Page 108 of The Grief We Hold

“Are people still using that ridiculous phrase?”

“Message me tomorrow and tell me whether he just came over to hit it,” she says. “I’ll call her mom to come drive her home.”

I see myself out and hustle the short walk down Main Street. It’s mild out this evening, and I can hear live music from Whiskey Fever all the way on the other end of town.

“Hey, Lacey,” I say after I’ve let myself in and climbed the stairs. “How was he?”

Lacey looks towards the bedroom door. “Good as gold. We spent most of the time looking at videos about antelope. Then he drew one for you.” She tips her chin towards the paper on the table.

“I so appreciate it. It was nice to be able to spend time with your Aunt Quinn. She called your mom to let her know to come get you.”

“You’re welcome.” She lifts her sweater off the back of the recliner.

We make small talk as we wait for her mom, and I thank both of them again for making this work when she arrives.

Fen’s door is slightly open, and with the low lighting in the apartment, I can see enough to know my little boy is fast asleep. I pull the door closed, then slip into the bathroom. If thisisa booty call, I want to look as good as I possibly can with only four minutes notice.

I strip and pull on my robe. It’s not fancy, a simple short silk thing that I got on sale about five years ago but folds up really small in the suitcase. Next, I whip my hair out of my ponytail and rush a brush through it, making myself wince when I hit tangles that tug on my scalp.

I wore a hint of makeup to go to the book club, so I quickly slick another coat of lip gloss on.

When there’s a hammering at the door, my initial reaction is annoyance. If he wakes Fen, then the only thing we’re going to be doing in my bed is sleeping.

I quickly run down the stairs and open the door to Atom holding Wraith up. “Your boy got stabbed in his arm.”

I don’t know what to take in first. The fact Wraith is standing in loose black track pants and a hoodie, his wet hair hanging around his face, or that Atom has blood all over his shirt and up the side of his face.

A gasp escapes me. “Oh my God, what happened?”

Wraith looks at me, his skin gray. “It’s not as bad as it sounds,” he says breathily. His smile is slightly goofy.

“Come in. Please. Help him upstairs.” I let Atom and Wraith go by me, then close the door, but not before I notice a van being driven by Catfish.

“They gave him nitrous oxide to stitch him up,” Atom says when Wraith lumbers to my bed and flops down on it. “All our doc had on hand.”

“You look really fucking pretty, Blue,” Wraith says a little too loudly.

Atom chuckles. “He’s shit with nitrous oxide. Works a little too well on chilling him the fuck out. In case he forgets details, his dressing will need changing, he can’t get it wet, and the stitches will need to be taken out toward the end of the week.”

“How was he injured? Is that his blood?”

Atom looks down at his shirt, then back to me. “There are some things you’re better not knowing.”

Marco always said I didn’t need to worry about what was going on at work, that he didn’t want me to become anxious. I don’t know that I can live like that again. But that feels like something I need to discuss with Wraith, not Atom.

“Thanks for bringing him home.”

“Normally, we’d just take him to the clubhouse, but he wanted to come straight here. He showered, so he just needs to sleep it off. They gave him an antibiotic shot and some other shit. Should probably still be in the hospital, so make sure he lies still.”

In spite of all the turmoil, it warms me that he wanted me when he was hurt, even though he had other choices.

“I’ll look after him, I promise.”

Atom studies me for a moment. “You know, some men are meant to be single forever. Doesn’t stop ‘em trying to find a wife. That’s how they end up with three or four divorces under their belt. And some men are put on this earth to be a good fucking husband.” He tips his chin towards the bed. “That man’s one of ‘em. Glad you came to our town, Raven. He was waiting for you.”

And with that, Atom disappears down the stairs.

I put my hand over my heart as it races because of Atom’s words.

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