“Ah, maybe.” She scrunched her nose, looking at Zade. “Not tonight. Let’s practice some more beforehand.”
“I’m holding you to it.” I held out my pinky finger, making her pinky promise. It was a sacred vow. I don’t care whatever anyone says. “Good.”
“You’re a dork, G,” Tanner said and put his arm around me. He gave me a hug and it felt nice. Nothing like Aaron’s arms…no, those were a beast. “Woah, what happened to Aaron?”
I frowned, following the direction of his gaze, and sucked in a breath. Aaron looked crestfallen. Devastated. Forgetting my friends, I ran up to him. “Aaron, what happened?”
“I need to go.” He didn’t focus his gaze on me. He glanced from person to person, scattered and distracted. “I need to go now.”
“Where?” I put my hand on him and he jumped back.What the fuck?“Aaron, you’re scaring me.”
“My dad.” He closed his eyes, his hand shaking. “He’s in the hospital. My sister called. I need to go.”
“I’ll go with you.” I nodded, more to myself than him. He couldn’t drive. I wouldn’t let him. Not with his shaking hands and scattered brain. “Let me tell Clyde.”
“No,” he demanded, still not meeting my eyes. “I can go.”
“Aaron Hill.” I waited until he met my eyes. It took a minute, but he did. “I am not letting you go alone. Let me tell Clyde and we’ll go together. I’m driving.”
“Greta—”
“Don’t argue. You know what, come with me.” I dragged him toward Clyde. His eyes widened, perhaps sensing the clear panic coming off me. “Clyde, something came up and I need to leave right now. You know this is serious, I’ve never done this. Beg, bribe, do what you can to get Callie up there. She can play for an hour.”
“Wait, what?”
“I need to go with Aaron. Family emergency.”
And Clyde nodded. He knew. Everyone knew. I took that as permission and I half ran, half pulled Aaron toward Callie. “Cal, I’m driving Aaron to see his dad. He’s in the hospital. Please play for an hour, take care of my guitar.”
“Of course.” She hugged me and I kicked into action. I led Aaron outside to his car and yelled for the keys.
“I can drive.”
Oh, so he can talk now. Good.“No. You’re shaking. Let me do this for you.”
He sighed, resigned, and passed me his keys. We hopped in and I adjusted the seat. I didn’t even think to stop at our places for clothes. I didn’t think about a charger or toothpaste. I just thought of Aaron and his family. My heart hurt. “You want to stop for food? Have you eaten anything?”
“I’m okay.”
“Can you tell me what happened?” I pulled onto the highway, hoping I could remember the two-hour drive. Luckily, it wasn’t farther. “What can I do?”
“He’s been going through chemo. You know, trying to lessen the size of the tumors in his lung. It increases the risk of sickness. He got the flu, my sister said, and it got worse. He has a fever of a hundred and three right now.”
“Okay. Okay, well. He’s at the hospital. They’ll put an IV in and get the temperature down. That’s their job.” I spoke more for my benefit. “He’ll be okay.”
“Yeah.” He grunted.
“Do you want music? Silence? Questions? I feel helpless, Aaron. I want to help you.” I glanced at him and felt his pain in my core.
“Just talk. I like your voice.”
Sucker-punch to the gut. Then to my heart.“Okay.”
I hummed for a bit, then went into stories. I told him about my childhood. My deepest secrets, which weren’t scandalous at all. I talked about my brother and his divorce and how that made me nervous for love. I talked about my favorite toys I played with and how I used to create these elaborate stories with my brother’s action figures, totally forgoing dolls and dressing up the masculine robots into girly clothes. He didn’t laugh, but he released a quick breath and I took that as a good sign. “Do you want to stop and get any food?”
“No.” He still stared straight through the windshield, as though the interstate had all the answers in the world. “Do you?”
“I’m fine, thank you.” His question warmed me. “I think we’re almost there. Can you direct me to the hospital from here?”
