“I slept like a baby, actually. They’re giving me stronger painkillers.”
He frowns. “Are you in pain?”
She gives him a look like he should know better than to ask. “Do you know when the next book club is supposed to be? Owen promised two weeks.”
At the mention of Owen’s name, Will’s stomach tightens. “I don’t know yet, but I’m sure he’ll put up new posters soon.”
“Hmm, and how are you and him getting along?”
“Fine.”
She rolls her eyes. “William Thomas, don’t play games with me—I don’t have enough time on this earth for that.”
“Hey. No talking like that.”
“Fine, I have all the time in the world, but I would still like to know more about the boy who has caught your interest after all these years. You brought him to meet me for a reason.”
He crosses his legs, feeling that he would have been more willing to have this conversation if he weren’t so worried about Owen going MIA. “When there’s more to say, I’ll tell you. Promise.”
She sighs. “Fine. Oh, Uncle Ray! I didn’t know you’d bestopping by.”
Will’s muscles clench, his blood turning cold.
Ray comes closer, entering Will’s line of sight. He’s holding yellow flowers, which he gives to Julie, as well as a kiss on the cheek.
Will wishes to tell the man to get away from his sister, but as far as she knows, there’s no hatred between them. She only knows that Ray helps pay for her stay at this hospice, thinking it’s due to the kindness of his heart. Till the day she dies, Will intends to keep it that way.
“I can’t think of the last time the three of us were together,” Julie says, her smile wide even though her skin is unhealthily pale and her lips are more gray than pink.
“It’s been a minute,” Ray says.
For the next ten minutes, Will sits with his fists in his lap, his nails digging into his flesh. He says the bare minimum, keeping the hostility away from his face. When Ray finally stands to leave, he gives Will a stiff nod. “I’ll see you soon, boy.”
Will manages a stiff nod in return.
“Is something wrong between you two?” Julie asks once they’re alone.
“Nothing’s wrong. We’re just different, always have been. Let me get you back inside.”
Will leaves shortly after. It’s the middle of the day, and he has nothing to do since he thought he was going to spend the day with Owen. He enters his truckand drives around town. Without planning, he finds himself getting closer to Justin Avenue, where Sheryl’s house is. He slows down as he reaches her house, noticing the police car in the driveway. Sheryl has a nice porch, and Owen said he enjoys sitting there to read, but he’s not there now. Will is tempted to honk, but he’s more likely to catch Sheryl’s attention, and that’s the last thing he wants.
With a tired sigh, he switches gears and continues to drive. It’s the weekend, and there are families walking around town; some are grabbing a late lunch, and some are shopping. Will stops to eat a sandwich, but the food is tasteless, so he leaves half of it on the tray and returns to his truck. Maybe he can grab a nap—which he rarely does—but at least it will be better than feeling so crappy, and yes, hurt.
He drives into the pathway leading up to his house, slowing down when he sees someone sitting on the stairs of his porch. His heart beats faster when he recognizes Owen. He parks and hurries to climb out. “Hey, I’ve been looking for you.”
Owen stands up, his backpack at his feet. He’s looking at Will without meeting his eyes. “Sorry, I needed… I needed some time.”
“Is it your aunt? Did she find out?” He hates how scared that thought makes him.
“It’s not about my aunt. I… shit, I’m sorry, but I need you to tell me something, and I need you to be honest with me.”
Will stands very still. He doesn’t need to hear any more since it’s clear what this is about. It was bound to happen eventually, but he hoped to be the one controlling the narrative before anyone else could poison Owen’s opinion of him. He feels betrayed and angry, but most of all, he’s disappointed because he knows the damage has been done.
“Does it matter if I’m honest? You’ve made up your mind.”
“I didn’t!” Owen takes a step forward, breathing heavily but finally meeting Will’s eyes. “If I did, I wouldn’t have been here begging you to tell me the truth. I don’t know you that well, but I think I know enough to… fuck, just tell me it’s a lie, okay? That it didn’t happen like that between you and Joel.”
I can’t do that.
