Page 152 of Before We're More Than Friends
“Arielle . . .” Mom burped before her cheeks turned green, and I looked away as she grabbed her bin and threw up. She’d lasted for a good twenty minutes.
The nurse frowned when Arielle brought her back into the room. “She’s getting worse again,” the nurse said. “We’re going to take care of her. You can stay for a few more minutes . . .”
“We’re done,” Arielle said, her voice clipped.
I didn’t want to leave because of how long we’d waited, but I knew I couldn’t listen to Mom retch her guts. Not when I felt like doing the same myself.
We both said goodbye to Mom before we went back into the waiting room, where Dallas was texting on his phone. He looked up at us, worry in his dark eyes. “That quick?”
“She’s still sick,” I muttered.
“It’s too much to handle right now,” Arielle said, her voice shaking. “Sorry that we wasted your time waiting here.”
“It’s never a waste of time.” Dallas got up from his seat. “You two going home together?”
“I’ll drive Raina home,” Arielle said. “Thank you for bringing her here again.”
“Of course.” Dallas pulled me into a tight hug. “Let me know if you need anything. I’ll be there in a heartbeat.”
“Thank you.” I sniffled before the tears started flowing again. He wiped the tears from my cheeks and gave me a quick kiss on the forehead. “I love you,” I told him, my chest heavy from the emotions that swarmed inside me.
“I love you, too.” He brushed my hair out of my eyes. “And I really hope this situation ends well. It kills me to see this happen. To see you this devastated.” He let out a sharp breath, wiping his own eyes. “Sorry, I’m just . . .”
“I know.” I squeezed myself against him. “I just hope it doesn’t . . .” I bit my lip, not wanting to say the words out loud. I couldn’t bring that destructive thought into the world. “I just hope it isn’t over. For any of us.”
CHAPTER 37
Dallas
All the lights were out when I arrived home at almost midnight. It made sense because it was a weeknight, but the darkness reminded me of the heaviness in my chest. How hollow this house was.
Mom had told me I didn’t have to go to school tomorrow when I’d texted her about what happened. Gosh, I’d never thought I’d be so upset about missing school. Not because I wanted to go there and face my now ex-bandmates, but because it meant that everything was completely wrong.
At this rate, I was just waiting for the final blow.
When I went into my room and turned on the lights, Houston was waiting for me on my bed.There you are, his big brown eyes said, full of excitement.
“I wish I could be a dog,” I muttered as I gathered my clean pajamas and underwear. “You don’t have to deal with your life falling apart.”
He seemed to pick up on my devastation because he rested his head down.Would music make you feel better?
I shook my head. “Definitely not.”
I jumped in the shower, letting the tears flow as the hotwater pelted against my skin. The only images that flashed through my mind were everything bad that had happened. My parents’ marriage falling apart. My band falling apart. My girlfriend’s mom ending up in the hospital.
Why did this all happen now?
Or ever?
After my shower, I put on my pajamas and left the bathroom to see Kami standing in the hallway. Her black hair was in a messy bun, her eyes red and face blotchy as if she’d been crying too.
“Hey,” she said. “Mom told me what happened. Both about her fight with Dad and why you’re back so late.”
“Yeah.” I wiped my nose with my sleeve. “What happened to you?”
“I don’t know.” She glanced at the floor as Houston sat at her feet. She rubbed his head. “Just missing . . . how things used to be. Which is wild because after everything that happened, I wanted nothing more than to never step foot in Dallas again. But I hate that we’re all miserable here.”
A painful sensation squeezed my ribs. “I’m sorry.”
