“Of course,” I say, already on my feet.
The exam is clinical, almost cold. The doctor pokes and prods, tilts his nose, and shines a light into every crevice, leaving no detail unchecked. She instructs him down the hall for X-rays while I wait, my hands tight around the armrest of the chair.
After another long wait, she returns.
“Your nose isn’t broken,” she announces, and I see a flicker of relief cross Jay’s injured face. Then her gaze sharpens. “But two of your ribs are cracked. I’m going to prescribe pain meds, and you need to ice them regularly and get plenty of rest.”
He lets that sink in and braces for the question he knows is coming.
“I need to ask, how did this happen?” She inquires, her voice steady.
Color rises to Jay’s cheeks as he falters. “It was a fight between my partner and me. He was angry, and it just got out of hand.”
The doctor looks at me, unsure if I’m the partner.
Jay notices and quickly clarifies, “This is my friend who’s helping me. He’s not the one who did this.”
She doesn’t push any further, but her eyes sharpen. “You should file a police report. With your injuries, this wasn’t just a fight; this was an assault.”
I see him shrink at the word, but I’m grateful someone besides me is saying it.
By the time we leave, he has very little energy left. He looks as if he could collapse right there in the parking lot. I drive him back to the hotel, and he sinks into bed as soon as we get into the room. He sends Heather and his mom a quick text with his new number, then passes out.
I settle at the corner table with my laptop, trying to work on schoolwork. But every few minutes, I glance up to watch him. His chest rises and falls slowly, his lips parted in sleep, the bruises stark against his light skin.
Even injured, he’s still himself. He might not be the stunning beauty I’ve seen in other men, but that doesn’t matter to me. He’s handsome, with that quirky smile and piercing blue eyes that are so familiar and grounding. Despite the years apart and everything we’ve been through, I know him. His humor still matches that of a twelve-year-old boy. He’s quiet when he’s unsure, but when he talks about something he loves, like music or movies, he could go on for hours.
It takes everything in me not to crawl into bed beside him, to wrap him up and shield him from the world. I want that more than anything. But for now, Lauren’s voice echoes in my head: He needs a friend first. So I keep my distance, even as everything in me aches to close the gap between us.
Chapter 11
Jay
As we pull up to my mom’s house in Aiden’s rental, I hesitate. I’ve been preparing myself for this conversation all afternoon, but I still don’t feel ready.
Heather and my mom arrived from the airport about fifteen minutes ago. Heather wasn’t thrilled about staying at Mom’s instead of going home, but I told her how important it was, so she agreed. I hate to unload this on them right after their vacation, but I know it can’t wait.
“Are you ready for this?” Aiden asks, looking at me with an encouraging smile. “We can come back tomorrow if you’re not ready.”
“No, I need to do this,” I reply, reaching for the door handle. “I need Heather’s help with the next steps I need to take. She’s an expert in this kind of stuff.”
We step out of the car and walk up the narrow sidewalk towards the house, the porch light flickering, throwing long shadows across the yard. I can feel Aiden’s nerves behind me, quiet but present. The last time he saw my mom was the night everything fell apart, when we were both outed. I know she’ll be kind, but I can understand his hesitation.
Before I can even knock, the door swings open. My mom’s face brightens before she freezes.
“Jayson,” she gasps, her voice breaking. “What in the world happened to you? Were you in an accident?”
Rushing forward, her hands tremble as she cups my face. Her touch makes me ache, but the pain that really hits is in her eyes. I never wanted her to see me like this.
“Let’s go inside,” I suggest quietly. “I’ll explain everything.”
As I step aside, she notices Aiden for the first time, and her brow furrows. “Who’s this?”
“Mom… you remember Aiden.”
Her eyes widen, and for a moment, the years fall away. “Aiden?” she exclaims. “Oh, my goodness!”
Before he can say anything, she wraps him in a warm embrace. “It’s so good to see you, sweetheart.”
