Page 56 of Laugh

“Hey Beau. I’m sorry for waking you so early because I know yesterday was rough. I just got a phone call from Marcus’s mom and wanted to get a hold of you right away. They admitted him to the hospital last night. That’s why Haddie wasn’t home when we went to pick her up. She had to take him to the ER in the afternoon and had no reception all night.”

Closing my eyes, I pinch my nose and rub it hard as she explains why Haddie wasn’t taking my calls. I had tried calling her once more when I got home but decided against leaving a pissed off voicemail for her. I’ve never been more thankful to make a quick decision like that in my life. I’m already feeling the guilt with the way I texted her when I found out she was a no show.

Clearing the morning roughness from my throat, I ask, “Is Marcus okay? What happened?”

Addie sighs into the phone, and I can practically hear her shaking her head. “I don’t know what’s going on. Only that he was really sick and asked Haddie for help. He’s also having surgery this morning, but I don’t know what it’s for.”

Pulling my phone away from my ear, I place the call on speaker and swipe out of the call screen to see if I’ve missed anything from Haddie. Sure enough, I’ve got four missed texts that came in a few hours ago.

“Listen, I’m going to let you go. I’ve got some missed texts from her and I want to give her a call.”

“Yeah, definitely. Tell her I love her. I sent her a couple more texts last night, but she hasn’t written anything back. Will you ask her to call me if you get a hold of her?”

“I will,” I promise, then say a quick goodbye so I can read what Haddie sent me.

(3:47 am)

Happy: Beau, I’m SO SO SORRY I didn’t call you. Marcus had an emergency, and he needed me to come get him and take him to the emergency room. We were stuck in there for literal hours, and I had zero reception and I realized around nine that I missed dinner. I was going to step out to call you, but I just couldn’t. I couldn’t leave the room, Beau. I’m also really sorry for texting you so early in the morning, but I wanted you to know that I was heading home to change my clothes and shower. Then I need to go to Marcus’s apartment because there are things I need to do. I think I need help. But I need you to not judge my friend, not that I think you’re a judgy person because I don’t, but it’s… I’ll explain when/if you want to talk to me today. When you wake up, if you’re not still terribly angry at me, would you come to his place? But call me when you get here so I can explain some things before you come inside.

Happy: *Address forwarded*

Happy: Please don’t be mad at me. I would have given everything to come to dinner with you to meet your mom and see your mean dad… sorry, that was mean, but I’m exhausted.

Happy: I really didn’t mean to hurt you by not calling.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

Quickly, I send a text to her, feeling like the biggest asshole in the world for being so pissed last night.

Me: Happy girl, don’t EVEN worry about it. How is Marcus doing? How are YOU doing? I’m getting up right now and I’ll head over there shortly.

I begin to type out the words ‘I love you’, but quickly delete them.What the fuck? Are we even there yet?Also, wouldn’t it be really selfish of me to send something like that when she’s clearly been up all night and probably emotionally drained after dealing with whatever is happening with Marcus?

Besides that, I’ve got some serious apologizing to do for not questioning if something serious was going on andthat’sthe reason she didn’t show. Haddie is nothing if not passionately loyal to those she considers ‘her people’.

Me: I’m hopping in the shower now. Ignore everything I texted last night. You have absolutely nothing to be sorry for. I’m sorry I was such a dick, but I’m going to give you a better apology when I see you.

Throwing my blankets off my body, I quickly shower and dress while still damp. I grab an apple off the counter to eat on the way to the address she sent me for Marcus’s place. I pause before the door and decide to grab another two, just in case my happy girl has nothing to eat this morning, before quickly making my way to her.

Marcus lives about fifteen minutes from my house. This makes me realize I’ve never had Haddie over and I need to remedy that soon. Pulling into the parking lot in front of his building, I turn off my car and call Haddie.

She picks up on the second ring.

“Hi Beau,” she says tiredly into the phone.

My brows furrow because this is probably the first time she hasn’t called me Captain, or Thor, or Chris, or even King Arthur. She sounds absolutely exhausted, and I want to fix it for her.

“Hey baby. I’m here.”

I can hear the emotion clogging her words when she whispers, “I’ll be out in thirty-two seconds.”

Chuckling into the phone, I tease, “Oddly specific, but I’ll take it. I’ll be here.” I hear her suck in a breath and movement until I see her running out the door with her phone to her ear. “I see you,” I say, before I hang up and get out of the car.

I barely have the door shut when she’s in front of me and throwing herself into my arms, instantly sobbing against my chest.Christ, what the fuck is happening with Marcus to have her reacting like this?

“Baby… Happy, shh…” I soothe, holding her tightly against me as she attempts to climb my body to get closer. I press my lips to the top of her head as I help her up so she can wrap her legs around me. “Take a minute, but tell me where to go so I can get you inside.”

“Noo!” she cries out. “J-Just wait. We can’t go in there yet. I just need a-a freaking m-minute to be pathetic.”

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