by Jacie Lennon
“Nah,” I groan, chucking the ball up again, but Brock swipes it from the air before it comes back down.
“We can’t watch you mope around in here anymore, asshole. You’ve been pathetic for the last week,” he says, pulling the covers from under me until I fall to the floor.
“What the hell?” I yell, and he smirks at me.
“Consider it your wake-up call.” He laughs and walks to the door.
I scramble to my feet as I massage my temples. I might have also been drinking a little. They glare at me from the doorway, and I stare back. Two can play at this game. I have every right to feel sorry for myself. It’s a human emotion. I don’t want them interfering with it.
“Change your clothes.”
I look down and eye the rumpled uniform I wore to class earlier. There are a few wet spots where I tried to drink while lying down and spilled liquor on myself.
“You smell like a bar.”
“Dick,” I say, no other retort in my muddled mind.
“Prick,” Bodhi says back.
I let one side of my mouth tilt up. “That rhymes,” I say.
Bodhi rolls his eyes. “You are further gone than we thought. She’s just a girl, man. You gotta let it go. There are other fish in the sea.”
“She’s the only fish I want.”
“God help us all,” he mutters.
I pin him with a glare. “You aren’t being very sympathetic. I remember how you were after Trixie,” I say.
His eyes widen. “I wasn’t that pathetic. It doesn’t matter anymore.”
“Dude, you were so—”
“Don’t say it,” Bodhi growls, and Brock shakes his head.
“I remember you singing sad songs in the shower and then toting around your dad’s expensive scotch, overturning it all over the carpet in the main hallway.”
“This isn’t about me, dipshit. This is about getting you back on your game.” Bodhi rolls his eyes, pulling a cigarette from his pocket.
“What game?” Brock retorts. “He hasn’t looked twice at a girl here besides Landry.”
“I have too,” I say to defend my prowess at being able to get women.
But the truth is, I never cared until her. I had a good time but never too good of a time. I never made promises that I couldn’t keep, and the girls here knew we weren’t serious. The three of us guys never have been, except for Bodhi and we know how that turned out. The way I feel about her is the reason she was able to take my entire heart and scramble it up, and now, I’m picking it back up instead of focusing, like I should be. I can’t remember the last time I was drunk.
“Don’t kid yourself,” Bodhi scoffs.
I unbutton my shirt while trying to kick my pants off. I get off-balance and grab on to the desk to steady myself, the room spinning.
“Might want to shower too,” Brock says, eyeing me.
I scowl at him, stalking to the bathroom after shedding my clothes.
Freshly showered and sort of sobering up, I throw on some sweatpants and a henley.
“Where are we going?” I put my phone in my pocket and look at the guys.
Bodhi is smoking at the window, and Brock is on his phone—the usual these days.
“To get you a tux for the ball tonight,” Brock says, looking up.
I stop in place, staring at him. “Really?”
“Fuck no. We wear uniforms at school. You think we are dressing up for the ball?”
“I didn’t think we were going.”
“What would everyone do without their kings?” Bodhi snorts.
I reach for my drink. My phone ringing in my pocket stops me short, and I pull it out. I frown at a number I don’t recognize before swiping to answer.
“Hello?”
“Corbin?”
The little voice on the other end makes me freeze, thankful the guys made me start sobering up.
“Abe? What’s wrong?” I can hear him sniffling, and I clench my fist. I was afraid of this. Him needing me and me not being there for him. “Abe? Talk to me,” I say calmly once he doesn’t answer.
“Can you come get me?”
“Where are you?”
“I don’t know,” he says, his voice drifting off like he’s pulling the phone away from his mouth.
I can hear sounds in the background, lots of chatter.
“Who are you with?” I ask loudly, trying to get his attention back on me.
“Grandma’s friend.”
My heart races.
“Can I talk to Grandma’s friend?”
The phone makes shuffling noises as he transfers the phone over to her.
“Corbin?” A professional tone comes across the phone, and I attempt to calm down.
“Yes. Who is this?”
“I’m Deanna Fields, the caseworker assigned to Abe. He says you are his brother?”
“Yes, I am. Caseworker?”
“Yes. I was sent after concerns were raised into the welfare of Abe.”
“Where are you? I’m coming to get him.”
“I’m sorry, Corbin, but I can’t let you do that. We have removed him from the home of your grandparents on a court order, and right now, we will have to place him with a foster family.”
“No, I need to see him. Don’t send him anywhere.”
“You can see him here while we supervise. I can text the address.”
I don’t like it, but it seems that it might be the best I’m going to get right now. Once we hang up, I stare at my phone, waiting for the text to come through with an address.
“What’s going on?” Bodhi asks.
“Child Protective Services pulled Abe from home. I’ve got to go to him.”
“Shit. You can’t drive right now,” Brock states the obvious, considering how drunk I was not even an hour ago. “We can take you.”
I nod, letting him know I heard, as my phone dings with the incoming message.
“Got the address. Let’s go.” I rush out the door, not waiting for them, but knowing they will be behind me. If there’s one thing I know for certain, it’s that Brock and Bodhi have my back.
