Page 24 of Something Good
It was either that or live with Carlyle, andthatwasn’t happening. I’d make damn sure of it.
After Will left this morning, I’d gone into the kitchen to find Carlyle and Mom packing. Cheap pots and pans, secondhand baking dishes that I didn’t think we’d ever used, andmismatched plates were being wrapped roughly in newspaper and stacked in the produce boxes one of them had procured from the grocery store. I stood there, mouth agape, watching as Mom chattered on, oblivious to my presence. I wasn’t sure if her energy came from excitement or if she’d popped a pill, but it was like watching a squirrel who’d chugged an energy drink.
The three of us had gotten into it after that. I’d laid into both of them, demanding to know what was going on, despite it being obvious they were packing for a move. I’d thought we had another week. A week for Mom to come to her senses or for Carlyle to dump her. A week for me to figure out what the hell to do.
I refused to move, refused to allow them to take Jimmy out of the only home he’d ever known. To put him in a new school with new people where his anxiety would likely go haywire. Worse, I knew that I’d end up in jail. Carlyle or one of his asshole buddies would piss me off one too many times, and I’d end up with an assault charge or worse. And if I was in jail, who’d look out for Jimmy?
Fuck.
I may have barely graduated, but I was smart. I’d been able to problem-solve myself out of every situation that’d been thrown at me. But this—homelessness—I didn’t know how to solve this one.
I wasn’t sure how long I’d been sitting out here. After storming out of the house, I’d texted Jimmy and told him to see if he could finagle another night at his friend’s house. He didn’t even question it. It wasn’t the first time I’d texted him something like that. I just needed some time to figure things out before I explained what was happening. I’d have to tell him at some point, but not yet. Not until I had a plan.
After wandering the streets of Astaire for hours and getting caught in a downpour, I’d stopped at the gas station and boughta hotdog, a bag of chips, and a soda with the remaining cash in my pocket. That had been hours ago. Based on the amount of light left, it had to be nearing nine o’clock. I should probably go home and get out of my damp clothes, especially after the temperatures had dropped following the storm, but I wasn’t entirely sure what I would be walking into after being gone so long, and I wasn’t any closer to figuring out what to do than I’d been when I walked out.
I pulled out my phone and, without allowing myself to overthink it, shot off a text to Will.
Hey
Immediately, as if he’d been waiting for my text, three dots appeared to indicate he was responding.
Will
U ok?
No
I couldn’t believe I was just putting it out there like that. After all the animosity I’d thrown at him over the last couple of months, I didn’t have the strength to keep it up anymore. I just needed my friend.
Did that asshole hurt you?
No. I just need someone to talk to
Where r u?
Our spot
I hoped he knew what I meant. I’d always thought of it that way. Even after he left.
On my way
I set my phone on the rock beside me just as the last sliver of sun slipped below the horizon. I laid back on the rock, folded my hands behind my head, and waited.
I woketo a bright light shining in my eyes. Instinctively, I put my hand in front of my face, squinting against the intrusion, trying to figure out its source.
“Shit. Sorry.” Will pointed the light at his feet, and I saw spots.
“Man, just turn it off and let your eyes adjust.”
“Sorry,” he repeated. “It’s really fucking dark. I couldn’t climb up here without a light.” Carefully, he sat beside me on the giant rock, then turned the light off, plunging us into darkness.
“I like it when you swear, golden boy.”
“I swear all the time.”
“Doubt it.”
“Whatever,” he huffed, and I chuckled. “So what happened after I left?”
