Page 81 of Knot So Social

He passes it over and I check the recent messages, finding one she’s sent to herself. I snort at how she’s saved her profile as “Mr Share’s Owner.”

Yeah. I think I’m in love.

Chapter twenty-six

Joel

The quiet in the unit puts me on edge, so much that I pull down Jeremy’s battered guitar and try out a few chords. The poor acoustic beast shrieks, so out of tune it seems he hasn’t played all year.

Mom made us do a few years of music lessons, but Jeremy was the one who took to it. I dropped out, more interested in fixing things with dad in the garage. But after I get the old girl tuned up and the soft strings fill the silence, it feels like I’ve been transported to a bygone time.

An era when things were simpler.

My head knows I can’t hide out from the world forever, but my body doesn’t care. Outside that door waits a reality that wants to chew me up and spit me out.

I should probably go visit a doctor and the youth drop-in center as well, but I can’t face their harmless but bitter-tasting questions about a fiancé I no longer have.

The phone flashes. Must be about time for Jeremy to come home, right? My heart leaps as his name appears on screen. “Hey! How’s my superstar gigolo?”

“Keep calling me that and I’ll break you in half when I get home.”

I chuckle. “Okay, sorry. When do you get back?”

“Well, about that—”

Bad news is coming. It tingles against my ears, so I set the guitar aside.

“You know how I called you that time from the hospital?”

I frown and squint at the clock. “Um, yeah. I apologized for that, you know?”

“Oh, well, the thing is, I’m back on the ward.”

I lurch to my feet. “Shit, Jeremy! Was your concussion more serious?”

“No.” His laugh comes through the line half strangled.

I pour across the flat surfaces, searching for my car keys so I can leave fast.

“So, I had an accident while on the job. It appears I’ve, ah, sprained my groin.”

I freeze, staring at the photo on the wall of us as teenagers while I process.

“You . . . sprained your . . . groin?” A laugh bubbles up in my chest. “Holy shit, Jeremy! What the actual crazy karma sutra stuff were you doing?”

“Fuck off! I tripped over the omega’s dog.”

I roar with laughter, heaving so much I grab the back of the armchair for balance.

“Har-har,” Jeremy says drily. “Yeah, laugh it up.”

“Fuck, I’m sorry man.” I wipe at my tears, still shaking with laughter. “Just let me sit down before I hurt myself laughing. Don’t want to strain my groin or something.”

“You’re a real fuck head, you know that?”

“Yes, yes, I am. I’m a terrible brother, but I really needed that laugh.” I wheeze in a few breaths, trying to contain myself, with minimal success. “Damn, Jeremy. How can I help?”

“Done laughing?”