AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Why not?!” she exclaims.
The fucking football is the first thing I see and it sets off an eruption. Swiveling to face her, I warn, “Don’t push it, Olivia. I don’t want to do it, so leave it alone.”
“No!” Her arms fling around in the air. “This could be good for you! You need to at least try. Why wouldn’t you want to have a friend?”
Shaking my head at her, I turn to walk away. “Go home and fight with me tomorrow, Olivia. I’m too tired for this shit,” I reply over my shoulder. This is what we fight about. My issues. All the freaking time and for once, I wish she would let it go when I ask her. I’m barely walking on solid ground again and she wants me to jump head-first into a friendship I abandoned with a football player. It’s too soon. Maybe in a few months I would be able to handle it, but I’m not that strong anymore, especially not right now.
“You’re such an ass!” she yells, but seconds later, I hear my door slam shut. I’m an ass, but she needs to learn when to stop pushing too. What’s the point of being open and honest with her if she’s not going to trust when I say not to push it?
I change and fall into bed, plugging my phone in and quickly falling asleep.
THE BLARING RINGTONE I assigned to Patrick wakes me up. My stomach drops as I grab it and swipe to answer. He shouldn’t be calling me at two AM.
“What’s wrong?” I answer.
“Luce is on the way to the hospital.” My heart stills and all the air leaves my lungs. “I think it’s her appendix, but won’t know until we get there.”
“Which hospital?” He tells me where she’s headed and I add, “I’m on my way.”
Lucy is a big baby when it comes to doctors. I need to be there for her. I toss my phone on the nightstand and quickly dress. It takes me a moment to find my keys, which irritates me, but as soon as I find them, I’m out the door and on my way to my sister.
About halfway there, I realize I forgot my phone. Shit. Hopefully Patrick has Olivia’s number so I can let her know what’s going on because I don’t have it memorized. Hell, I couldn’t even guess. This is what happens when our phones do it for us. By the time I arrive, Patrick, Jon, and Grant are all in the waiting room, lifting their heads when I walk in.
“She’s getting some tests run,” Patrick answers before I can ask.
I nod, taking the empty seat next to Grant. “Hey, Patrick. Do you have Olivia’s number? I forgot my cell.”
He shakes his head. “Only heard from her off your phone.”
Damn it. It seems like we wait forever. When a doctor enters and begins to walk our way, we all stand. He confirms it’s her appendix giving her trouble and that they’re going to do surgery in the morning. Then, he leads us to her room.
Grant is the first one to make it to her side. He rushes over to her, taking her hand and kissing her forehead. “Doing okay?”
“I hate this place,” she mumbles. She looks paler than usual and a bit distraught. My brothers and I line up on the other side of her with me the closest. “Hey, Corey. Sorry to interrupt your night.”
“Nothing a nap later won’t fix. I’ll stay until it’s over, Luce.”
“Thanks.” She glances at each of us. “Are you all going to stay here with me tonight? There’s three chairs in here and I can scoot over f
or Grant. I shouldn’t ask, but…” Her voice trails off. I don’t know why she hates anything doctor-related, but she does.
“Grant can sleep in his truck,” Jon comments with a shake of his head at the idea of having to sleep in the same room as our sister while she’s in bed with her boyfriend.
“Leave her alone.” I shoot him a glare. She can have whatever the hell she wants. “If you want us to stay, we’ll stay, Luce.”
She grabs my hand and squeezes it in appreciation. Patrick and Jon leave to ask for blankets and pillows. “You look better than the last time I saw you, Corey. I hope this doesn’t mess up our plans next weekend or spring break.” She gives Grant a worried glance with those last two words.
“I’m sure you’ll be all better by then,” he reassures her before she turns her attention back on me.
“Do you like your new job? How’s Olivia?” These are the questions I usually avoid when I talk to her on the phone. I make it more about her with a few good normal updates from me.
“I like it and she’s good.”
“Is she coming down with you? You should ask her.”
I’ve thought about asking her, but I’m not sure. Maybe I will and that can be our official date that she wants so much. She did say something about going home too, so I’m not sure if she’ll come. “I will. You need to get some rest,” I finish as Patrick and Jon return.
Despite last night, I think I do want to ask her out. Am I ready for that? We fight quite a bit, which we’re usually both responsible for. Sometimes, it’s mostly me. Maybe I need to sleep on it some more.
