Free TROUBLE 2 by Kristina Weaver

been arguing for a solid hour, and she’s so mad at me it’s a wonder she hasn’t stormed out and told me to go to hell.
    “He ruined you! He turned you into a fucking zombie, and you want me to be okay that he’s back in your life? Jesus, Hannah, when is enough enough with this guy?”
    Never. I don’t think I’ll ever have enough, and that’s scarier than anything I’ve ever known. But I can’t let this be over. I love him, I need him, and I know if I work at him for long enough he’ll have to love me back.
    I’ve spent half my life being good and doing what’s right. The last three years have had been me ghosting my way to a sad and lonely future that holds an apartment clean enough to eat off the floors and a job that’s about as satisfying as a toothache.
    I want more.
    “I broke up with him,” I point out in a whisper, silently begging her not to upset Nana where she toddles around in the kitchen.
    “Because he’s a dick. He’s only using you, Han, and he’ll break your heart if you let him,” she whispers back.
    This upsets her more than I could have guessed, and I know that my recent behavior isn’t shining a good light on it. I don’t tell her that it’s impossible for him to break something that’s already broken and cremated, because she’ll go nuts, so I hold it back and inject a firm tone into my voice.
    “I’m going back to the company tomorrow, and we’re back together for as long as we can stand to be together. I…I love him, Chris.”
    “Christ. You’re a real idiot.”
    “I know.”
    She stands and wanders over to the small island separating the kitchen from the living room, and I know that the argument is over. She’s not happy, but she’ll let it go. For now.
    “Oh dear, are you sure your young man won’t be over for dinner? This roast is too big for three women.”
    “No, Nana. He’s away on business.”
    It’s a total lie. He refuses to see me in any social setting apart from picking me up and driving to his house for two or three hours of sex. When we’re done, he takes me home, and that’s that.
    We have no ‘relationship,’ just an agreement to share our bodies, and that’s all he’ll concede for now.
    “That’s a shame, dear. Now, the lamb is in the oven for the next two hours. I think I’ll take a nap while it’s cooking. Wake me when the timer goes off.”
    I nod and grin at her, amazed that a woman her age can still remember how to braise a lamb when just yesterday she’d called me Amber and laid into me for being a mooch.
    I smirk when Chris ruffles my hair and wanders out, to return later for promised feast.
     
                  *************************************
    “Nana! Wakey wakey, sleepy head,” I yell form the kitchen, putting the finishing touches on the lamb.
    “I’ll go get her,” Chris laughs. “She’s so ornery lately I don’t know how you get through the day.”
    I snort and level the spatula at her, laughing too because we both know I’m half-crazy from it.
    “Make sure she hasn’t crawled out of the window, and hurry up. Cold lamb tastes icky.”
    Chris leaves, calling down the hall, and I listen, expecting a crotchety reply to the teasing. When I hear nothing, I figure they’re plotting against me again and make my way to them, chuckling to myself and making plans to torture them with broccoli tomorrow night.
    “Hannah! Call an ambulance!”
    I’m running before I know it, and when I get to Nana’s room it’s to the sight of Chris leaning over her, her frantic movements and chest pumps telling me that she’s performing CPR.
    “Chris…”
    “Call a goddamned ambulance, Hannah! I think she’s had a heart attack!”
    The rest of it’s a blur as I race down the hall and grab the phone. All I remember later, when we’re huddled in the hospital waiting area, is the paramedics shoving me and Chris out of the way and the argument we’d faced to catch a ride to the hospital.
    It’s been hours, and I’m