“You’ve been avoiding me, Shane.”
I wince and keep my eyes closed. I can see the disapproving stare through my eyelids.
She harrumphs. “I got an interesting call from a teammate of yours last night. He reassured me you’re still alive.”
Someone called my mom?
“He said your father showed up,” she says quietly.
Agony tears through me, sharp and swift. A stuttered gasp falls from me, my ribs crushing inward so tightly I’m sure they’re going to puncture my lungs. Fuck. Will it never stop hurting? I swear my heart is breaking again. I didn’t think that was possible, didn’t think there were any pieces large enough left to break. But that’s the thing. There were pieces. Now just dust. The remnants of a final shattering.
Soft hands cradle my cheeks, grip firm. “I love you, Shane.I. Love. You.”
I manage to draw in a shaky breath. The pain lessens slightly. “I’m hanging on by a thread,” I say hoarsely.
“I’m so sorry, baby. I will never forgive him for what he’s done to you. But you are so loved. Not just by me. Your friends here too. They care about you so much, darling.”
My eyes flick open, that familiar blue reflecting back at me.
“Hey.” She smiles softly. “There’s my baby boy.”
“H-how long are you here?” I should be embarrassed by the desperation in my voice, but I don’t fucking care. I need my damn momma right now.
“As long as you need. I have a hotel room nearby. I can stay here if you need me too, but I didn’t want to overstep.”
I relax into the pillows. Just knowing she’s going to be close for the near future eases some of the ache that’s been my constant companion the past few days.
“I made you your favorite hangover cure.”
Even through the heavy fog, I perk up slightly. “Really?”
Her lips press tight against a laugh, but somehow a dimple pops through anyway. “Of course, I did.” She disappears and is back a second later with a pepperoni, egg, and cheese bagel sandwich.
“Ohmygodiloveyousomuch.” My eyes burn all over again. I don’t know what I’d do without my mom.
“Extra pepperoni.”
I tear off a huge bite, and my eyes flutter shut. Heaven. I have no idea why this helps so much, maybe the salt? But every damn time it kills the hangover. I think the extra pepperoni is healing a bit of my heart too. Or maybe that’s the cheese.
“Goodness, you’re an animal.” She grabs a towel from the nightstand and lays it out over my chest and lap.
I lift a shoulder, my mouth too full of deliciousness to respond.
She watches me, blue eyes alight with amusement as I devour the sandwich. “Well, this is a version of you I recognize. A bit better.”
I wipe my mouth with a napkin and shoot her a half-smile as I take a swig of water. I feel almost human now and less like I bathed in a vat of vodka. My head still feels like a team is taking batting practice in it, though.
“Now that we have you fed…what happened, Shane?”
I grimace and fall back into my pillows with afloof.
“I met my half-brother,” I whisper. “He was actuallypretty cool. And…I think he liked me. Think he wanted to get to know me, ya know?”
It’s weird, but that hurts too, losing a brother I don’t even know. I didn’t realize how excited I was to have family until he was snatched away.
I keep my eyes closed as I relay the story. The whole fucking saga. It’s easier that way. Mom stays with me, hand tight around mine, squeezing when I need reassurance, making soft sounds of acknowledgement at all the right moments. She just knows what I need. My perfect momma.
I finish relaying the horror that was my first interaction with my father since he left us and finally take a breath.
