Should she ask where he was going and when he’d be back or let it go?
“My dad called a little while ago. My mom was in a car accident earlier today.”
Concern instantly replaced the dread his initial comment created. “Oh no. Is she okay?”
“Dad said she’s doing okay but needs surgery. He wouldn’t lie, but I still want to visit her. Aiden’s coming with me.”
Liv understood Matt’s reasoning, and in his shoes, she’d do the same thing.
“I don’t think I’ll be gone for too long.”
“Don’t worry. I get it. Family first. I’d want to see for myself that my mom was okay too.”
“Feel free to stay at my house if you want.”
Matt had made the same offer before he left for Virginia. And as lovely as it would be to have central air and access to a pool, she’d stay at her apartment because being at his house alone would be too odd.
“Hopefully, I’ll have an idea of when I’ll be back when I call tomorrow.”
Ending the call, Liv picked up the bowl of ice cream Emma had brought in for her.
“Everything okay?” Emma asked, a spoonful almost to her mouth.
“Change in plans. Matt’s mom was in an accident, so he’s flying to California tomorrow.”
“That makes sense. How badly was she injured?”
Scooping up some ice cream, Liv made sure to also get some of the whipped cream too. “She needs surgery, but Matt’s dad told him she’ll be fine.”
“Did he say how long he’ll be out there?”
“He wasn’t sure. He thinks he’ll have a better idea tomorrow.”
The peanut butter chocolate chip ice cream melted in her mouth, and she scooped up more before she even swallowed. Peanut butter and chocolate were meant to go together, and she’d argue with anyone who told her differently.
“Look at it this way. Now you have more time to spend with me.”
Emma had a point, and Liv would never complain about spending time with her best friend.
Seventeen
What he thought of as hospital scent hit Matt as soon as he entered the hospital early Sunday afternoon. How people who worked here every day tolerated it was a mystery to him. Maybe after a while, the scent killed your sense of smell and you no longer noticed it. Whatever the case, every hospital he’d ever been in smelled the same, a combination of industrial cleaner and stale air.
Despite his dad’s reassurance, anxiety had plagued him since he got off the phone last night. Now the smell and the surroundings were kicking that anxiety into overdrive.
“Dad wants to know if Theo is with us,” Aiden said as he responded to a text message. “Do you know if he plans to visit Mom?”
“He said he would, but he didn’t share his travel plans with me.” And Matt hadn’t cared enough to ask. Theo was a grown man. He didn’t need to share his itinerary with him.
The elevator doors opened before either of them could press the button, and two employees dressed in blue scrubs stepped out, deep in conversation.
“Well, if I’m here when he shows up and Brianna is with him, I’ll leave and come back later. There’s no way I can deal with her today.”
Matt shared his brother’s sentiment. Hopefully, Theo used his brain and came alone.
“What floor did Dad say Mom is on?” Matt asked.
“Eleventh floor, room 216.”
