Page 27 of Hello Forever
He stared out the window. “Youpissed?”
I was careful with my answer, because I needed him to reach out to me even when he’d been stupid. “You did exactly the right thing, calling me foraride.”
Hegrunted.
“Is there anything else we need to do? Do you think anyone is indanger?”
Jared shook his head. “I drankthemost.”
“Why?”
He sighed. “They said I waschicken.”
“Jared,thatwas…”
“Really fucking stupid.Iknow.”
I put the car in gear. “Are you going to fall for that shitagain?”
The reply was almost too low tohear. “No.”
I drove us out to the diner, because I needed to sober him up before I took him home to the asshole who called himself our father. “Come on. It’s a school night. Jesus. But we’ll get you some pancakes and coffee. Canyoueat?”
“Yeah.”
He wasn’t too unsteady on his feet, and he didn’t look green. That was good. While I gave the waitress our order, he hid his face by looking out the window. “Were you home?” he askedeventually.
“On mywayout.”
“WithAmy?”
“Nope. I just had a hoops game, and we were headed out for a beer atBruisers.”
“I want your life,”hesaid.
My laugh escaped before I thought better of it. “You donotwantmylife.”
“Why?”
I shook my head. “Hey, there’s something I need totellyou.”
The way he turned his head toward me made it look unnaturallyheavy. “What?”
“Amy and Ibrokeup.”
“Fuck.” He blinked,stunned. “Why?”
“We’ve been together a long time, that’s all.” I’d been wondering what reason to give, and it sounded even lamer coming out of my mouth than it had inmyhead.
His eyes narrowed. “Did youcheat?”
“No!Jesus. Nobody cheated.” It was hard to know what to say when the whole conversation was a lie. “We’re still friends. She’ll probably come to basketball gameswithus.”
“Maybe you’ll get back together.” He looked so pathetic sitting across from me, his teen anger wrapped around him like a coat, his eyes heavy-lidded andanguished.
“Maybe,” I lied. If he had to ease himself into this idea, then sobeit.
My phone pinged with a text from Jason, wondering where the fuck I was.Sorry, I replied.Family emergency. I hope you’re not sitting therealone.
