He nods a little stiffly.Yeah.You were really out of it.
Reaching for his hand and intertwining our fingers, I give him a little tug.Could you remind me again what happened?I don’t recall much after picking you up from school.
He nods, eyes solemn as he runs me through what happened.I couldn’t wake you up after that, so I…called Sidney.Like you always say, find an adult if something’s wrong, right?
My eyes sting.You did the right thing.
He shrugs.He came fast.Like crazy fast.And after we checked on you, we ordered burgers.He’s bossy like you,he snorts,and he kept making me wash my hands and drink water, so that was lame.But…
He lets his words trail off, his attention going down to where his hand was playing with the fabric of the couch.
But, what?I prod, needing to know what he’s thinking.
But it was nice.Having another guy around.He was…easy to talk to.He shrugs, still not looking at me.
I get what he’s trying to say.Doesn’t mean my heart doesn’t ache because of it.
You know, Joey, you can talk to me.About anything.You know that, right?
I know,he sighs.But it was just different with him.We talked about hockey, and burps, and video games.
A laugh sputters out of me, followed immediately by a coughing fit.Joey grabs the water bottle off the table and hands it over.
The bottle has a sticky note on it:
Drink this.— S
I roll my eyes and immediately regret it.A zapping pain goes through my head.I take a drink of the stupid water.
You talked about burps?Why?
He shrugs again, this time peering at me with a mischievous grin.Why not?We burped and then talked about burps.He’s fun.
I just shake my head gently, unsure of what to follow that up with.Seeing that I’m finished with the water, Joey grabs it and places it back on the coffee table.
Thanks, bud.
Sid mentioned, since you were sick, I’m in charge of keeping you hydrated.And he gave me tips, like I’m running a training camp.Joey rolls his eyes, but he’s smiling.He’s…kinda intense.
Soft warmth spreads low in my chest.That sounds accurate.He left instruction cards for me about my meds.
A humorous snort escapes Joey that makes my heart sing.I love seeing him like this.We sit together while he fills me in on the nonessential teen details of last night—how he beat Sidney at two hockey game modes but not the third, how Sidney isway too competitive for an adult,how he didn’t even complain when Joey ate the last onion ring without him noticing.
My phone buzzes again.
SIDNEY:Final text check-in before I head over myself for proof of life.Did you survive the day?
Heat crawls up my neck.Joey watches me type with blatant curiosity.
I angle the screen away.Privacy, child.
I’m not a child,he calls out, already refocusing on finding something new to watch.Also, you’re smiling again.Which is nice.But weird.
I make myself frown, but it doesn’t last.There’s no point fighting it.My smile grows again.
I text him back.
EDDIE:Barely survived.Your index cards bullied me into functioning.
