Maribel did not linger in the doorway for long. After a moment of exaggerated contemplation, she shut the door behind her and crossed the room in quick strides, the teasing smile slipping from her face as she reached my bedside.
"All jokes aside," she said, crouching slightly so she was level with me, "are you really okay?"
I blinked at her. "Yeah. I mean… weak.
Hungry. Slightly embarrassed."
She huffed out a breath that was half laugh, half relief. "You scared the hell out of us."
"Us?" I echoed. "Who's us?"
Her eyes widened just a little. "Oh. Right."
She straightened abruptly. "Your parents."
I froze.
"My parents?"
Maribel grimaced sympathetically. "Yes. Them. Very angry. Very worried. Very loud."
[Oh. This should be entertaining.]
"Maribel," I started.
"I will go get them," she said quickly. Then paused. Turned back. Walked to the bed again and wrapped her arms around me in a tight hug.
I stiffened in surprise.