The ride to the CPS office, where Deanna is with Abe, is tense. I don’t talk. The only sound filling the air is Bodhi’s off-key singing to the newest Post Malone song. I don’t bother to tell him to shut up. I think I like the diversion right now.
It seems to take forever, and I tap my fingers on the door, riding shotgun with Bodhi’s feet between us on the console.
Bodhi stops singing to ask, “Hey, didn’t you say that Andrea is a foster parent?”
I whip my head around. “Holy shit. Why didn’t I think of that?”
I pick my phone up, hitting Andrea’s name once I find it in my Contacts. She answers, and I ask her to meet us at the address, breathing a sigh of relief when she agrees.
“Thanks, man.” I tap Bodhi’s crossed ankles with my fist, and he leans forward to sock my shoulder.
“Anytime.”
Once we pull into the parking lot of CPS, my door is open, and my feet hit the ground before the car has even stopped. I look like a crazy person, but Abe is my top priority, and I need to see him and make sure he’s all right.
I rush through the front room, hitting the receptionist’s desk with a thud. She looks up, surprised, and I clutch the countertop.
“I’m here for Abe Henson,” I say.
She nods, picking up the phone. “One moment,” she says, dialing and then speaking to someone. “You can go through that door.” She motions to a door to her left while hitting a button.
I can hear the lock click, unlocking the door for me.
I’m met by another staff member, who directs me to where Abe is. He’s clutching a car in his hands, his knuckles white, and I envelop him in my arms, wishing I could take this away from him.
A throat clears, and I whip my head around, finally realizing that someone else is in here with him. I watch her place a folder on the table before clasping her hands and looking at us.
&nbs
p; “I assume, you are Corbin?” she starts, and I nod. “I’m Deanna. We spoke on the phone. I’m glad you could come in.”
“What’s going to happen now?” I ask, wanting the facts laid out before me.
“Now, we’ll assign Abe to a foster home, where he will stay until we get this situation figured out.”
“I have a foster—”
“We cannot approve you to keep your brother since you are both technically minors under the law,” she says, cutting me off.
“No, not me. I know a lady who is a foster parent. She’s already fostered other kids. Would it be possible to place him with her?”
“As long as she is approved and available to take him tonight, I think that can be arranged.”
I breathe a sigh of relief. The first bit of relief I’ve felt since all of this happened.
“Can you give me her information?”
I tell Deanna Andrea’s name and number, letting her know I’ve been in contact already and that she should be on her way.
Abe’s hand is tucked in mine. He’s been sitting quietly through all of this, and I glance his way.
“You okay, bud?” I ask, tugging him closer, and he nods quickly, a solemn look on his face.
“We have a child therapist who will talk to him, if needed,” Deanna informs me.
I just listen, taking everything in. This is new territory for both of us, and I want to be on top of my game.
“Can I talk to you for a moment?”
“If this is concerning the details of Abe’s case, you can’t. I’m sorry, but you aren’t authorized to know.”
I sit back with a huff, tired of being viewed as a child. I only want what’s best for my brother, but I’m shot down at every turn.
“I am all he has. I want to be there for him.”
“I know. You are a great brother to ensure he’s taken care of. Once Andrea arrives, I will talk to her, and we can make sure she’s properly vetted. Then, I will make the arrangements. I have to know that what we do is what’s best for the child, not for you.”
I nod in understanding since she is only doing her job. I squeeze Abe’s hand as Deanna walks out of the room, closing the door behind her. I glance down at my phone, which is buzzing with an incoming message from Brock, and swipe to read it.
Brock: Left to take care of it.
I furrow my brow, not comprehending what it means. Then, it clicks. They are going to shake down my grandparents, and I can’t say I’m mad about it. They have my back and know how I feel about the way Abe and I have been treated. I’m glad that’s one less thing I have to contend with. I don’t want to see my grandparents ever again. I’m not leaving Abe right now, so I’m glad Brock and Bodhi have it under control.
“Hey, little man. How are you doing?” I lean down, catching Abe’s eyes.
“Am I going home with you?”
“Not right now. I’m sorry. I wish I could take you, but I live at school, and they wouldn’t allow that. I have someone coming though. She’s nice.”
“Who is it?” His lip trembles.
I war with myself over telling him who Andrea is.
What if they vet her and she doesn’t check out, and then we are back to him being placed in a stranger’s home? Would I even be able to visit him?
Fuck it. The kid deserves to feel safe.
“Her name is Andrea, and she is a friend of mine.”
Abe sniffles, rubbing a hand under his nose, car still clutched in his fist.
“Is this your favorite car?” I reach out, touching the metal vehicle.
“It was Dad’s car,” Abe says, solemnly looking at it.
My heart breaks even further.
What does he have? Who does he have? I steel my resolve to do everything I can to make a good life for him. I will make a good life for him.
I lean and hug him, pulling him to my chest as I heave a huge breath, calming the emotions raging inside me right now. I hate so many people at the moment, but I can’t act on that, for Abe’s sake.
I have to be strong. For him. For us. For our future.
31
Corbin
An hour later, the door opens, and Deanna walks in. I stand when Andrea steps in behind her, a worried look on her face as she glances between me and Abe.
