Page 46 of Crossed Lines

“Hey, Wills,” Sawyer says. “Feeling better?”

“Much better. Thank you.” I wonder what time Sawyer got home. It’s much earlier than he would normally get home. I immediately start to panic and wonder if he came home when Beck was in my bed. But after a closer look, neither of them looks upset, so I can only assume that’s not the case. If Sawyer had walked in on us in a compromising position, they would not be sitting here smiling right now.

“What are you making?” I ask Beck before I sit down at the table.

“My mom’s chicken noodle soup. I thought you might want some.”

Beck is making me soup in Sawyer’s kitchen? This is way too crazy for me to think about right now.

“Thank you. It smells amazing.” Then I turn to Sawyer. “What are you doing home?”

“Came home to make sure you were ok. Beck told me he was going to come check on you, so I went to work this morning and took off when I could. He insisted on making you soup.”

I look toward Beck, but he keeps his focus on the pot in front of him. “That’s sweet of you both, but I think I just needed to sleep it off.”

“Well, I’m definitely marking that restaurant off my list. I will not be going there again,” Sawyer says.

“Yeah, me neither.”

Beck grabs a bowl from the cabinet and puts some soup in it before grabbing a cold Gatorade from the fridge and bringing them both to me. “I’ll believe you’re better once I know you can keep this down.”

I chuckle. “Yes, Dad. Sawyer’s bad enough. Now I’ve got both of you being all overprotective.” He slightly pushes my shoulder. He’s trying to be playful, but I can tell he did it softly, as if I might break if he touches me too hard.

“Shut up,” Beck says quietly.

“Excuse us for wanting to keep you alive, Wills,” Sawyer says with an eye roll.

“I’m not gonna die from food poisoning.”

He shrugs. “You never know.”

I shake my head and pick up my spoon. The soup looks and smells amazing. I can’t help but think how lucky Jade is to have a dad like Beck. Homemade chicken noodle soup, cold Gatorade, and lots of rest and attention. Sawyer tried his best when I got sick when I was younger, but it was usually canned soup and a bottle of Sprite. I can’t complain, though. I’m still alive, so it must’ve worked.

Beck serves himself some soup and gets some for Jade before he calls her to the table. She sits down between Sawyer and me.

“Hey, kiddo. Sorry your day was ruined by sitting around here all day,” I tell her.

“It wasn’t ruined! I had so much fun.”

“Oh, well, ok then. Never mind,” I say with a laugh. Of course she would make today a good day.

“I don’t like that you were sick because you didn’t get to play with me, but I still had fun, and Daddy let me watch movies all day, which never happens.”

“Ah, yes. Makes sense. That does sound like a good day,” I say.

After we eat our early dinner or maybe late lunch, whatever we’re calling it, Sawyer clears the table while Beck packs away the rest of the soup. Once they’re done, Beck says, “Well, we’re going to take off. I think I’m gonna take Jade on a sunset ride.”

I stick out my lower lip in a pout. “I’m jealous. I want to do that.”

He smiles. “Once you’re better, I’ll take you both out.” His hand seems to inadvertently touch the side of my face before he moves to tuck a strand of hair behind my ear. My eyes go wide. It’s an innocent touch, one I’m sure most people wouldn’t think twice about, but it feels like so much more with him. And especially in front of my brother.

He quickly drops his hand and then looks over at Sawyer, who is luckily not paying any attention to us.

He mouths, “Sorry,” before walking away.

He grabs Jade’s things. I still can’t believe they spent most of their day here just making sure I was ok. I certainly didn’t expect it, but it still makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside, which doesn’t help with our friends only relationship.

“I’ll see you guys tomorrow,” I tell them both.