Page 51 of A Wrench in the Plan
“Thanks,” I told him.
“Make sure he gets some rest,” Dad said to Evan. I snorted, which hurt. “I’ll come check on you in a bit.”
“I’ll rest if you take Mom and go get some sleep,” I said.
“You don’t play fair,” Dad shot back with a small smile.
“Take care of her.” I knew he wouldn’t argue with that.
“Okay. Think there’s a hotel not too far. I’m gonna make sure B-ry and Cat get on the road, then we’ll crash for a bit.”
“Dad,” I called out just as he walked to the door. He turned and I made sure to look him in the eyes. “I love you.”
I’d seen my dad cry a few times in my life. He wasn’t afraid to show his emotions. Right now, he looked like I’d just broken him. I could see the tears coming in fast.
“I love you too, son,” he said, then tipped his head and walked very quickly out of the room.
“Sleep,” Ev told me, once again brushing away the tears that were leaking out of my eyes.
As I closed my eyes, I forced myself to focus on the things I could feel.
Evan against me.
His warmth seeping into me.
His even breaths calming me.
And, finally, I was able to drift off to sleep.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Evan
I thought that the feelings of being useless and lost would go away once we found Cat and Chry.
It didn’t.
In fact, it was a million times worse now. Not only did I have that compounded guilt from before, but I also had no idea how to help them. It was like all I could do was sit back and watch each of their lights fade a little more with each passing moment.
Cat was avoiding me.
Chry was… shutting down on me.
And I didn’t know what to do.
So I gave them time. I went to work. I took patrol shifts at the container yard as much as LT would let me. I didn’t sleep. Barely ate. I was a walking zombie, but I swore I’d be ready when they needed me. I’d spend hours lost in my thoughts, holding my phone tight as I waited for it to ring.
It had been five days since Chry had been released from the hospital.
He begged me to stay at night, but once the sun came up, it was like he was a different person. He didn’t want me around. He didn’t want help. He didn’t want to be reminded of what happened.
Of what he’d gone through, and what I hadn’t.
He was grumpy because he wasn’t supposed to move around much. He was angry because he hadn’t been able to save Cat from what she’d gone through. He was depressed because he felt useless and lost. Sadly, those were the times he clung to me. The times he saw in me the same feelings he had inside himself. And we’d silently comfort one another. But what good did it really do?
With a heavy sigh, I unlocked the door to the garage lobby.
“How’s he doin’?” Sidekick asked the moment I stepped inside. He pushed a cup of coffee across the counter in my direction.
