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Abby releases a heavy sigh. “It’s also where they take people with no insurance. He’s a foster kid, Rachel, and a line item on the government’s budget. That is where they’d take him. Not the fancy-ass hospital with the flat-screen televisions. ”
Like Isaiah taught me, my foot hovers over the gas while my other presses on the clutch. My fingers grasp the gearshift. A solid wall with no windows, a practical fortress, University Hospital looms over us two blocks ahead. I watch the cross light turn yellow, and my eyes flick to my light, waiting for the green.
In one instantaneous movement, I lay off the clutch, step on the gas and shift into gear the second the light flips. Next to me, Abby curses.
* * *
Abby and I run past the sliding glass doors of the hospital and hesitate. The bland waiting room with beige-painted cinder block walls is cramped with people. Wet coughing hacks, crying babies and the sound of someone vomiting makes me turn my head. In the corner, wearing too many layers of clothes that haven’t been washed, a man hunches over and talks to himself.
Abby nudges my elbow. “Over there. ”
My heart soars out of my body when I spot Isaiah. He’s hugging his roommate, Noah. Strong arms wrapped around each other in a brief embrace. They separate, and I cover my mouth when I see the wound on his head, the bruises forming on his face, the blood dried on his clothing.
Stepping forward out of the shadows and touching Isaiah’s arm is one of my many nightmares: Beth. She smiles up at him, and when he smiles back my heart shatters.
Chapter 63
Isaiah
WITH NO CLUE ABOUT LOGAN’S condition, I walk into the waiting room. Hearing that Noah was on his way, Shirley and Dale left, but told me I could crash in their basement if I needed. After all, the state still pays them for me.
I see red hair and curls first. Echo chokes me. It’s nice to have a sister. “Are you okay?”
“I’m good. ” I glance at Noah from over her head. With his hair hiding his eyes and hands on his hips, I can’t read my best friend. “How’s Noah?” I mutter.
“Scared,” she whispers. “Mad. ”
I nod at Noah. “S’up, man. ” He embraces me—a strong crush of arms and muscles. We hold it for a second, keep it tight and then let go. The two of us are brothers.
“Give me a reason why I shouldn’t kick your ass,” says Noah. “What were you thinking?”
“Damn, Noah,” says Beth from behind me. “He already has stitches. ”
Beth and I used to gang up against Noah all the time. She’s right about us. We were friends first. Always friends. Not understanding a relationship that close, it got muddled.
She flashes a genuine smile and I smile back. Yeah, Beth and I, we can do friends. A few feet behind her and hanging with what I assume is Logan’s entire baseball team, Beth’s guy, Ryan, watches us with his arms folded over his chest. I tip my chin at him to let him know I’m good, and he tilts his head in acceptance. That’ll probably be the longest conversation the two of us ever have.
Noah leans into us so that we form our own circle. “Do you know what he’s been doing?”
Beth shrugs. “He’s always liked to drive fast. Stupidity caught up. ”
“Stupidity did catch up, but not in that way. ” Noah’s dark eyes snap to mine and he rolls his shoulders back. He’s looking for a fight and my body reacts. My head continues to throb like a bad bass line, but if Noah wants to have it out, we will.
“Say what you gotta say, Noah. ”
“Whoa. ” Beth places an arm between us. “He just got out of the hospital. This is the first time I’ve been with the two of you in months. You are not ruining this for me by fighting. ”
Noah and I stand toe to toe and neither one of us flinch. “Do you want to tell her, Isaiah?”
“Naw, man. It sounds like you’ve got all the answers. ”
Keeping his eyes locked on me, Noah drops the bomb. “He owes money to Eric. ”
The silence between the three of us builds pressure in my neck.
“How much,” asks Beth in a low tone.
“Enough,” I answer. Too much.
