“Go,” Trey said. “You have the boys to take care of.”
“Hey, I don’t need a babysitter,” Alec said.
Trey smiled. “Neither do I.”
“Fine. I’ll see you tomorrow,” Jo said to Trey.
I watched wistfully as they hugged like two old friends. Which they were.
“I can stay. I stayed overnight with Momma when she was in the hospital,” Beth said.
“Because there’s only one chair to sleep in.” I looked at the nurse for confirmation. “Right?”
“I’m afraid so.”
“Which means none of us are staying.” I needed to go with Jo to pick up my car at Oak Hill, anyway.
“Your grandfather’s on the third floor,” the nurse told Trey. “You want to go through those doors to the elevator, and the nurses upstairs will direct you to his room.”
We left in a flurry of good-byes, good lucks, and promises to call. I even managed to smile.
But the sight of Trey walking alone down the hall, still wearing his sweaty T-shirt and basketball shorts, broke my heart.
That boy needs somebody,” Jo said on the drive back to Oak Hill.
I glanced in the rearview mirror at Robbie, buckled into his car seat, and Alec, plugged into his phone.
“Not those boys,” Jo said. “Trey.”
“You know Alec can hear you, right?”
The sixteen-year-old glanced up from his phone. “’S okay. I’m not listening.”
“Did you see him at the hospital with Beth?” Jo continued, undeterred. “Maybe now that she’s home, the two of them will finally get together.”
“Beth has a boyfriend already.”
“Who left her.”
“To go on tour.”
“Why are you defending him?”
“I’m not. I just don’t think Beth is looking for another relationship.” And neither was Trey. “Besides, wouldn’t that be a little weird for you?”
“What?”
I peeked at Alec, listening to his iPhone in the backseat. Lowered my voice. “If Trey... You know.”
Jo grinned. “Hooked up with my sister?”
“Now I am really not listening,” Alec said.
“Beth doesn’t do hookups.” But I did.Easy A.
“I’m just saying, it wouldn’t bother me,” Jo said. “Trey’s practically our brother already.”
“Not my brother,” I said. “Anyway, I don’t think Beth is his type.”
