Page 51 of Double Trouble

“I will be right back,” I assure her, then I slide past Pete, grateful he doesn’t put his fist in my face.

The hospital is quiet this morning. No rush of doctors or chaotic beeping like it felt like all night long. I let the door ease shut behind me with a soft click, then follow the signs to the cafeteria. I’m not hungry, but I might as well do something to keep my mind busy.

I get waffles, bacon, and hash browns that sit on my plate in a gooey mess of syrup. I poke around with my fork, my stomach clenching from the smell. My appetite is shit; all I want to do is rewind and make better decisions in round two.

“Tanner?”

I pick up my heavy head and turn toward Candace. Her knuckles turn white around the tray of food in her hands, and next to her is Demi, a confused look on her young face.

Both sets of eyes are tired with dark circles underneath.

“Hi,” I say, my voice gruff from not being used so much. I clear my throat, but I got nothing left to say. I’m just ready for her to let me have it, too.

Candace slides into the seat across from me, Demi following suit. Demi splays her napkin across her lap and starts crunching on a piece of bacon.

“Are you okay?” she asks, and my gaze jumps to her face. Concern pulls at her brow, her deep brown eyes wide and waiting. Her red-brown hair is piled onto her head, like she just threw it up and ran out the door the moment I called Pete.

“Yeah…” I say cautiously. It’s a lie. I’m far from okay. I’m just bracing for the same anger I got from Pete. After all, Candace is the stickler for the rules. Candace is the one I’m afraid of firing my ass—though, technically, Pete just did that. Candace is the one I expect to reign down the wrath of God.

Instead, she slides her hand across the tabletop and sets it gently on my wrist. Her lips turn down as she gives me a squeeze. “It’s okay if you’re not. It had to have been terrifying seeing Maddie like that.”

I pinch my eyes shut, hoping it’ll erase the image that shoots into my mind. “It was.”

“I’m so sorry, Tanner.”

My eyes lift open, and confusion pulls at my brow. “Sorry? It’s my fault.”

“How do you figure?”

“I snuck her in.”

Candace takes her hand back and simply shakes her head at her food. “That board would’ve broken at some point. It just happened to be while you guys were being… troublemakers.”

Demi laughs at the pun and reaches for her glass of orange juice. “It’s true,” she adds. “That board was so old. And so is Maddie.”

Candace gawks at Demi and gives her a nudge. “Hey, I’m almost twenty-five.”

“No, you’re not.”

“Just three more years.”

“Yeah, and in three years, I’ll be fourteen.”

Candace groans and covers her ears. “I’m not listening to that! You aren’t allowed to get any older.”

Demi sits a little taller, a smug smile on her face. I can’t believe they are both so… light-hearted right now. Somehow Pete and Candace have switched roles.

“Are you going in to see her?”

Candace nods, chewing on her egg sandwich. “Giving Pete a minute with her. We’ll head in after breakfast.”

“You coming, too?” Demi asks, a hopeful lilt in her little voice. My lips turn up in a half grin. She’s not pissed at me. Well, two out of three siblings is still good odds.

I nod and set my napkin down on my uneaten food. “Pete’s not happy with me, but Maddie wants me to stay.”

“Good.” Candace takes another bite. “You’re important to her, and she needs you. Pete can just get over it.”

They take their time eating and laughing, and I let myself relax just a bit in their presence. Damn, I was terrified of Candace’s reaction. I thought for sure she’d drag me outside and beat me upside the head with Mad’s broken skateboard. Honestly, I wonder if I prefer that punishment instead of this acceptance and understanding business. I don’t deserve it, that’s for damn sure.

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