Page 163 of No Good Fight

“I’m not doing anything.”

“You’re thinking very loudly.”

Josh mutters, “Welcome to my life,” and Nia nudges him with her elbow without taking her eyes off Alex.

I lean back in the chair. “You don’t have to let everybody move into the house.”

“Thank you.”

“You also don’t have to chase them out before anyone’s even asked you for anything.”

That wipes away the little bit of triumph on her face.

Alex looks down at the blanket covering her legs, rubbing one thumb along the seam. “I don’t want everybody rearranging their lives.”

Her mother starts to answer, but I shake my head slightly before she can. She sees it and lets me have the space.

“They’re already here,” I tell Alex.

“That doesn’t mean⁠—”

“I know.”

She stops.

I look toward Josh and Nia, then her parents. All four of them look like hell in different ways. Nobody has slept. Her mother cried enough that the skin beneath her eyes is blotchy and red. Josh has been standing by that window for almost an hour because sitting would make him feel useless. Her father has touched every object within reach of the bed except Alex, like keeping his hands occupied is the only reason he hasn’t broken apart.

“They’re scared too.”

Alex’s fingers stop moving against the blanket.

I don’t give her a speech about independence or accepting love. She knows all of that. She’s had enough people explaining herself to her.

“Let them bring the food at least.”

Her mouth twists.

“Just the food?”

“Start there.”

A quiet breath escapes her that might have become a laugh if her ribs didn’t hurt.

Her mother takes the victory without celebrating it. “I’ll make the chicken soup.”

“And no casserole,” Alex says.

“I wasn’t going to make a casserole.”

“You were thinking about it.”

Her mother looks offended enough that I almost smile.

Eventually her parents leave to get clothes and food, after extracting three separate promises that someone will call if the doctor changes anything. Alex’s father squeezes my shoulder on the way past, his hand staying there for an extra second before he follows his wife into the hall.

Josh lasts longer.

Of course he does.