Page 60 of Meet Me in the Blue

“It was Natalie,” she admitted and slid a mug of tea in my direction.

I lifted it to my lips, the lavender scent calming me as I inhaled. “Is this a bribe?” I asked and sat down on the barstool.

“Maybe.” She smiled over her teacup. “Promise me you’ll listen before you say anything.”

“I’m listening.” I waved my hand for her to continue.

“I’m feeling good.” She held up her hand as I opened up my mouth to argue. “I’m getting there. I am. It’s hard and I’m sad, but every day is a little better than the day before. And Nat and I feel—”

“Nat and I…”

“Luka Abrams, can you please shut up for one second in your damn precious life.” Her hand slapped the granite countertop and my heart jumped. “Please.” She sounded exhausted.

“Wow.”

“I’m not a child. I do not need to be watched or taken care of. I appreciate you being here. I do. But you are a grown ass man, with a grown ass boyfriend and you both need time to yourselves. You don’t think I haven’t noticed how little time you’ve given yourself to heal? You need this.”

“Mom, I’m fine.”

“I’m not asking you, Luka. I’m telling you. Roger can cover Rook’s patients, and Nat and I can spend some much-needed time together. I’m not fragile. Stop treating me like I’m about to break every goddamn second. It’s suffocating.” Her eyes glittered with unshed tears. “Every time you look at me like I’m about to shatter it makes it harder not to.”

“I thought I was helping.”

“You are,” she said and moved around the counter. She held my face in her hands. “You do, but you need to take care of yourself. You and Rook… it would be good for you to get away. You two need time together. You’ve hardly seen him since the funeral, and don’t tell me it’sfine. It’s not. You need to live your life just as much as I need to live mine.” Mom lowered her hands, leaving her words to swim around inside my head.

Having a whole weekend alone with Rook without any interruptions, without my mom and sister in the other room, without the shadow of the last month looming over me, would be more than amazing. God, it didn’t seem possible. It felt selfish to want it this bad.

“I feel guilty, like I’m running away. I promised Dad I wouldn’t run away.”

“Taking time for yourself isn’t running away. It’s healthy.” Her smile stretched up and touched the corner of her eyes. “Go to Vancouver. It’s one weekend. I think I can manage on my own.”

One whole weekend with Rook.

A slow, burning excitement coursed through me.

Two nights and three days without anything looming over us.

“Okay,” I said. “I’ll go.”

LUKA

“THERE’S A DOOR…” WILLheld up his hands and twiddled his fingers as his eyes widened. “With a green light emanating from the crack beneath and around the frame…”

“Shut the fuck up,” Ron shouted, and the entire table laughed. I was obviously missing something. “Not that jelly cube thing again. What is it with you and amorphous gelatinous beings?”

“I’m sorry, what?” Ry, whom I’d met for the first time tonight, furrowed his brow. “Why did we decide not to play Magic?”

“Because Rook thought it would be fun to do a D&D campaign and let this idiot be the DM.” Ron shoved his character sheet toward the middle of the table. “Anyone else need another beer?”

“It’s getting late,” Will said and shook his head. “I have to work tomorrow.”

“I’m good,” Rook and I said in unison, and we shared a secret smile.

“I’ll have one.” Ry stood and stretched his long arms over his head. He scratched his thick blond beard, his ice blue eyes narrowing as he yawned. “Well, maybe not. I’ll grab a bottle of water though.”

“Grab me a water too,” Will said and leaned back in his chair as Ry and Ron headed into the kitchen.

“Where’s Travis tonight?” I asked.

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