me.

I tell her everything about my transplant and I even tell her about Phillip’s because we have so much in common. I happen to tell her when and where we both are from. When I get done, she just sits there looking at me.

“Oh no. You think he will be mad at me and break up with me because I didn’t tell him sooner?”

“No. I think he will figure out what I just did.” She sort of looks pale when she says this.

“What did you figure out?” I am worried now by the look on her face. She is looking at me with sympathy and I am scared of what she is going to say.

“Think about what you just told me, Alexia and focus on the time frame. Your mom knows people named Ryan from where you live and you both had surgery about the same time. What if you and Phillip had your surgeries on the same day?”

Is she saying what I think she is saying? Does this mean I may have Phillip’s brother’s heart? That can’t be possible, can it? Is this why I kept this from him unknowingly? Does my mom know whose heart that I have? I thought the doctors aren’t supposed to let tell you who the donor is. Everything happened so fast that day when I got my surgery. The doctors had said I wouldn’t make it until the morning. Then I got a heart at the last minute. I was even on my last heartbeat.

I have all these things running through my mind and I am wondering what I am supposed to think about all of this. I look up at Kristen, “Do you think that it is possible that I have Phillip’s brother’s heart? What do you think he will say about that, if he finds this out? He has had a hard time getting over losing his brother. What if what I am feeling for Phillip has something to that? I am so confused right now, and I don’t think I can go to class.” I sit down on the bed and put my hands over my heart because it is hurting.

“Calm down, Alexia. All those questions are something you will be able to answer soon, I’m sure. Don’t stress over it. You can’t be having feelings for Phillip because of a heart. That can’t be possible, can it? What did the doctors say about this kind if thing?

“Well they keep saying that once it is accepted in your body that it becomes yours. It is keeping my body alive, but it had a hard time accepting my body. I had to stay in the hospital a long time. Phillip said the same thing about his liver. Maybe his brother knew something we didn’t. Maybe we shouldn’t have gotten his organs and maybe he isn’t at rest because he we have them.”

“Alexia, you know that isn’t true. This was a gift from Phillip’s brother to both of you. Maybe he knew you both were meant for each other and knew this would be what brought you together. Who knows about this kind of stuff and if he had some kind premonition? I think you should talk to Phillip and more to your mother about it. Don’t stress over this because I’m sure that isn’t healthy for you. Think of it as a blessing. I hate to have to leave you now, but I have to go to class. I will skip if you want me to.” She smiles and hugs me.

“No skipping for you Kristen. You go on and I will be fine. I will call Mom and talk to her more.”

“Are you sure you don’t want me to stay?” she asks, and I know she would stay. I probably need her right now, but I can’t ask her not to go to class.

“No, I will be fine. I promise. Go ahead and go. I need to get cleaned up for class too.” I tell her this so she doesn’t worry.

“That is great that you’re going to go. Don’t let this stop you from doing anything. Talk to them and everything will be fine.” She hugs me and then leaves.

I don’t think I can go to class. I am so tired all of a sudden. I lie on my bed for a minute and soon I start to cry. This is scary, and I am afraid of what will happen between Phillip and me. I have heard about people getting donor organs and then saying that they feel that person. The doctors keep telling me that it isn’t possible though.

What I feel for Phillip is so strong, and it makes me wonder if I am feeling this way for him because of me or because those are his brothers’ feelings. Right now I can’t go to class and sit beside Phillip. He will know something is wrong with me as soon as he sees me. Then he will demand I tell him, but I need to think first and get my head straight. I should get up and head to the beach so I can think. This always helps me when I need to clear my head. I will lie here on my bed for a few minutes before I go to the beach. Before I know it, I have cried myself to sleep.

Chapter Twenty-Six

Phillip

Spending the weekend with Alexia was the greatest time I have had in a long time. We talked and got carried away a few times when we were kissing. I even had to take a couple of cold showers. I managed to keep my perverted mind straight enough to enjoy Alexia’s company. I slept the greatest I have in a long time since Alexia was staying with me. Monday morning we snuggled and kissed for as long as she could before she had to leave me. It was hard to let her leave me. I knew she had to get clothes so we can get to class on time. Today, I’m making her bring her stuff over to really move in. That way we can have more time in the mornings.

Not too soon after she leaves, I get a knock on the door. I go see who it is. Not many people are allowed past security. I is hoping it is Alexia and now I realize that I need to get her a key made.

I open the door and Tyler and Jacob come right on in. “Hey, guys. What have you been doing this weekend? I haven’t heard from you two.”

“We went out to a couple parties. We didn’t drink and drive so we didn’t have to call you. That way you could be free to spend with Alexia. I guess since you never called you had a good date with her.” Tyler grins.

“Yeah, man. Dump us for a hot chick. Well come to think of it, I would dump you guys for a hot chick if I had one. Hopefully you finally got lucky with her.” Jacob winks.

“Guys, what I have with Alexia is more than a physical. For the first time in my life, I now have an official girlfriend. I asked Alexia to be my girlfriend this weekend and she sad yes.” I look at the guys and know what is coming next.

Jacob starts questioning first. “Why did you do that? You barely met her and now after one date, you decide to ask her to be your girlfriend? Who does that, man? Now you will be tied down and can’t hang out with us. What about all the girls waiting to go out with you?”

“Jacob, I know you don’t understand this. Since the first day that I met Alexia, I have felt something for her. The more I am around her, the more I want to know her. Alexia and I both want the same things, and you guys can come over anytime. Alexia will have friends over too. I don’t care about any other girl. Alexia is it for me.”

Tyler jumps in. “Wait. What did you mean by Alexia will have friends over too?”

“Well beside Alexia being my girlfriend, I also asked her to move in with me.” I grin at them and let that soak in. I can see by the looks on their faces what is coming next.

Jacob looks at me with big eyes. “What has driven you to do that, man? Have you lost your mind? Having Alexia stay with you after one date has made you lose it. This means never hooking up with other girls. I couldn’t do that myself.”

Tyler jumps in, “You must have got lucky this weekend and it must have been amazing for you to ask her to move in.”

Jacob continues. “Wait, does she have any hot friends?”

I look at them for a minute before I answer them, because I can’t believe their questions. “Guys, can you listen to yourselves? No, I haven’t had sex with Alexia. No. I don’t want anyone other girl. I have fallen in love with her, and yes it has happened fast. Everything between us has happened extremely fast, and for the first time I’m enjoying it. We are waiting to get to know each other before we have sex, as we should. Guys, once you both find that girl who makes you want to be a better person and you fall in love with her, you will understand. Alexia has a friend name Kristen and she is very pretty. Leave Kristen alone. I’m sure Alexia wouldn’t want you to hurt her friend. What are the both of you doing here so early?”