He’s scared.
And that scares the shit out of me.
BROOKS
Ifeel sick.
I feel slightly better knowing that there is a plan. Julian was always good with the plans. My plan was just going to be to barge in and beat them all to a pulp.
I’ve had enough boxing training and family trauma to be angry enough to at least dosomedamage.
X seems like he knows his shit. He had answers for everything, including things I would never even think about.
But now, all I can think about is her. We get back to my apartment, and she’s taking off her coat when she turns to me.
“Are you okay?” she asks.
I feel my chest crack.
She’s about to put herself in harm’s way, and she’s askingmeif I’m okay.
Buck up, Everett. It’s not about you.
I pull her into me and kiss her forehead, then her cheek, then her lips.
“Yes, baby,” I tell her. “I’m sorry. Just a lot of things running through my head. But right now, all I want to think about is how badly I want to be inside you.”
I nuzzle into her neck, and she giggles, wrapping her arms tightly around my neck. But then her phone vibrates between us, and she jumps back.
“Sorry,” she says. She digs into her pocket, and her face shows immediate worry. “It’s my dad. It’s late. I better take this,” she says. I nod, and she walks past me to my office. She goes inside but doesn’t close the door. I try not to eavesdrop, but when I hear her gasp, I high-tail it in there. She’s clutching her chest, tears already forming in her eyes.
“Yes, yes, of course. I’ll be there as soon as I can. Where’s Cole?” she asks. “Oh, Jesus. Okay, I’m on my way. I love you.”
She hangs up, and I reach out to her.
“What’s going on?”
“My mom…she collapsed at home tonight. Cole…” her voice trails off, and I see her lip quiver. “Cole was home with her. He found her unresponsive. He had to call 911 and ride with her in the ambulance.”
“Oh, God, baby, I’m sorry. Come on. Eddie’s bringing the car up.”
She looks up at me.
“You’re…you’re coming?”
The question takes me aback for a minute. If she wasn’t in such a fragile state, I might ask her if she’s out of her mind. But I decide on a gentler approach right now.
“Of course I’m coming, sweetheart,” I whisper to her. “I’ll be there for whatever you need.” She nods as I lead her to the elevator, slipping my coat back on as we get back on.
In a few minutes’ time, we’re weaving through traffic on our way back to Jersey.
“I know it’s the cancer again,” she whispers, her eyes closed as she lays her head back.
“You don’t know that, baby,” I tell her, scooting closer to her so she can rest her head on my shoulder. She just sighs.
“I do,” she whispers.
I cradle her head on me while she rests. In a little while, she’ll have to be fully on. She’ll be asking questions about her mom, checking in with her dad, caring for her brother. So right now, I want her to be off. I’ll be on for her.
