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A nurse wheeled Colleen into the waiting room. “Someone’s ready to go home,” the nurse said.
“And guess who it is? I’ll give you a hint. It’s me,” Colleen said, pulling a face.
“How do you feel?” Mrs. O’Rourke asked.
“Fine.”
“I’ll stay with you tonight,” Mrs. O’Rourke announced. Lucas tried not to smile as Colleen flinched.
She looked at him. “Um...Lucas can take me home,” she said, and something moved in his chest.
“I’lltake you home,” Connor said.
“Lucas will take me home, bossy-pants. Right, Lucas?”
“Right.”
“The doctor said you need someone to stay with you tonight,” Connor stated.
“Nah.”
“Connor, she wantshimto stay with her,” Mrs. O’Rourke said. “So they can make amends.”
“I’ll stay with you,” Connor said.
“No one’s staying with me,” Colleen repeated.
“I’m staying with you,” Lucas said.
“Fine! Lucas is staying with me,” she snapped. “For an hour. Now can I please get going? I want to take a shower.”
* * *
HEDROVEHERto her house and followed her up the stairs to the second floor. There was a note taped to the door.
We walked Rufus. Sorry about the puking. Call me when you get home. xoxox Faith
Added in different handwriting wasNext time, use your glove. Levi.
Colleen smiled as she read it.
“You have nice friends,” he said.
“I certainly do.” She unlocked the door and went in, and he followed. A deer walked into the kitchen. Check that. It was her giant dog, who bayed a few times, then aimed straight for his crotch. Lucas wrestled the beast’s head away, which resulted in the dog collapsing as if shot and rolling over on his back.
“Impressive,” Lucas murmured. “You should probably get him neutered.”
“He is neutered. Okay, I’m gonna take a shower.”
“Call me if you need me.”
She rolled her eyes, winced and left the room.
Lucas took a look around. The apartment had high ceilings and tall, narrow windows. The kitchen walls were painted warm yellow, the chairs were red and blue, and it was cheerfully cluttered, pictures on the fridge, a bowl of peaches on the counter, a few catalogs, the dog’s tartan-plaid leash. The living room had a fireplace filled with white birch logs and a nice view of the street. Her furniture was cheerful: a polka-dotted chair and a soft-looking red couch, a coffee table with a small bookshelf underneath.
Family photos, mostly of her and Connor and Savannah, were everywhere. Here was one of her and her cousins, a whole bunch of them. Colleen at age twelve or so on a sailboat. One of Rufus and Savannah, lying on the floor, the girl using the dog as a giant pillow, reading a book. A bride—Faith—hugging her, both of them laughing.
That thing moved again in his chest.
