54. James
JAMES
Iwas on my fifth episode of The Golden Girls when a key slid into the lock. Theo stepped into the motel room and set his bag on the floor.
“You’re not staying at the house tonight?” I turned the volume down and flicked on the bedside light.
Theo shrugged. “Nah, I didn’t wanna leave you alone.”
Muted sunlight shone through the thin white curtains. “There’s pizza over there if you’re hungry.” I nodded toward the Domino’s box on the dresser.
Theo made no mention of our fight the night before, and neither did I. That was the Young family way—just act like it never happened.
“Any beer?” Theo headed for the mini fridge.
“Of course.” I lifted a can from between my legs. “How did it go today?”
Theo grabbed a beer from the fridge and took the whole pizza box over to his bed. “Will sang my song.” His voice broke on the word song, and he started to cry.
I felt sick with anger. What was the point of Travis killing himself if Theo was just going to immerse himself in those final moments anyway? Why hadn’t he listened to me and stayed home?
“It was so good,” Theo said. “Can you do that for me? Can you sing to me? You know, if . . .?”
The tears were in my eyes before I could stop them. I wanted to yell at Theo, wanted to tell him that he shouldn’t be thinking about shit like that, that he should be focusing on the positive, that he might not have the gene, but I knew it wasn’t what he needed. So I said, “Okay.”