“You’re not bothering me. Okay?”
I nodded slowly, refusing to argue with him. “I still don’t want to call her, though. I mean, if she gets in touch with you, don’t lie to her. But I’m just…”
Michael rubbed my back. “I know. I know.”
I nodded as I took another sip of my water before Michael spoke again.
“What about your mother?”
I snickered. “You mean the woman who’s probably already made up with D.J. and is with him right now?”
He paused. “Wait, I thought they broke up for good.”
“All I know is that Mom’s still got money to pay bills even though she hadn’t secured a new job yet. And the only place I know of where that money can come from is him.”
“Shit. I’m so sorry, Rae.”
I shrugged. “It’s her life. Not mine. If that’s how she wants to live it, then so be it. If anything, the fact that she hasn’t called and asked me why I’m not home yet tells me all I need to know. She’s making up with D.J., making plans with him, and doesn’t have enough sense to realize I’m not home yet.”
“I guess you and Clint do have some lifestyle similarities, then.”
That statement said a lot, coming from Michael. Because I knew him well enough to know that was the first step in Clint being accepted into the fold. I mindlessly sipped on the water, refusing to break for the restroom just in case something with Clint popped up. I kept shifting us down, seat by seat, until we were stationed right beside the nurse’s unit. This way, I could eavesdrop. Pick up bits and pieces of Clint’s condition, hopefully.
Because apparently, being the girlfriend and the one to help him out in his most dire time wasn’t enough merit to earn information on his condition.
Michael shifted. “When do you think his parents will show up?”
I shrugged. “Part of me isn’t expecting them to show up at all.”
“Seriously?”
“Seriously. His father’s a damn nutcase. And his stepmother doesn’t ever step in on anything until it’s getting too violent. It’s insane, what he puts up with.”
“No wonder he’s angry all the time.”
I nodded. “You’re telling me.”
“Where’s my son?”
The booming voice forced me to whip my head around. I looked at the emergency room doors, watching Clint’s father barge straight through them. Cecilia was behind him, her hair fluttering down her back and her pristine heels clicking across the floor. Clint’s father gripped her hand tightly, tugging her along as he bellowed for information.
“Clinton Clarke is here, and I want to know what the fuck is happening with my son!”
And as nurses rushed him, waiting on him hand and foot as they shoved information down his throat, I saw tears in Cecilia’s eyes.
Tears I hoped were for Clint.
4
Clinton
“Clint!”
“Rae?”
I turned around, taking in the bright blue color that surrounded us. I saw Rae in the most gorgeous dress. One that fell off her shoulders and fluttered just above her knees. She ran for me with the biggest smile on her face, and I held my arms out for her. She lunged at me, wrapping her entire body around me. And as her warmth encompassed me, I spun her around.
Around, and around, until we fell into the soft blue grass below us.