“Yes, I do. She might know where Ben is or be able to help us find him.”
“Right, butyoudon’t have to talk to her. I can call, or Game can, whichever you prefer. And if someone needs to go knock on her door, we can be the ones to do that too,” he said and wrapped his arms around me.
I returned his hug and rested my head against his chest. “Thank you,” I whispered. I wanted to say so much more. Thank you for knowing what was wrong and finding a solution so I didn’t have to say it and ask for help. But I knew those words would come with tears, and I really didn’t want to have a breakdown in the middle of the Blackwings clubhouse with my nephew sleeping a few feet away.
“Do you want me to take that paper from you?”
“Yes! It feels like it’s burning a hole in my pocket,” I said and handed it to him.
He took it from me and slid it into his own pocket. “Let me know what you want me to ask and when you want me to call.”
I looked down at Kalen and back to Landon. “Let’s call after he wakes up and has had his bottle.”
“Sounds good to me,” he said and left the room.
I fell back on the bed and covered my eyes with my arm. I had so many questions, and none of them had easy answers. Where was Ben? Why did he have all those guns? Why did he lie about going to jail? But the one question that was bothering me the most was: What do I do if he doesn’t come back?
I heard the door open and close before I felt the bed depress as Grant laid down beside me. “You okay?”
“Yeah, I was just thinking.”
“About?”
I waved my hand in the air. “All of this bullshit with my brother. I can’t believe he did this to me.”
“It may not seem like it right now, but it’s good you figured out what’s going on.”
“But I haven’t figured out what’s going on,” I countered.
“You may not know all the details, but you know he lied to you. And that’s better than not knowing.”
“Yeah, I guess you’re right,” I sighed. “I’m not sure what to do next.”
“I think you should try to contact his parents and see if they’ve heard from him or know where he is,” he said.
I pressed my lips into a thin line and scrunched my nose at the thought of speaking with the woman who gave birth to me.
“You don’t agree?” he asked.
“It’s not that,” I started and took a moment to choose my words carefully. “I can’t remember any interactions I had with my mother; I was too young. And I’m not sure I want to talk to her. She left me, and I’m okay with that. I really am. But,” I paused and took a deep breath, “I don’t want speaking to her to change that.”
He nodded in understanding. “I don’t see why you have to be the one to contact her to ask about Ben. Landon or I can do it,” he offered.
“Thanks,” I smiled. “Landon pretty much said the same thing.”
“Do you think you should let your grandparents know what’s going on?” he asked.
“No, not yet. I called them this morning and told them about the damage to the roof, but I think I should wait to tell them about Ben until I have more to tell. I don’t want to worry them.” Truthfully, I didn’t want to disappoint them, and telling them I’d blindly agreed to help Ben would disappoint them. They’d kept me away from that side of my family when I was too young to make the decision for myself and advised me not to get involved with them when I was old enough to make my own choices.
“Why don’t I go ahead and call Tracy and Richard? Get it out of the way so you don’t have to worry about it anymore,” he suggested.
I nodded in agreement. “Thank you.”
16
GAME
Ileft Blakely in my room with Kalen and stepped out to the common room to find Spazz, but I didn’t see him in his usual spot.
