Page 62 of From Now On

Aidan huffs. “I’m meditating.”

If Hart hadn’t brought up sharks, I’d probably be enjoying this experience more. My feet have adjusted to the water temperature, so sitting here is mostly enjoyable.

“Maybe we should go a little farther out,” Aidan suggests.

“You lasted three minutes, Phillips,” Conor tells him.

And then we all start paddling again.

When we get back to the car, I check my phone and discover I have a missed call from my mom.

“I’ll be right back,” I mutter distractedly, leaving my board with Conor and Aidan and wandering farther down the sidewalk before anyone replies.

My mom answers on the second ring. “Hi, honey.”

My “Hi” is cautious.

I haven’t talked to her since Friday night’s unfortunate events, just my dad.

Sean’s relapses have always hit my mom the hardest. My dad and I have gotten…accustomed to it in some ways, I guess. But my mom, she gives Sean a clean slate every time. Acts like each setback is a fresh failure and a fresh start.

“I’m sorry to bother you while you’re on your break.”

“You’re not bothering me, Mom. Is—is everything okay?

“Everything’s fine,” she tells me. “I was just calling about hotels.”

“Hotels?” I echo.

“Yes. For graduation. The spot we stayed when we dropped you off freshman year—I can’t believe that was almost four years ago—was so far from campus. Are there better options closer? Where are your friends’ families staying?”

Relief she’s not calling because something is wrong mixes with bitter recollection of how that trip ended, stalling my response.

“Oh. Uh. Yeah, there are closer options. They’ll be more expensive, though.”

My parents both work in education. My dad is the superintendent for the elementary school, and my mom is a third-grade teacher. Having my parents both work at my school embarrassed me as a kid. As an adult, I think it’s kind of cute they carpool and eat lunch together.

Their choice of careers means money has always been tight. My grandparents gave my dad a portion of the money they made from the sale of their farm, but I believe Sean’s multiple rehab stints have blown through a large chunk of that. One of the reasons I chose Holt, aside from its location meaning I could escape my brother’s shadow, was that they offered me a full academic scholarship.

“It’s your graduation, honey. I’m not concerned about the cost.”

I swallow. “Okay. I’ll ask around. Send you some options.”

“Great, thank you. Are you having fun on your break?”

“Yeah. I just went surfing, actually.”

“I hope you were careful, Hunter.”

“I was,” I assure her. “Made it back to shore in one piece.”

“Good.” A relieved sigh follows. I’m supposed to be the son she doesn’t have to worry about. “Well, I won’t keep you. Have fun with your friends. I love you, Hunter.”

“Love you too,” I reply, then hang up and start back toward Conor’s SUV.

Everyone else is already in the car. It’s the same seating arrangement as last night. Hart in the driver’s seat and Phillips in the back with the girls. We took Conor’s car again today because it’s a little roomier than mine, plus I’m hoping the spare will make it back to Washington.

“Everything okay?” Conor asks as I climb in.

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