Page 37 of Forging Chaos

CHAPTER 28

ODIN

My mom insistson driving me to PT on Friday, which is sort of weird since she usually has court on Fridays. When I open the apartment door, she bounces on her toes a bit and looks excited. “It’s all set, babe! We did it.”

I arch a brow at her as I lock the door behind me. “What did we do?”

She swats my shoulder. “The scholarship! Your Uncle Tim worked it all out with the women’s law foundation, and Thora will receive the award tomorrow night at her diploma ceremony.” Mom wraps her arms around me and squeezes. “Want to be my date?”

“You’re going?” This feels risky. If we show up at her event on Saturday, Thora will absolutely know my family is involved.

Mom nods. “I was always going. I was a guest lecturer at the student law group a few times this year. I’m giving a little talk. And now I’m giving a new award! I saw her resume, honey, and this award should have existed anyway. Dad and I are very proud of you for wanting to help, but keep the spotlight off yourself for doing so.”

Mom talks about the importance of this kind of last-mileaward as she carries my scooter down the stairs. I’ve perfected my monkey swing and we’re in the car in minutes. Unfortunately, she invites herself to watch my entire session, but Mom takes an academic interest in this sort of thing since she has a background in elite rowing.

She even asks the therapist if rowing is a reasonable expectation for me for cardio. Mom knows about adaptive rowing machines that don’t use the leg muscles at all, and I tune out while the two of them talk about my expanded workout potential. I can watch Thora receive this money. I can see her face when she realizes she doesn’t have to worry about her plane ticket.

Mom drops me at home, promising to pick me up early tomorrow and take me to dinner before the ceremony. I wish we could bring Thora with us, but I realize there’s absolutely no way to swing that without setting off her alarm bells. Instead, I text her a thank you for making sure my janky ass didn’t slip in the shower like a senior citizen.

On Saturday afternoon, I cram myself into my business on top best with the most respectable shorts I can find to pull over my cast. I search for my cufflinks, remembering that they’re in the top drawer of my desk where I hid the video game royalty check.

I look at the now-empty envelope, crumple it up, and toss it in the hall so someone can recycle it later. The whole scene makes me wish Wyatt were here, which is why I think I’m hallucinating when I hear his voice from the hall. “Littering now, O?”

I don’t fight the grin that splits my face. I open my arms and my cousin steps in for a hug. Well, as close as he can get around my roller. He pats my shoulder. “I came to check in on you. Mom said you’ve been conniving.”

His voice and expression are pleasant. That’s unusual for him. “Um, yeah. Hey, man, you sound weird.”

“It’s called endorphins. I feel them now.” He laughs. Then he stops laughing. “I feel bad bringing that up. Sorry.”

“Nah. It’s okay.” I tug at my lapels and raise my brows at him. “Do I look okay for a smarty pants diploma thing?”

He laughs.

I return to my cufflinks and he reaches in to help. I watch his thick fingers struggle as much as mine, and ask, “Do you think Thora will hate this? The scholarship?”

Wyatt groans. “I think she will hate it if she knows you’re involved. She and Fern…they have this whole thing about handouts. You got any food?”

He doesn’t wait for my answer, but walks to the kitchen and returns a minute later crunching raw carrots. I say a quick prayer of thanks that I can at least eat proper snacks now that I’m not in training anymore.

I continue our analysis session, arguing, “It’s not a handout, though. She should have this money.”

“Mm-hmm.” He swallows and gestures at me with a carrot. “I agree. I tossed some more money at Dad’s foundation. They have a whole track now that funds the future lawyers, not just the legal funds for the women who need help. You did a good thing, dude.”

“Thanks, man. That was cool of you to throw some of your millions back at the foundation. You look…happy. Beyond the endorphins, I mean.”

“Speaking of,” he swallows again. “I’m down to just one individual session a week with the team psych. Even got the green light to miss a session while I’m here fetching Fern.” He grins.

“Is that a good thing?”

“Yeah. It means I’m dealing with my shit.” Wyatt sits on my bed with the carrots. “The team there has a whole staff formental health. There’s a dedicated person who works with the injured guys.”

That gives me pause. I look at him in the mirror over my shoulder as I smooth out my hair. “That’s someone’s whole job? Talking to injured athletes?”

“It’s their whole ass job.”

I want to ask him more about this, but I hear the door and the sound of Mom greeting Gunnar. Wyatt hops up to hug her and tells me he has to get going to Fern’s award thing. I follow him into the living room, telling him to call me before he leaves town. Mom rolls her eyes when she sees me and pats my knee. “At least you wore a dress shoe.”

I shake my foot. “And a dress sock. This is one of Dad’s, I think.” It’s tall and yellow with tiny hockey sticks embroidered all over the material. She laughs, and we make our way to the car and onward to the ceremony.

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