Page 97 of Tide Over

I push to my feet with a frustrated sigh, needing to move and find something, anything, to keep my mind from spiralling. All I’ve been doing is sleeping and waiting to talk to Liam when he’s free, and I think I’m going to go crazy soon.

But I don’t know what to do.

My phone buzzes in my sweatpants pocket as I stand in the middle of the kitchen, and I eagerly pull it out, expecting a text from Liam.

But it’s not him. It’s Caleb.

Caleb

Hey, up for a visit?

He’s been checking in ever since he heard about my accident, but I haven’t seen him since he was here a couple months ago, when I brought Liam to the pub to watch him and his girlfriend play. So I feel a stir of excitement that he’s going to be coming into town again soon.

Yeah, when?

Right now. I’m here.

My brow furrows as I look towards the door and head over, pulling it open to find Caleb standing on the other side with a big smile.

“Hey, buddy,” he says

“Hey…” I trail off. “What are you doing here?”

“I came to see you. And I brought a shit ton of stuff.” He gestures to the bags at his feet, then picks them up and carries them into the house.

I close the door after him, watching him curiously.

“Uh… what is all this?” I ask as he sets the bags on the kitchen island.

Caleb looks around the kitchen with a low whistle. “Damn… this is a far cry from the shithole you bought.” Then he winks at me and reaches into one of the bags, taking out a stack of cards and setting them on the counter. “Everyone has been dropping stuff off for you at the store. And I needed to come see you, so I’m delivering it.”

I watch as he starts pulling out meals, gifts, and baked goods, piling them onto the counter. I step closer, pulling out a piece of paper from the pile of cards. It’s a drawing from one of the kids in town… a picture of me with a cast on my arm and “Get well soon Theo” scrawled across it.

Caleb places the last of the meals on the counter and watches me for a moment as I silently take it all in.

“It’s time we take care of you,” he says.

I bite back the overwhelming emotion that rises as I just nod, my eyes scanning the counter covered with gifts from everyone in town.

He leans on the counter, catching my eye. “So… how are you doing?”

I rub a hand over my face and blow out a breath. “Been better.”

His gaze drops to my arm as sympathy fills his eyes and voice. “I’m sorry, man. This sucks.”

“Yeah…” I agree with a nod.

He reaches out and squeezes my shoulder on my good side. “I’ll get this stuff put away for you.”

“Thanks,” I murmur, sinking onto a stool at the island.

Caleb opens the freezer and starts stuffing it full of lasagna and casseroles. “I’ve been given very specific instructions on each of these meals, from everyone who made them. And all ofthem said to freeze them if you’re not going to eat it right away.” He glances over his shoulder at me. “You know how it is. The moms are momming.”

I let out a tired laugh, having been getting quite a bit ofmommingfrom mine the past few days. “Oh, I know.”

He smiles at the drawing on the fridge as he grabs another dish for the freezer, the one Mason drew with "To Uncle Theo and Liam" on it.

“Liam still here?” Caleb asks, glancing over his shoulder.

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