“They probably enjoyed it just as much to be able to relax at home with you and get pizza,” I said.
“I guess.”
It killed me to hear him like this. I could feel how down he was, and I hated being so far from him. I turned to look inside and waved at Morgan and my grandparents. Patrick was doing fine talking to them, and then he let the room service folks come in and set the table for us.
“Did I look really bad on TV tonight?” I asked him.
“No. You could never look bad, man. Brendan Rowe was just one step ahead of you tonight. I could tell you weren’t really feeling it tonight. You seemed distracted. I’m sorry my shit has spilled over into your stuff—”
“Chase, no. Don’t. Yes, I’m worried about you. I love you so much, and all of this and what that son of a bitch did boils my blood. But it’s not your fault. Okay?”
“Okay.”
The soft timbre of his tone told me he didn’t believe me. Over my shoulder Morgan was waving at me. I waved and then held up my index finger asking him to give me a few minutes.
“So, it’s the weekend. Anything planned for tomorrow?” I asked and turned my back to the suite. I sat on the chair on the balcony and gazed at the lights on the hotel across the street.
“No. Just more of staying home and under the eyes of our parents.” He sighed. “So, what are you doing tonight?”
“Um, not much.” I turned my head to look over my shoulder at everyone in the suite and then quickly turned back around.
“How’s school going?” I asked.
“Fine, I guess.”
“You guess? You aren’t sure?” Normally, well, before last month, I would have been able to ask him that and get him laughing. But not this time.
“I guess it’s fine. I mean, I have no freedom at all now. Security takes me to and from school. Mom and Dad are nosy and on me all the time. They ask who I had lunch with and who I’m on the phone with all the time. There’s a winter dance coming up, and I told Mom and Dad I wanted to take Haley. But there’s crazy shit going on with Haley’s mom, and I’m not allowed to take her. So yeah, I guess school is fine.”
This was a hard topic to teeter around with him. I didn’t have all the details exactly, but I knew Mom and Dad had met with Haley’s mom. She was just as upset as our parents were, but also was harsh on Chase. She acknowledged Chase was forced as well, but she said she doesn’t want Chase near Haley or to have any more contact with her. Chase was starting to get worked up, though, and it was important that I try to calm him down. The last thing I wanted, and I knew all of us feared, was for Chase to get upset and then go do something to hurt himself.
“I’m sorry, bub. Things are kind of messed up right now.”
“They fucking suck,” he added. In the background I could hear Mom asking him what happened and what was he saying sucked. Chase exhaled loudly before he answered her. “Nothing. Nothing sucks. No one sucks. Everything is fine,” he mumbled.
“Hey, Chase,” I said to grab his attention.
“I’ll be home tomorrow afternoon. How about I swing by the house, and you and I go get pizza?”
“Yeah?” He sounded like he didn’t believe my offer.
“Yes. I’m craving pizza and really want to see you. We’ll do dinner tomorrow night.”
“And Patrick too?”
I couldn’t tell if he wanted Patrick to come along or not. Though, the two of them had become even closer since last month, I didn’t want to assume anything.
“Would you like him to come too?”
“Yeah. I haven’t seen him in a while either. I talk to him on the phone, but it’s been a few weeks since I’ve seen him too.”
“Okay, consider it done. I’ll call you as soon as we land.”
“Okay. Don’t come get me, though, if you smell like the plane. People smell weird after they’ve been on a plane.”
I laughed.There’s my little brother.
“I will make sure Patrick and I go home and shower before we come to pick you up. No plane people smell, I promise.”
