Ryan rolled his eyes. “Calm down, Nina. Josh saw you at the Ratty. It pissed him off seeing Jared there. He doesn’t trust him.”

“It’s ridiculous that he’s upset about it at all,” I snapped.

“It’s not Josh’s fault. He just thinks I’m better for you than that double-oh-seven wannabe. I happen to agree,” Ryan said, squirming to sit higher in his bed.

“That double-oh-seven wannabe is the reason we’re alive,” I said through my teeth.

“Come on, you guys. This can wait,” Beth sighed.

“You’re not really going to go out with him, are you?” Ryan said, disgusted.

“Yes, I am. And I really don’t care what you, or Josh, or any of your other buddies think about it.”

“Buddies?” Ryan repeated, raising an eyebrow. “Who says buddies, anymore?”

“Shut up,” I seethed. “Let’s go, Beth. Visiting hours are over.”

“Oh, come on, Nigh. Don’t leave mad,” Ryan chuckled, raising his hand toward me.

“I told you that you could only call me that once. The time limit on that has been exceeded.” “Nina, I’m sorry. Don’t leave. It’s none of my business who you date. I’m sure it’s pretty obvious why I have a problem with it.” He looked down at his hands with a frown.

I stared at him for a moment. It was hard to hold onto my anger when he was lying in a hospital bed. “I hope they clear up whatever it is that has you acting like this before they release you.”

“Oh, I’m not that bad. You’re coming back tomorrow, right?”

“I will,” I said, ruffling my fingers in his hair.

He swatted my hand away. “But I don’t want to hear about your date, all right?”

“I’m sure we can find other things to talk about.”

“We’d better go, Nigh. We have lots to do,” Beth said in a sing-song voice.

I stuck my tongue out at Ryan before following Beth to the car.

In search of the perfect outfit, Beth and I blew up my closet. Clothes were everywhere. Something too dark, too tight, too loose, too short, or not short enough covered every surface. I finally settled on a winter white three-quarter length sleeved sweater dress with my favorite fancy brown belt—it boasted a pearl in the center of the cross buckle—and brown strappy heels. Beth assured me over and over that my curve-hugging dress was the perfect balance of sexy and elegant. I stared into our long mirror and worried my dress was too short; I was all legs.

I passed the time taking a long shower, being extra careful about shaving my legs, plucking my eyebrows, and painting my toenails.