“Dad, he didn’t do that to Cin,” Josh says.
“Then somebody better explain.”
“She fell,” Trevor supplies.
“She fell? Am I supposed to believe that bullshit? Why is there a hand print on her face?”
“Hello gentlemen. I have to ask you to please keep your voices down,” the security officer says.
“Sorry,” Ricky says.
“It’s what happened,” Josh adds.
“So that’s the story you guys are going to stick to, huh? That still doesn’t explain what happened to your face, Art.”
No one says a word.
“When she wakes up, she better have the same explanation.” Ricky walks off.
“You and Danny messed up big time,” Josh accuses.
“I know,” I acknowledge.
I don’t know what I’m going to do if her injuries are serious.
“I’m to blame too. Cin wanted me to stop them, but I wouldn’t,” Trevor says.
“I guess we all share in the blame.” Josh rubs the back of his neck.
Sometime later Ricky returns with Cin’s mother. Josh and Trevor don’t give a fuck about me, but our concern for Cin keeps us together. We stand at their approach.
“How is she?” I ask.
“She’s doing well, but she does have a concussion. The gash on her eye looks a lot worse than it really is. The doctor wants her to remain here for a few more hours, just to be on the safe side,” Missy answers.
“Is she awake?” Trevor asks.
“She was for a bit, but she fell asleep again. The doctor said she needs to rest, so no visitors. Go home, boys. She’ll be coming home in a few hours. Trevor, I’ll give you a phone call later.”
Dawn is breaking over the horizon by the time we make it home. My mom helps me upstairs and into bed. My eye is swollen shut, and I have a massive migraine.
She kisses my forehead. “Send me a text if you need anything.”
I keep my eyes closed because the world spins around me when I open them. Any movement of my head causes severe pain, so I give her the “okay” hand gesture instead of nodding. I hear the click of my door closing, but after a few minutes I hear it open again. I crack my eyes open.
“That was really stupid of you.” Art moves towards the bed.
“Have you heard of knocking?”
“Why on earth would you jump in the middle of us? You’re lucky all you got was a concussion.”
“What you and Danny were doing was stupid and dangerous. What would’ve happened if I hadn’t intervened?”
“That’s not your concern. You put yourself at risk. Next time, stay out of it.”
“If there’s a next time, I’ll jump in the middle of it again.”
“Goddamn it, Cin.”