“Looks like everything is in order,” Deanna says, bending in front of Abe and smiling. “Hey, Abe. My friend Andrea is here.”
“That’s my brother’s friend,” he says, eyeing the lady standing right inside the door.
“So it is. She’s here because you are going to stay with her for a little bit.”
“Will I be able to bring my cars?” he addresses Andrea this time, who moves forward.
“You can bring whatever you want,” she says, smiling.
Abe finally smiles and then looks down at the car he has in his hands.
“Okay,” he says with a nod, jumping down from the chair he was sitting in. “I’m hungry. Can we get some food?”
He looks up at me, and I smile.
“I’ll buy you anything you want,” I tell him, and he grabs my hand again.
After grabbing Burger Shack and then arriving at Andrea’s house, I set Abe down at the table with his food while Andrea turns on the TV for him to watch.
“I’m glad you called me,” Andrea says, coming to stand beside me as we both watch Abe inhale his burger and fries.
“Did Deanna tell you the details of his case? She wouldn’t tell me.”
Andrea pauses a moment, her eyes slowly sliding to mine as I look at her.
“They’ve been checking in on him for a while. There was an investigation that led to him being taken from his home. But all she would tell me is, he might flinch around adults, and his behavior during mealtimes could be odd, which leads me to believe he’s possibly been abused or not fed properly.”
I fight the urge to cry. Right now, I’m so angry with my grandparents, who don’t even deserve to be called that. With our dad and my stepmom, who left us. With myself for missing the signs.
“Thank you for taking him. I can’t tell you how much it means to me. I couldn’t have him go to a stranger’s home.”
“Don’t thank me, Corbin. I would do this a hundred times over.”
She reaches out and squeezes my arm, and I stare at where her hand is on me. Then, I cover it with my own, clenching it for a moment before letting go. A soft smile lights up her face.
“I’m here for you,” she tells me.
I nod, focusing my attention on Abe again. “Just be there for Abe. That would make me happy.” I glance down at my phone, seeing a missed call from Brock.
Shit. They are my ride back to school.
What if they left without me?
“You okay?” Andrea asks.
I look up at her. “Yeah, just need to find a way back to school.”
“You can take one of my cars,” she says.
Even though I’m standing in her huge-ass house, it didn’t dawn on me to ask her. I finally stop to look around and take in my surroundings, thinking of the way she lives and the way my life has changed in such a short time.
“Or you can stay here for the night. I have plenty of room.”
I look at Abe again, wanting so much to do that. But I know what else I have to do.
“I have something at school to see to,” I say. “I’ll go once Abe is asleep.”
Andrea looks at me, her eyes searching my face before smiling. “Does it involve a girl?”
I rake a hand down my face and then move it to the back of my neck, squeezing as I avoid her gaze.
“Don’t worry; your secret is safe with me. Are you hungry, thirsty?” She moves around the island, pulling waters from the fridge and handing me one.
I open it, taking a drink and then wiping my mouth. It’s dark outside now. The time for the ball to start is fast approaching, and I’ve decided that I’m going to go. I’m going to make up with Landry because life is too short to avoid her and let her stay m
ad at me. We belong together, and I want her. I need her, and she’s going to be mine.
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Peter.
I forgot to let her know that he isn’t going to take her. I pull my phone from my pocket, hitting her name to call, and walk a few steps away. It goes to voice mail after two rings, and I grunt in frustration. I hit Call again, but the same thing happens. I pull up my messages and type in her name.
Me: Peter isn’t going to show.
I wait a few minutes, but the three little scrolling dots never pop up. It never says Read, so I send another.
Me: Landry, I’m serious. It was a prank he pulled in the beginning. Peter is a douche.
I hit Send and hope for the best. I hope she will respond. I hope she will listen. But now, I have to show up to make sure she isn’t left sitting alone while the rest of the class laughs at her. Which is most likely what’s going to happen.
“Do you want to talk about it?” Andrea asks, coming back around the counter.
“Uh … nah. I messed up with someone, but I’m going to fix it,” I say, putting my phone in my pocket. “But I think I will take you up on the offer to drive one of your cars. I’ll bring it back in the morning.”
“Keep it as long as you want,” she says, smiling as we watch Abe drive his car over the table beside his empty burger wrapper. “Listen, Corbin, I’ve been wanting to talk to you.”
“About?” I lean my forearms on the counter and turn my head her way.
She pulls out a barstool, sitting down before answering, “I want to be there for you and Abe. I want you to be able to rely on me. I know that I’m not your mother in the familiar sense of the word, only biologically. But I want to try and be a mother figure to you. I’ve missed you your entire life even if I didn’t know you existed. But now that I have you back, I’m not sure I can let you go.”
She reaches up to run a finger under one eye, sniffling discreetly, and I stand up, back straight as I take her in. It’s basically what she said to me the night we met.
My life is one big disappointment most of the time, and I normally have trouble letting people in. But my entire experience with Landry has been changing that. I’m not as closed off as I once was, and now that I have a shot at having a mother in my life, I don’t want to lose it.
