Page 98 of Attractive Forces
“I’m definitely happy if Logan’s in love with your son rather than a goat,” she says conversationally.
Jake’s mum releases a snort that turns into a laugh. My mum starts to laugh too, and they stand there together, giggling away.
Jake’s eyes meet mine, and I can see the disbelief on his face too. What parallel dimension have we stumbled into where our mothers are laughing together over our relationship?
Jake’s mother’s laugh turns to a sob, and my mother immediately pulls her into a hug, enveloping her in her arms.
“I’m not going to tell you that it’s all going to be okay because we don’t know that. But I can tell you that you’ll get through this,” Mum says to her. Then she looks up at me, and I realize her words are meant for me too. “We’ll get through this.”
Some of the tightness inside of me unclenches. Because this is Mum telling me she’s on my side, no matter what Dad says or does.
The relief shooting through me brings tears to my eyes. I scrub my hand over my face.
“You okay?” Jake whispers.
“Yeah.” That one syllable throbs with so much pent-up emotion it’s surprising it doesn’t explode. I clear my throat and try again. “I’m okay.”
And I am okay, despite the memory of my father’s face pounding through my head. I’m okay because the truth is infinitely better than a lie.
Jake and I sit back down on the hard plastic seats. Our shoulders press up against each other. We’re supporting each other now, drawing comfort from our closeness and warmth.
The door opens, and a surgeon emerges. Jake’s on his feet in an instant. Annaliese also uncurls herself from the seat to stand, and Jake’s mum takes a step forward, so the three of them are standing shoulder to shoulder, waiting.
The surgeon doesn’t keep them in suspense.
“He’s pulled through surgery, and we’ve stopped all the bleeding. I’m feeling more confident now, but the next twelve to twenty-four hours will be critical.”
“Can we see him?” Jake asks, his voice croaky.
“We’ll allow family members in to see him soon.”
Jake staggers back and sits next to me again. I put my arm around him, drawing him close.
He buries his face in my shoulder, and we just sit there for a few minutes, a pocket of stillness.
Eventually, Jake straightens. He scrubs at his eyes, then glances at the clock on the wall. “You could still make your game.”
I shake my head. “I’m where I’m supposed to be.”
31
Jake
Mum goes in to see Aaron first while the rest of us stay in the waiting room.
Logan remains plastered to my side, not even flinching when two of Mum’s work colleagues from the diner turn up.
Logan’s mum gets up and goes over to talk to them, and it’s all hushed voices and concerned faces. When they take a seat, I feel their gazes land on Logan and me. I’m not sure if it’s because Logan’s got his arm around me or if it’s just because we’re sitting a lot closer to each other than teenage boys usually would.
But Logan doesn’t move an inch, even under their scrutiny.
Part of me still can’t believe he’s here. That the rugby championship game is going on right now, and Logan is choosing to be with me instead. That he told his parents about us. He stood with his back straight and looked his father in the eyes and told him we were more than friends and he wasn’t going to change.
I’m so…proud of him. I mean, I’ve always been slightly in awe of Logan, but the crazy thing is, the more I’ve gotten to know him, the more I’ve found to be in awe about.
I hurt for him too because I know the path forward with his father isn’t going to be easy.
At least his mother has been great. In fact, she’s been more than great. She’s been everything Logan needs her to be.
