Page 135 of One Night

"Hey." He stops me in the hall, his hand on my arm. "You said this is what you wanted. I'm giving you time. Space."

"I know." I chew on my lip, tears stinging my eyes.

He lowers his voice. "This doesn't mean I don't love you. I'm just trying to give you what you asked for."

I nod, tears threatening to fall.

He turns back, like he's checking something, then grabs my hand and leads me to a door. He opens it and I see it's a supply closet. It's not the same one we were in before but it looks the same, with mops and brooms and bottles of cleaning solution.

"What are we doing here?"

He brings me into his arms and gives me a hug, which is exactly what I need right now. I relax into his arms and chest and take a moment to breathe.

"I'm sorry," I say. "I'm sorry I'm being this way. I don't know what's wrong with me. I honestly don't. I keep telling myself to stop feeling this way but then I can't."

"It's okay. I understand. It's tough seeing your parents split up. I've seen a lot of my friends go through it and it's never easy. Van's parents broke up a few years ago and he's still having a tough time with it. I think that's why he can't stay in a relationship. He says it's because he likes playing the field but I think it's really because he's afraid of relationships in general."

I pull back to look at him. "I didn't know Van's parents were divorced. How long ago?"

"When he was a senior in high school, so about four years? He was supposed to go away for college but he stayed here because his younger sisters couldn't handle the divorce. They were a mess. They went to counseling but Van didn't think that was enough. So he stayed here to help them get through it. That's how we ended up going to college together."

"He's a good big brother."

Dylan lets me go and steps back. "I know you're going through a really hard time right now but just remember that I'm more than your boyfriend. I'm also your friend. So if you need to talk or just need someone to listen, I'm here for you."

A tear slips down my cheek and I hug him. "I love you. And I promise you I'm trying to get past this. I really am."

"I know you are." He kisses my forehead.

The door swings open and we turn and see Mary standing there.

She gasps, pointing at us. "I knew you two had something going on! Don't think I'm not going to report this! It violates hospital rules."

Dylan and I let go of each other and Dylan calmly says to Mary, "I was just giving Amber a hug. She's going through a rough time right now and she's not feeling good."

"And what exactly is the problem?" Mary asks in a skeptic tone.

"I just found out my parents are getting a divorce," I say.

"Oh." Mary glances to the side and clears her throat. "I suppose that would be upsetting."

"My dad filed the papers this week and now my mom is really upset and it's just been hard. On my whole family."

Mary looks back at me. "I'm sorry to hear that." She straightens up. "Well, I'll leave you two be." And then she walks out.

"That was close," I say.

"We weren't doing anything."

"But she thought we were."

"And now she thinks we're not. I get the feeling she'll leave us alone from here on out. I think she actually felt bad just now."

"It felt weird to say it."

"To say your parents are divorcing?"

"Yeah. That's the first time I've said it to someone who isn't a close friend. For some reason, it made it more real. Like it's really happening. Does that make sense?"

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