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“No, you don’t owe me anything. I love spending time with BB. Especially when Grace is with Trevor for the week.” Rae smiles as she hands Britney back to me.
I tilt my head. “Don’t let Preston hear you call Britney BB.” I sit Brit on my hip and hug Rae with my free arm, kissing her cheek.
“Don’t worry, I won’t.” She hugs me back, and we head toward the front door. On her porch, she takes my hand. “Anything you need, you call me. I don’t care what time of the day it is. Please call me, Blaire.”
I blink rapidly, attempting to stop the tears. I nod.
“I will. Thank you. You’re the best friend ever. I love you.”
“I love you too.” She leans in and kisses Britney’s cheek.
“I love you, BB.” Smiling wide, she tickles Brit’s belly.
Britney giggles and grips my arm tighter. I turn and walk down the few steps and to my car. After buckling Britney into her car seat, I look back and wave to Rae, then get in my car. I catch my reflection in the review mirror as my inner voice says, go to him.
17
JADEN
“Jaden, please tell me you’re okay,” Blaire says for the third time. “Jaden, are you there?”
“I’m here, Blaire. I’m okay, but why do you care? You broke up with me, remember?” My heart aches when I speak to her so harshly, but I need to try to move on, as futile as that will be.
“I still care about you, J. Come on, you know why I had to break it off with you.”
“It doesn’t matter now. You don’t have to worry about me. I’ll be fine and back to finish up the year in a few days.”
“Yes, it does matter. You matter to me, Jaden. You always will. Don’t mistake my actions for not caring about you. That’s not the case at all, J. I wish…” Blaire goes silent, but I can hear her sniffles through the phone.
“I need to go; my mom’s calling me.” Ending the call before she responds, I fall onto the pillows piled on my bed behind me.
“Jaden. Who were you talking to?” Mom asks as she stands in the bedroom doorway with lunch on a tray.
“No one. Wrong number.” A stabbing pain passes through my heart as I toss my phone on the bed and drag my hand through my hair.
“Perfect timing, Mom. I’m starving.” I smile at her. She walks toward me and sits the tray across my lap.
“You know I can come downstairs and eat with you and Dad at the table.”
“I know, but I like to take care of you. It won’t be long before you won’t need me.” Mom pats my leg and sits in the chair beside the bed.
“I’ll always need my mom.” I hold my hand for her, and she takes it.
“Love you, Mom. And thanks for taking care of me. I want to get up and move around more. I have to get back to classes soon. There’s only two weeks left before my first year is over.”
“I’m sure you can talk to your instructors and figure something out.” She winks, then stands from the chair and walks toward the door.
“No, I want to go back for the rest of the semester. I want to finish in class.”
“Okay, son. But take it easy the rest of this week, please?”
“I will. How about you and I take a walk to the park and back when I’m done with this delicious lunch?” I squint and smile.
“Sure, honey. I’ll go to my bedroom and put on my walking shoes.” She turns and leaves me to eat lunch.
After a few minutes, Mom reappears in the doorway.
“Finished?” she asks.
