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I think for a second. “We’ve only been official for like a day,” I laugh, and Amelia shakes her head. “But I can take one when I see him next. We’re both so busy.”
Mom pauses for a second and then says, “Well, don’t get distracted. I don’t want you to lose your scholarship.”
I scoff. “Never. He knows how important my education is. He has to stay focused too. He’s trying to get into the NHL.”
“NHL?”
I pause and then whisper to Amelia. “What’s NHL stand for?”
She gives me the most incredulous look I’ve ever seen. “National Hockey League.”
“Oh yeah. Mom, it’s the National Hockey League.”
I’m pretty sure my best friend just called me a dumbass, but Mom says, “Oh! That’s good.” She lets out a long sigh. “Okay, well, I have something to tell you.”
I swallow hard. “Okay?”
“I had to quit the hotel.”
As happy as that makes me, I know something had to have happened for her to leave. “All right, why?”
“They say I’m too slow. And lately, I have been.”
“Are you okay?”
“I am. I’m fine,” she insists. “But I am having to use my walker more than not.”
My heart stutters to a stop. “Do you need me to come home—”
“Absolutely not,” she demands, and I tense with worry. “I am thinking about moving in with Tia. You know, Michele just moved out, and she has that extra room.”
I tremble. It’s worse than she’s letting on. “Well, if you think that’s best.”
“I do. Michele and Rosco said they’ll put all our stuff in storage for me since I won’t need it.”
“I can try to come home and help.”
“No, my bella. You stay there, you live your dreams. You don’t want to leave that boyfriend of yours. I promise, I’m fine.”
I feel like I’m going to bite a hole through my lip. I want to stress how much she means to me, but I know she knows already. I hope like hell she isn’t lying to me. “Okay.”
“I do love you so, my bella.”
My heart clenches in my chest. “I love you, Mom.”
When we hang up, Amelia sits up and looks at me. “Is she okay?”
I explain about the job, and she looks as worried as I do. “But she’s okay?”
I shrug. “She says so. I think her MS is flaring up more, and she is moving in with my aunt. It makes me nervous about how bad it could be.”
She grips my hand. “I’m sorry.”
I squeeze her hand back. “Thanks.”
She gives me a smacking kiss and then leans her head on the pillow, though she doesn’t let go of my hand. Looking down at my phone, I see Ryan has texted me once more.
Ryan: I feel in my soul that I live with pigs.
Even drowning in worry, I can’t stop the grin. Hitting his name, I call him.
“Hey, I like this a lot better.”
“I just got off the phone with my mom. I needed to hear your voice.”
“Is she okay?”
I retell him what I told Amelia, and he listens intently.
“But she is okay, right? Like, we don’t need to go out there?”
My heart skips a beat. “We?”
“Yeah, if you think I’m letting you go by yourself, you’re crazy. I want to be there for you. For her.”
Oh, heart. We’re so fucked.
“I think she’s good, but I’ll keep an eye on it.”
“Okay, well, let me know.”
