“They could just…not,” I said weakly.
Branson laughed. “And tell them what? They’ve lost control over one of their sons, and now he’s some legless teacher in the queer capital of America?”
It had been a long time since I’d heard the word “queer” used in that context—as a means of cruelty. The rest I was used to, but for some reason, it burrowed into me this time. “I need to go.”
“So, no answer for me, then?”
“I really don’t have time for this,” I said weakly. My heart was beating a little too fast, and were my cheeks red? Fuck, they were really hot.
“Time for what? To be a grown adult and take responsibility for the shit show your life has become? Or for everything you put us through? Mother said you expected us to feel sorry for you after your little accident. I told her that was pointless. You got what you deserved. I don’t know what you expected after you did what you did. And Mother needs to speak to you. She’s going to be?—”
For a moment, I couldn’t figure out why my brother’s voice was silenced. Then I glanced over and saw the only man who could make the world feel right again. Creek was crouched beside me, holding a crutch with one hand and my phone with the other. It was still on, and I could hear the faint sound of Branson still rambling.
“Want me to hang up?” Creek asked.
“Who the hell is that?—”
I nodded, and my brother was silenced with the tap of a button. Creek set my phone down gently, then lowered himself to the ground and held his arms out for me. It was a difficult move, but I managed to slide up next to him, and his arms around me made everything feel like it was no longer spinning into the void of the universe.
“What are you doing here?” I finally managed when my breathing had calmed down.
“I needed to talk to Kent since I’m going to be fully weight-bearing in a few weeks. I wanted to double-check that he believed I was ready. And it looks like it was meant to be, darlin’. Because it looks like I got here right on time.”
I looked around with a small frown. “Where’d Kent go?”
Creek chuckled. “Inside. I think he wanted to give us a moment of privacy.”
I smiled a little helplessly, my chest aching. Somehow, in the worst moments of my life, I was still bowled over by how goddamn sweet he was, even in the throes of his own anxiety. Then I thought about what my brother had said. He thought the universe was punishing me for being a bad son by taking my leg. But the universe had also given me Creek, so how true could that possibly be?
“Heath,” Creek said very softly. “Talk to me.”
“That was my brother. He’s…not very nice,” I told him. “He’s kind of the mouthpiece for the family. I don’t think he has anyconcept of empathy, so they send him to do everyone’s dirty work.”
Creek frowned as he stroked a hand down my cheek. “What kind of dirty work?”
“Bringing home the wayward disappointment?” I offered with a shrug.
“Disappointment?You? How the hell?”
“Let’s just say that being an international drug dealer probably would have gone down better than getting a teaching degree in my family,” I told him. “I had an admissions interview at UCFS for pre-med, and I realized that was the last thing I wanted to do. So I didn’t show up. And everything I’ve ever done after that, including losing my leg, has been a disappointment in their eyes. I try not to think about it, but they’ve been kind of persistent lately. My mother wanted me to come home after my accident, and she’s beside herself that I refused to subject myself to her version of tender loving care.”
Creek’s brows furrowed. “And your brother was calling to tell you that?”
“He was calling to tell me I deserved to lose my leg for being an embarrassment of a son.” The moment those words hit me, I burst into laughter. Christ, that sounded so ridiculous. I put both hands over my face because I couldn’t handle the look of outrage on Creek’s face. “Kent keeps telling me I need to cut them off.”
“Sounds like he might be right on that one,” Creek said gently.
I nodded, still not brave enough to look up. “I know. It’s just a little easier said than done.”
Letting out a quiet sigh, Creek pulled me a little closer. “I get it. Family’s complicated.”
My laugh was a little bitter, but not as bitter as it would have been if I’d been on my own. “That’s one way to put it.” I shifted back a little now that I was feeling more like myself. “You saidyou were busy today preparing for your brother’s visit. I wasn’t supposed to see you until dinner. Did you really come by to talk to Kent? Or did Kent call you and tell you I was in trouble?”
Creek laughed. “Darlin’, even as wild as I am about you, I couldn’t make it here in time to save you from all that. I think someone was lookin’ out for you.”
Maybe someone—or something—was. It was a gift, and I sure as hell wasn’t going to look that horse in the mouth. “Kiss me?” I asked.
He grinned. “Anytime.” And then he did. When he pulled back, he cupped my cheeks. “Are you going to be okay to meet Forest tonight?”
