Page 117 of Sticks and Stones
Red.
And Ethan prepared for an ass kicking.
“I know you’re not going to stop me from getting to my only son, Ethan. I know you’re not crazy.”
Ethan had to deal with this for Corbin because he said he would—despite getting his balls knocked up into next month by the woman.
“Alice,” he began.
She stopped him.
“For now, it’s still Mom, but that could end if you don’t let me inside to see Corbin. I’m not playing, Ethan. It’s been a long day, and I came to you to help, not block me.”
John put his hand on her shoulder, knowing this boy had nothing to do with this.
He knew his son, and there was likely a reason Ethan was standing sentry.
Corbin trusted him.
They were his parents, but right now, he didn’t need them. He needed people who could be neutral.
Alice couldn’t.
“Honey, calm down.”
She turned.
“I’m not calming down. My son was hurt. I’m his mother, and I need to see him!”
Because it was his promise to Corbin, Ethan shut that shit down.
“And that’s why you can’t see him,” he said. “That right there.”
When Alice turned on him, he stood his ground and got ready for any hands she threw at him. Ethan wouldn’t hit back, but he’d block that shit.
He had to stand his ground for his friend.
“What does that mean?”
Ethan lowered his voice since Alice was making enough noise for everyone in the whole building to hear.
“Right now, he’s trying to come to grips with what happened to him. He’s mourning, and he’s trying to heal. You have to let him have this. He’s entitled to his privacy right now with this situation.”
At his words, tears filled her eyes.
“How bad is he hurt?” she asked.
Ethan didn’t lie.
“He’s not in a good place. He asked Gene and me to sneak him out so he could hide. If you don’t give him that, he’s not going to let you in later. He’ll block you out, Alice, and that’s going to be far worse for both of you. Your adult son is telling you to back off. You need to stop thinking he’s ten, and see that he’s twenty-five.”
That hit her like a ton of bricks.
He didn’t need her anymore.
“He’s always telling you that you’re crossing his privacy lines. This is the most important one. This is tied to hismasculinity, and if you kick the shit out of that line, he’ll never trust you near him again. He’ll move, Alice, and he’ll cut you off. You know Corbin only draws the line when he’s damn serious about something.”
That hurt.
