Except that Todd has specialized knowledge when it comes to one particular ailment.
I swallow heavily, turning back around in my seat. There’s worry lining Trevor’s face, but I shake my head, not able to get into it right now. I don’t even want to think it.
The drive back to town is quiet, apart from Lumi singing along to the radio. I drop Trevor off first, wishing I could stay by his side tonight but knowing it’s not fair of me to distract him at work. I just want…
I want someone to cover me and block the rest of the world while telling me everything is okay.
Ithasto be.
Trevor’s touch pulls my focus as I park at his place, his palm on my cheek and his thumb running a circuit along my jaw. There’s nothing but warmth in his dark brown eyes. “Call me if you need anything? Anything at all.”
I nod, swallowing. “Text me when you get home from your shift?”
He smiles. “Will do, Red.”
Trevor kisses the tip of my nose before exiting the vehicle. I watch him walk out of sight, the tension in the car palpable.
“It’s probably nothing,” Todd says again, breaking the quiet. “Isaac…”
“I know,” I respond, willing myself to believe him.
His voice is small. “Did I fuck up?”
I twist his way, unbuckling my seat belt when it pulls tight. “Come here,” I tell him. Todd unbuckles, too, leaning forward so I can wrap my arms around him in the space between the seats. “You didn’t fuck up. I’m sorry if I sounded upset. I just…”
“I know,” he says, squeezing me tighter. Lumi’s hand runs over my arm, back and forth, offering support I pray I don’t need.
We drop Lumi off next at the dorms. She smacks a kiss against my cheek and then Todd’s before reminding us to text. As if we ever go longer than a few hours without. Todd and I are both silent the rest of the way home.
He stops inside the door of our house, looking at me like he wants to say something.
“I’m fine,” I assure him.
He nods, not pushing it.
The moment I’m inside my room, I pull out my phone.
Me: Promise me you’ll get a check-up soon?
My mom’s response doesn’t take long.
Mom: I will. Don’t fret, hon. Love you.
Me: Love you, too.
I force myself to leave my laptop closed, refusing to look up cancer symptoms on the internet in an attempt to figure out what Todd saw.
Like he said, it’s probably nothing.
Nothing at all to worry about.
“You sure are clingy today,” Trevor notes, not sounding the least bit upset about that.
I hum from my spot on his lap, a textbook open on mine and Trevor’s arms around me so he can work on his laptop.
He kisses the side of my head. “Okay, Red?”
“Sure,” I mumble, doing my best to focus on my schoolwork.
