To always have my back. To always catch me when I fall.
Just as I’ll have his. Just as I’ll catch him.
And if we fall together, then so be it. Our strength goes beyond just the two of us. That’s what family’s for. That’s what we have thorns for. Tethering us even when things get ugly.
“We’re gonna be okay,” I promise him, smiling into his hair.
Fingers dig into my back, clutching onto me. “Still beating?” Will rasps, just loud enough for me to hear.
I blow out a breath, tip my head back toward the Heavens, and squint into the downpour of water just like I did earlier in the rain.
“Yeah,” I tell him strongly. “Still beating.”
AtfirstI’mnotsure what woke me.
I blink heavily against the sleep still clinging to my awareness, momentarily confused when the room around me sharpens into focus.
It’s dark, so it must still be nighttime, but the cracked open door sheds just enough light in the room for me to make out my surroundings.
That’s not my ceiling.
“Shit, sorry,” a voice whispers, barely audible over the steady hum of the fan coming from the unit under the window. Footsteps sound over the floor, muffled against the carpet. I think I hear something like paper rustling.
Frowning, I pinch the corners of my eyes, and roll my head to the side to take in the hooded, hunched figure creeping across the room.
The hell?
I’m on my back, which isn’t how I usually sleep, telling me just how fucking exhausted I am. A warm, heavy weight is plastered against my right side. An inked arm is thrown over my chest. Soft puffs of air blow on my bare chest where Waylon’s face is smushed against my pec.
“We brought food back with us. Wasn’t sure if you’d still be awake, but…” The voice I now recognize as Mason’s trails off as the guy passed out on top of me grumbles something in his sleep. “I’ll just leave the bag here.”
My mouth crooks up and I nod. “Thanks.”
A beat passes, like he’s hesitating. Just when I’m sure he’s gonna forget it and leave, he speaks.
“I know you’re worried,” he whispers in a rush. “I know it’s hard. But we’ve got him, okay? We won’t let anything happen. He had a bad day. We all do. But we get through them.”
My throat tightens with emotion as I remember what happened outside the hotel.
“This wasn’t part of the plan,”Waylon had said, and all I can think now is,no shit.Our reunion should’ve been a happy one. Not… that.
But I try not to think about that right now. I’m too fucking tired. And even though I haven’t eaten in over twenty-four hours, I can’t find it in me to even care right now.
“I know,” I say quietly.
“Do you?”
My mouth parts but closes at that.Do I?
Another long moment passes, before he says more gently, “It’ll get easier. With time. It took Phoebe months before she could look at me without breaking down in sobs after I ODed.” He pauses. “Taking even longer for Jer to forgive me for last year.”
I still at that, blinking hard into the thin darkness.
Does he know I know?
I doubt that. As far as I’m aware, they’re still not talking. Not while Jeremy’s abroad for school. He wanted space to get over Mason, and Mason’s giving it to him.
“He’ll come around,” I finally manage to say.