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Matty is on the floor, convulsing. He must’ve seen my bruises.
“Matty!” Defying the dozens of pulses that push at the swelling, I cuddle him, pressing him against my body to let him know I’m here. I thought these days were over. But now I realize how fragile my baby brother still is.
Clay soon joins me. “Oh, God! Matty…”
“Why did you let him come to my room?”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”
Matty’s sobs, along with my own exploding head, are attacking me from inside and outside. I’m overwhelmed, yet the man I’m used to relying on has let me down. “Geez, Clay! Can’t I even trust you?”
“I said I’m sorry.”
“Go home, Clay. Leave us alone.”
“Rob?”
I shake my head.
Clay’s lips flatten. “I’m calling Amber-Rose.”
The hell? “No!” I snap.
“I am.”
“Clay!” I get up with Matty still in my arms, resting on my right shoulder. I free one arm, snatch Clay’s cell, and throw it to the floor.
We stare at each other like two bulls about to charge.
Matty pulls himself away from my shoulder, twists to face me, and says, “Rob, I don’t want you to die.”
I abandon Clay and look Matty in the eye. “Matty, I’m not going to die.”
He sobs. “I saw it! You were all blue!”
“They’re just bruises,” I tell him. “I’m not going to die. I’ll be okay.”
But Matty starts crying. By this time I can’t even open my eyes. The room spins, and I feel hammers pummeling at my head, one after the other.
I hear Clay saying, “Come on, Matty, let Rob rest, okay?”
“No! I want to stay with Rob,” Matty insists.
“It’s okay.” I say, clutching my head. “Let him stay.”
“You need to stop pampering him.”
“Not now, Clay.”
“I’m calling Amber-Rose,” he repeats
While my eyes are shut from grimacing through the pain, my mouth opens in rage. “Goddammit! Didn’t I say no?”
Both Clay and Matty look at me. I can hear my own voice thundering across the hallway.
I exhale a long sigh. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to shout.”
Matty hugs me, and then Clay spreads his impressive wingspan and engulfs us both in his embrace.
