Page 49 of Someone You Deserve

He hangs his head. “Yeah, I know.”

I pat him on the shoulder reassuringly. “Just keep at it.” I step outside, close the door behind me, and answer the call before it goes to voicemail again.

“I have him, Astrid.” I say into the phone reassuringly, watching through the window as Bentley gears up to take another swing at the wall.

“Oh, thank God!” I can hear her exhale in relief. “I started freaking out when I saw how many voicemails I had from the school and you.”

“I bet. Why weren’t you answering your phone? They couldn’t reach your mom either.”

“My phone died and I meant to plug it into the charger, but then I got distracted and forgot. And my mom was in a movie with one of her friends, so her phone was on silent.”

“Well, they went down the list and called me. I was at a job site, but I rushed over and picked him up.”

“What the hell happened? Ms. Bell said he was in a fight?” I hear something metal hit the ground in the background. “Ugh! Stupid bowl!”

“Calm down, Astrid. He’s okay.” If I were there right now, I’d shove a Ferrero Rocher in her mouth.

“I cannot calm down, Penn! My son was in a fight, neither my mom nor I were there for him, and I have a date tonight for the first time in over four years. I am anything but calm!”

Fuck. So she really is going out with Dick tonight.

My concern quickly morphs into frustration. “I don’t know what the fight was about yet, okay?” I say, trying to keep the focus on what’s important here, not how worried I am that I’m too late to stop this thing between her and Dick.

Now’s not the time to discussus, but shit. The timing fucking sucks, as always.

“Whatever it was about, fighting is inexcusable, Penn.”

“Sometimes that’s how boys solve their problems,” I argue, even though I know it’s weak.

“Not my son. He needs to talk, and he’s going to talk right now! Put him on the phone.”

A loud crash echoes from inside. I glance through the window to make sure he’s okay. Bentley’s chest is heaving, his face is flushed, and sweat is beading at his temples as his anger rises to the surface.

Now we’re getting somewhere.

“That’s not a good idea right now.”

“What?”

“I’m handling it, Astrid, okay?”

“What do you mean ‘handling it’?”

“I’m trying a different approach to get him to talk to me.”

Astrid groans. “Oh, God. Penn! My son hit another boy…”

“Listen,” I cut her off. “I know you’re upset, but there’s a reason Bentley hit another kid, Astrid, and it has to be a good one because we both know he normally wouldn’t hurt a fly.”

I can hear her sigh and after a few seconds she finally relents. “You’re right.”

“So, let me see what I can get out of him, and I’ll bring him home later. You can lay into him then.”

“I was so scared, Penn.” Emotion clogs her throat. “I didn’t know what to think. So many scenarios went through my mind when I saw my phone…”

“I know, but he’s safe. I’ve got him, Astrid. I’m doing what I can for our boy, okay?”

She grows quiet and then I hear her sniffle. “Okay. I’ll see you later. And Penn?”

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