Chapter 36
Thirty-Six
Colt
“No,” I hear Kylie say through the propped open door, “I completely understand your frustration. I’m supremely angry on Adrian’s behalf.”
There’s a quieter buzz of words that I can’t discern, though I do hear “attorney” and “federal law.”
So, her meeting with Adrian’s parents isn’t going well.
That’s not exactly a surprise.
I inch away from the door, not wanting to intrude.
We’re supposed to go to Lake and Nova’s tonight and since my life right now is working with the physical therapist team, building back strength, and trying not to go out of my mind with boredom, I’ve been taking the liberty of driving Kylie to school and picking her up when the day is done.
I slip outside the building, plunk down on a bench by someone else who’s trying not to intrude.
“Hey, bud,” I say, bumping my shoulder gently against Adrian’s.
Considering the workout Ivy just put me through—all of her attention laser-focused on me (to the benefit of my shoulder and the detriment of every other aching muscle in my body)—gently is about all I can manage.
“Hey,” he mutters, not looking at me. Instead, he’s grinding the toes of his shoes into the concrete, the little rocks that have escaped from the planter beds making soft, scratching sounds.
Well, I guess that answers the question of whether or not he knows what’s happening in the classroom.
And how unhappy his parents are.
I debate what to say, know any of the platitudes I might come up with won’t make a difference.
Not when most middle schoolers want to just be normal.
Not when Adrian’s health means that he won’t ever be able to fully turn off his brain and just be a kid.
So, I call the only one I know who’s been through that.
Blake’s face appears on the screen after a single ring. “Bro!” he says, his eyes dancing with mirth. “Your girlfriend dump you yet?”
Adrian jerks.
“Not yet,” I say dryly.
“Eh.” A shrug. “It’s only a matter of time.”
I shake my head and sigh, though it’s with my mouth tipped up—mostly because Adrian’s shock has transformed into humor, his giggle in the air.
“You know, here I am calling my brother to check in and he just gives me grief.”
“It’s my love language.”
Adrian laughs outright.
“Is that your illustrious girlfriend I hear laughing in the background?”
“Nah,” I say, “she’s in a meeting.”
“Then who am I amusing?” he asks.
“My friend, Adrian.” I point the screen at him. “He’s in Kylie’s class.”
“Yeah?” Blake says.
Adrian hesitates then nods. “Yeah, Ms. C is the best teacher in school. She always tells us stories and gives us quizzes with candy and when I was in the hospital she did special Zoom meetings just for me so I wouldn’t fall behind.”
Blake’s eyes come to mine for a heartbeat and I know he clocks the situation because he turns his focus back to Adrian. “You spend a lot of time in the hospital, A-man?”
A long hesitation, Adrian’s face falling.
Then he nods. “Yeah.”
“Me too,” Blake says. “Sucks sometimes, huh?”
Adrian shrugs. “Yeah. The nurses are nice but I don’t like not being able to do normal stuff.”
“Like what?”
“Soccer and go to school and sleepovers.” He wrinkles his nose. “But it was kind of nice not having to do homework.”
“I bet,” Blake says with a laugh. “What about video games? You have time to do those?”
“Oh, yeah.”
“What about Legends of the Dragons? You play that one?”
“Yeah! I’m a level ten mage and my dragon just hatched…”
As he continues to talk, I pass the phone off and turn toward the building, intending to eavesdrop—just a smidge—to make sure Kylie’s doing okay.
But when I rotate toward the doors, I realize I’m not alone.
Kylie’s there, a man and woman—presumably Adrian’s parents—standing beside her…and all of their gazes are locked on mine.
And none look happy.
Shit.
“Hi,” I say quietly.
The man looks at Kylie. “Who is this?”
“Colt Madden,” I tell him, sticking out my hand. “I had the pleasure of meeting Adrian a few weeks ago in Ms. C’s class.”
“The hockey player?” the woman asks.
I nod.
Adrian’s mom’s face gentles. “I thought you looked familiar. Adrian said you were hurt and in the hospital. Are you recovered?”
“I’m getting there.”
“Who’s he talking to?”
It’s a sharp question from Adrian’s dad and I can’t help but understand. “Um, I didn’t mean to overstep. Adrian just looked a little sad and my brother…he, well, he’s been ill his whole life and in and out of the hospital. I thought he and Adrian might have some things they could talk about—”
“Your dragon is level eighty?!”
We all turn at the exclamation and my mouth tips up.
When I look back, Adrian’s mom’s face is even softer…and though his dad is harder to read, I think I detect the ice around him thawing somewhat.
“We need to go.”
I nod, head over. “Hey, A-man,” I say because he lit up when my brother used the nickname, same as he does now. “I think your parents are ready to go.”
“Okay,” he says, but his tone is disappointed.
“Bye, bud,” Blake chimes in. “And if your parents say it’s okay, maybe we can play Legends of the Dragons sometime.”
“Really?”
“Definitely. I always need a mage on my side.”
See?
My brother’s the shit.
Even if most of the time he’s giving me shit.
“Maybe,” his dad says when Adrian glances up at us.
A nod.
“Bye, Blake,” Kylie calls.
“Bye, sweetness,” he calls back, Adrian helpfully pointing the phone in her direction so the goodbyes can be exchanged properly.
I know the moment they process what they’re seeing on the screen…and how similar Blake’s life had likely been to Adrian’s.
Then tension in the air loosens.
Blake waves. “Bye, A-man’s parents!”
That actually gets a smile from his dad and a soft “Goodbye” from his mom.
Then the call is ended and my phone is back in my pocket and it’s just Kylie and me.
“How’d it go?” I ask as they walk off, Adrian all but skipping at his parents’ sides.
“How do you think?” A sigh. “And I don’t blame them. But that”—a nod at my pocket, where my phone is stashed—“might have saved it.”
I glance back at the group. “Hopefully.”
“A-man?” she asks.
I shake my head. “All Blake.”
“And you,” she says. “Since I know you’re the one who made the call.”
She touches my cheek, slants her lips over mine, and…
I begin to think that might be true.