Being Neighborly by Carey Heywood Read Free Book Online

She’s still just as messy as ever. There’s at least one unpacked box shoved in a corner of each room, but otherwise, her place looks great.
    I’ve questioned a couple of her paint selections , but after seeing those off the wall colors actually on the wall and surrounded by her things, I can’t help but like them. Each room has Bethany written all over them. There’s even some of me as well. The other day I mentioned how much I liked Ansel Adams pictures, just in passing. Next time I came over, there was one hanging up in her living room; it’s like she’s unconsciously fitting me into her future.
    At the farm , it’s assumed that I’m eating over at Bethany’s place unless I let them know she’s coming over to eat with us. She’s heading to Florida for a week in a couple days and it’s already messing with my head. Stupid what ifs that have zero basis is in reality plague me. What if she decides she wants to move to Florida? What if she tells her parents about me and they don’t think I’m good enough for her?
    I’ve been short and snapping at everyone around me all week. I’m on my way to my parents ’ cabin, hoping the walk will clear my head and relax me. I try and stop by at least once a week to check on my folks. I haven’t told them anything is going on with me and Bethany yet. At this point, they just think we’re friends. I plan on telling them just how much I’ve grown to care for her today, and see if it’ll be all right for me to bring her by to meet them.
    I’ve told her all about them. She’s too married to technology to ever go off the grid like they have , but she still thinks the idea of it is romantic. It’s hard to think of my parents that way, as romantics.  It’s almost as weird as knowing they had to have sex at least once for me to be here. I’m maybe fifty yards from their front door when it happens.
    Trying not to think about my parents sexual relations and not paying attention to where I’m walking is not wise in a wooded area. I step right on to a cottonmouth snake and thoroughly piss him off enough for him to bite me.
    “Damn it.”
    They aren’t extremely venomous, but I’ll still need to go to the hospital. This isn’t the first snake bite we’ve had on the farm, so I know not to panic. Thankfully, my mom keeps a four-wheeler at the cabin in case of emergencies. This qualifies. I limp the rest of the way to their place.
    Man , my leg hurts. The bite is on my left calf. Halfway to the cabin, I stop and call the house line.
    Luckily , Bess answers.
    “Bess , I got bit by a cottonmouth. I’m maybe twenty yards from Mom and Dad’s cabin, but it’s killing me to walk. Can you come get me?”
    “Be right there ,” is all I hear before she hangs up.
    A half -assed glance behind me is all I can manage before sinking to the ground. I drag the back of my hand across my forehead to find I’m soaked with sweat. Something isn’t right. I’ve seen reactions to a cottonmouth bite before and they weren’t this bad. This is my last clear thought before I pass out.
     
    ****
     
    My eyes swim as I try and figure out where I am. It hurts, correction everything hurts, but my attempt to turn my head to look around hurts enough to make my head spin.
    “Hey , Beau.”
    It takes a moment for my eyes to focus on Bess. I’m still not sure where I am, but my nerves settle a bit at seeing a familiar face. That doesn’t stop my head from spinning. I’ve never been so dizzy lying down before.
    “What?” My throat burns so badly I stop at that one word.
    “Well, big guy. You gave us quite a scare. You had an allergic reaction to the snake bite and have been unconscious for the last two days.”
    I start to shake my head , but it makes the room spin.
    “Is somebody awake?” An unfamiliar voice precedes a woman in light blue scrubs entering the room.
    “Beau, this is Lilly, one of your nurses ,” Bess explains.
    She turns my hand over , her fingers taking my pulse. “How