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“And what happens when I leave?”
“I’ll kiss you goodbye and wish you well.”
Lore covers my hands with hers. “I don’t want it to go sour between us like last time.”
“It won’t. This time, we know what we’re getting ourselves into. You’ve got your life in Willowbrook, and I have mine here. Can’t we, for just this brief amount of time, forget the past and be together?”
Lore chews on her bottom lip, then nods. My hands fall from her face, and I once again put her hand in mine and pull her toward my bike. I climb on, but Lore looks from me to the hospital.
“Lore?”
She shakes her head, her hair cascading around her face. Lore’s eyes are troubled, and her words carry a weight I can’t ignore. “I can’t. I can’t leave him, not today.”
As her words sink in, realization washes through me like a cold wave crashing against the shore. Of course, she can’t. If Tobias wakes up and no one is there, how will he feel? The thought is like a punch to the gut, making me instantly empathize with her.
Nodding in understanding, I dismount from the bike and step closer to her, our foreheads almost touching. “You’re right. Do you mind if I keep you company?”
She sighs, the tension in her shoulders releasing slightly. “Not at all,” she replies, her voice soft. “It’ll be nice to have someone to talk to.”
Hand in hand, we make our way back to Tobias. When we pull back the curtain to his bed, a man is leaning over him.
He scowls at us, disapproval etched on his face as his eyes drop to where we are still holding hands.
“I should have known,” he sneers, his words dripping with bitterness. “You abandoned our son for your own pleasure. Typical.”
Anger and frustration course through my veins, and for a moment, I entertain the idea of punching the man in the face. But then Lore squeezes my hand, reminding me of the bigger picture. I take a deep breath and regain my composure.
“Hello, Brooks, it’s good to see you too.” Lore straightens her shoulders and lifts her chin a little higher, refusing to let his disapproval get to her. “And I’m so glad you finally made it.”
Brook scoffs. “Not all of us live a transient lifestyle we can abandon at a moment’s notice.”
My anger flares. “Now, hold on there a minute, buddy.”
“Dad?” croaks Tobias.
Lore immediately releases my hand and rushes to her son’s side. “Tobias?”
“Mom,” he whispers. “Where am I?” his voice trembles with uncertainty.
Lore glances at me. “Get the nurse or a doctor or someone.”
Nodding, I stride from his bedside to the nurses’ station.
“He’s awake!” I state loudly to an older nurse who is doing paperwork.
She looks up at me and smiles. “It’s about time. I’ll call for the doctor and be right in.”
Moving quickly, I stand at the foot of Tobias’ bed as his parents hover over him, a mix of relief and concern on their faces.
He looks down at me and smiles. “Hey, Dirt. I must be in a bad way if you’re here.”
Grinning at him, I shake my head playfully. “It’s just a scratch. The ladies love scars.”
“Well, you’d know,” Tobias teases.
Subconsciously, I run my fingers over the scar that runs from my temple into my hairline, a permanent reminder of a past fight, and then chuckle. “Fuck you.”
Brooks clears his throat and moves closer to Tobias, positioning himself between us blocking me from his view. “How do you feel, T?”
