Chapter 26

After a quick stop at the bank,we headed to the hospital.As I opened the door,I heard crying and my heart sped up.Jeff and I exchanged wary glances and I forced myself to move into the room.

My grandparents stood on either side of the hospital bed and my sister clung to my grandma’s arm,tears running down her face.

I peeked around my grandpa,stunned to see my mother sitting up,her eyes open.“Mom!”I cried and ran to her.

Her lips curved into a partial smile and she slowly moved her gaze to me.She licked her lips and her mouth moved a little,but I couldn’t hear anything.

“Honey,wait,”my grandpa said,“don’t push yourself to speak.”

Hot tears sprang to my eyes as I watched her glance around the room.I beamed and let out a whoosh of air—I hadn’t even been aware I was holding my breath.My mom reached out her hands.Pamela grabbed one,while I took the other.She tried to squeeze,but I barely felt it.Yet I didfeel it.

“Mom,are you coming home now?”Pamela asked.

I knew she couldn’t leave the hospital today,but felt sure it could be soon.

“Honey,”Grandpa said,“your mom has a lot of healing to do.They said she can leave in a week or so,but will need to be with someone.She’s going to come home with us.”

I wondered where that would leave my sister and me.I mean,staying with Jeff was short-term.What would happen when Mom actually left the hospital?But now that she was doing better,it was up to her,not my grandparents.I was close to graduating.I didn’t want to finish my senior year at another high school,but I also didn’t want to be selfish in the wake of all that she had been through.My grandparents seemed to understand,but would my mom?Maybe she would want me near her.Maybe I shouldbe near her.

“What about me?”Pamela asked,voicing both our concerns.

“Oh,honey,of course you’ll come with us.You’ll get to finish the school year at a school near us.That way you’ll be with your mom.”

Pamela seemed happy with that,but I wasn’t.I loved my mom and my sister,but I wanted to stay here.Was that selfish of me?

“Aaron’s staying with me,”Jeff said from behind me.

My mom looked at him,then back at me.I wasn’t sure why,but I felt like I was being scrutinized.She finally nodded,giving me her blessing.I wiped away the tears that spilled onto my cheeks.I wasn’t sure what exactly the future held,but at least my mom was awake and I was going to graduate with my friends.

Things were going to be okay.I was sure of it.

The next few days became a blur as my mom was moved to another room and began rehabilitation at the hospital.I worked almost every day the rest of the week,and so did Jeff.When my manager found out my mom was in the hospital,he was cool about changing my schedule to match Jeff’s until I could get a new vehicle.

Something was changing between my best friend and me.I wasn’t sure exactly what was going on,but I would often find him staring at me while at work.He was also touching me more often,which I loved.I hadn’t really put a name to it,but I was falling hard for him.As weird as it seemed,it also felt so natural.I kept reminding myself he was straight and I was inventing things where there were none.

Yet every night in bed,we ended up in the same position—spooning,my back against his chest,his arm around my waist.Many times I woke up to find our fingers entwined.His warm breath on my neck drove me crazy,and I often ached to turn in his arms and kiss him.I knew I was playing a dangerous game.I knew it was wrong.I knew he was straight.I knew it all and yet I still fell head over heels for him.

My grandpa and I went looking for cars.It took a couple of days,but we finally found something I liked that I could afford,and Grandpa felt was a good,safe vehicle.I admit,I didn’t really know much about cars,so I deferred to him,but I liked my little black 1999 Honda Civic.

As we were hanging out playing video games on Jeff’s PS4 the next afternoon,my phone rang and I didn’t recognize the number.

“Hello?”

“Hey,Aaron?”

“Yes…who is this?”The voice was vaguely familiar,but I couldn’t place it.

“It’s Jon,Kevin’s cousin.”

“Oh,yeah.What’s up?”

Jeff was watching me and I mouthed“Jon”to him.His lips pressed into a thin,flat line and he paused the game,turning his attention to me.

“I wanted to see if you were coming to Kevin’s birthday party tomorrow night.”

God,in all the drama of the last week,I had forgotten about it.“Hang on a sec.”I muted my phone.

Jeff was glaring at me.“What the hell does he want?”

The anger in his voice took me aback.“He’s asking if we’re going to Kevin’s party.”

“Us?Or you?”

I had assumed Jon had meant us,but maybe he hadn’t.“Are we or not?”

He grunted and I took that as a“yes.”

I unclicked MUTE.“Yeah,we’ll be there.”

“We?”

“Jeff and I.”

My best friend rolled his eyes and gave me an“I told you so”look.

I blushed.“Okay,Jon,I’ll see there.”I hung up and grabbed my controller.“Let’s get back to the game.”

“I don’t like that guy.”

“Why?”

“He’s got the hots for you.”

I looked into his eyes.“Are you saying he shouldn’t?Are you surprised that a cute guy might like me?”Him being an ass irked me.

His anger faltered for a moment before he pulled himself together.“That’s not what I was saying.I just…don’t like him.”

“You’re being weird about this.If he wants to ask me out,he can.But he was just asking me about the party.It wasn’t anything like a date.Besides,you said you were in love with someone,remember?I don’t see you calling her and asking her to go with you.”

He paled and looked at the television screen.“Whatever.”

I won the next three games.