didn’t think it was anyone’s damn business. It was different with Patience. She wasn’t being a nosey bitch. She was just making conversation.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered. She looked over at me with a wounded look in her eyes. “My mom’s dying.”
I didn’t say anything. There’s not really much you can say to something like that and even if there was, I wasn’t the kind of guy who’d say it. Instead, I looked away.
“I don’t know why I said that,” she mumbled. “It’s actually the first time I’ve said it out loud. I’m sorry.”
When I looked back up at her, her bottom lip trembled and the strange pressure that I hated so much when I talked about my mom seeped into my chest.
“Don’t apologize,” I said as I stood up. I needed to move. I needed to do anything that would make the pressure in my chest go away. She stood up next to me and looked back at me with those big blue eyes. “Come on, let’s get you home.”
I reached out and tucked a stray piece of hair behind her ear. She jerked at the contact and then her body relaxed.
“Thanks,” she said as she started to walk next to me to my car.
“No worries, you’ll owe me one,” I grinned over at her.
Ten
Patience
I’m not sure what made me tell Zeke my mom was dying. Even saying the words made me feel sick, but we were having an honest moment and I wanted him to know I sort of understood his pain. I’d seen the look in his eyes when he said his mom was dead and it had been like a punch to the ribs to see such a hard, carefree guy show so much pain in that brief moment.
Being around Zeke was like watching a movie on a broken TV and having the screen blink on and off. Every now and again, I got to see brief flickers of the real him and I had to admit, I really liked those brief moments. More than I should.
We didn’t say much on the drive to my house and he even stopped and pulled over before getting to my house without me saying so. I appreciated him doing that.
“Well, I guess I’ll see you tomorrow afternoon?” I said, before I got out of the car.
“It’s a date.” He grinned over at me.
I popped open the car door and got out. I shut the heavy door and turned to walk away.
“Hey, snowflake,” he called out. I turned back around and leaned into the car window. I was starting to like my nickname, although I’d never admit it to him.
“Yeah?”
“I’m sorry about your mom. I’m an asshole, but even I wouldn’t wish that kind of pain on someone.” He looked uncomfortable with his confession.
I nodded my understanding and stepped away from the car. I stood there as he drove off. His car stood out in the upscale neighborhood. It wasn’t often a car with a mismatched hood and smoking tailpipe drove through here, but truth be told, I was even starting to like his car. It suited him somehow.
Once he was out of sight, I turned and jogged the rest of the way home. After my shower and visit with my mom, Syd and I watched a movie in my bed. She fell asleep halfway through and I didn’t wake her. I turned off the TV, got under my comforter with her, and then got another amazing night of sleep.
Thankfully, Megan’s car was back on the road and she was able to pick me up for school the next morning. I was told to stay away from her, but Dad was already gone before she got there. I’d have to make arrangements for her to pick me up at the stop sign near my house. She’d question it, but I’d cross that bridge when I got to it.
I was never so happy to see her jerk into my driveway. I hated riding the bus full of staring freshmen and sticky seats with gum on them. It was disgusting and I prayed I’d never have to do it again. Still, it was better than riding with my dad or driving the car that was supposed to be mine.
“I’ve missed you, chick. Anything new going on? How’s the voluntary community service going?” She laughed.
I immediately thought of Zeke and how glad I was that I’d decided to volunteer. I couldn’t deny the fact that I was starting to like him. Nothing could ever