Page 57 of Can’t Say No

Wells steps forward, and the woman in the white coat offers him her hand. “I’m Dr. Hughes. I’ve got your mom mostly coherent and somewhat calm. From what I gather, that’s pretty much her baseline?”

“Yes, ma’am. Sorry to waste your time. I can usually handle it on my own, but she was–”

The doctor holds her hand up. “She was sick and needed care. Simple as that. And that’s what we’re here for. I’d like to keep her for a few more hours on IV fluids. Is there someone who can pick her up around noon?”

“Yeah, of course. I’ll come back for her.”

Dr. Hughes gives a quick nod then heads back through the double doors.

Wells and I wordlessly make our way to his truck, chasing the sunrise back to his mom’s trailer. It’s not until I start to climb out of his passenger seat that Wells speaks.

“She’s a wreck, but she’s my mom, you know?” His hands tighten around the steering wheel, as he stares at the impeccable lawn in front of her trailer. “I come out here a lot. Probably too much. Keep the grass mowed, the lights on.” He says, voice hardly above a whisper. “She’s my mom.”

“You’re a good son, Wells.”

He gives me a tired smile, worn all the way down to the bone. “And you’re a good friend. Thanks for helping me out.”

I’m nearly to my car when he calls after me.

“Talk to Delaney before you take your pants off again!”

I take a sip of my half-burnt faculty lounge coffee and pray to feel its effects quickly.

It’s been three days since I went with Wells to the ER and I can’t seem to catch up on the lost sleep. On top of that, I had to let go of three of my seasonal orchard guys because revenue’s been too low, and the guilt has been eating me alive ever since.

As Mrs. Rutledge starts in on her morning spiel, Mrs. Crane catches my eye from across the room and gives me a wink so exaggerated that I nearly spray my coffee right back out.

Caroline catches the exchange and questions. “What was that for?”

Delaney giggles at my other side. “She caught us skinny-dipping the other day. Apparently Crescent Lake is on her property.”

Caroline eyes me in disbelief. “This rule follower? Delaney… who is this imposter, and what did you do with my straight-laced friend Connor Majors?”

Delaney leans into my side and every nerve in my body lights on fire with the contact. The longer she’s in Ridgecrest, the more she looks like the girl I fell in love with. That familiarity does something dangerous to my heart. Makes me believe in a future that I have no business believing in.

“What can I say, I bring out the best in him,” she laughs again. “Or maybe it's the worst. Hard to say.” She continues on. “I had a bit of a reputation back in the day for raising some hell, and poor Connor got drug through the fire. I probably owe him more than a few apologies.”

“Mmm,” Caroline’s eyes sparkle, full of mischief and knowing, “I have a feeling he didn’t mind one bit.”

Damn right I didn’t mind.

I loved being Delaney’s first call, her alibi, her getaway car.

The summer before she left, she got drunk at a bonfire one county over and called me in the middle of the night to come get her. I didn’t even have my license yet, but that didn’t stop me from sneaking out with my dad’s truck to get her. After I got her home, and held her hair when she inevitably got sick, I tucked her in bed and she slurred, “I sure do love you, Connor.”

I’ve replayed those drunken words too many times to count.

“Y’all know me, always happy to help.”

Caroline nods again, clearly smelling the load of bullshit and sensing the depth of my devotion to Delaney, but she keeps her mouth shut.

Rutledge drones on until the first bell of the day finally cuts her off, and we all filter out down the hall to greet our students.

I’m halfway to my classroom when Delaney shouts after me.

“Hey, Majors!”

I turn to meet her.