as the red-tinged spit that rolled down my chin and dropped onto my shirt. So not dignified.
The burp caused everyone to stop laughing and look at me with concern. But I shot everyone a thumbs-up and then I couldn’t help myself. I laughed again.
CHAPTER 16
We left the Mexican restaurant feeling stuffed and in a mood that can only be described as jovial. We walked towards his car together happily. Swaying from side to side as if guided by some invisible beat.
“So, we know more things about me now,” I said, as we reached the car. “That I like spicy food.”
“I can’t believe you asked them to put more habanero on your taco.”
“Once you get over the initial shock of it, it’s really very nice.”
“Hey, what name did you sign on the indemnity form? Do you remember your name?” he asked.
“No. I don’t. I just wrote down the first name I could think of.”
“What was that?”
“Becca,” I said.
“Becca? Where did you get that from? You think it’s your name?”
“No. I got it from this book in the hospital. A writer, Becca Thorne.”
“The Heart is Just a Muscle,” Noah piped up. “That’s her book.”
“Yes, how do you know?”
“Everyone knows. It was the bestselling book last year, or the year before, I can’t remember. Everyone was talking about it, though.”
“Oh,” I said, suddenly wondering if I’d also read her book, since everyone else had.
“Is it a good book?” I asked.
“I think so. I haven’t read it, to be honest. My sister lent me her copy. I’m supposed to read it during this break.”
We climbed into the car, and it was already four in the afternoon.
“We have to go past the hospital now. Dr. Maluka wanted to have a look at your wound and maybe take your stitches out.”
“Oh, yes!” I reached up and touched my head. I’d almost forgotten about that. Even when I’d seen myself with the plaster on my head in the photo the restaurant had taken of me, I’d barely registered it.
“Thanks,” I said to Noah now. “I really appreciate this.”
“No problem. Thanks for the lunch!”
“It’s my pleasure.” I touched the tip of my tongue, which was still tingling and stinging with a sensation that I really liked. It made my mouth feel alive and on fire, in a good way. I liked this feeling of being alive. Out of the hospital, eating chili, laughing and taking risks.
I heard a chuckle and turned to see Noah shaking his head and tutting in an amused fashion. “You really like spicy foods. That’s for sure.” He reversed out of the parking place. “You’re braver than I am. I don’t think I could do that.” He pulled into the steady flow of traffic and stopped at a red light.
Brave! I mused, running that word over and over in my empty head. I worked the word, kneading it like someone would knead dough. Something about that word sounded strange. Like I’d never heard it before. I repeated it to myself, seeing if it stirred up any kind of memory, only it didn’t.
But when Noah began speeding up to join the highway, I didn’t feel brave anymore. I grabbed onto the seat again and squeezed.
Did you know that South Africa is one of the most dangerous places in the world to drive in?
I tightened my grip on the seat.
By the time we got back home it was already dark. I knew that the sun seemed to be slipping away into the darkness sooner now that we were in autumn.
My head was stinging a little. They’d taken the stitches out, and it had not been a very pleasant experience. Being inside the hospital had set me on edge again. Set my teeth chattering and made all the hairs on my arms and neck prick up, as if they were trying to create a barrier between me and the hospital itself. Noah had been with me, though, and when I started freaking as they brought the scissors down towards my forehead, he’d given me a reassuring smile which had calmed my nerves instantly.
We walked into his house and I followed him through to the kitchen. He took out two Cokes and placed them down on the kitchen counter. I stared at the Coke. Obviously, I knew what a Coca Cola was. In the last few days, I’d seen signs for Coca Cola everywhere, but I just couldn’t recall what it tasted like.