Page 74 of Ruck Me

“Yeah, everything’s fine,” I answered, scrubbing a hand over my face, the long, stressful day and Aoife’s sudden sickness catching up with me. “Actually, it’s not. Aoife’s sick—” On the other end of the line, she gasped. “Don’t worry. It’s just the flu or something, but I’m running on fumes myself. I hate to ask, but can you swing by my place in the morning with some soup and some anti-nausea medicine or something? I told her roommate I’d do it but I have practice, and even if I didn’t, I wouldn’t know what to get at the pharmacy.”

I laughed mirthlessly, suddenly feeling my own ineptitude. I was an adult, making more money than most guys my age, but I’d had things done for me for so long that I didn’t have the first clue how to handle something like this. Shit, I didn’t even know how to find my own doctor—my parents had always set that up when I was a kid, and then once I went to the Academy, they took care of all my medical issue, no matter the ailment.

“Of course,” she answered right away. “Is she allergic to anything? I can’t remember.”

“No, nothing.”

“I’ll handle it, but you need to get some sleep too. It’s late there and I can hear the tired in your voice. You’ve got a big match that you need to be wellfor.”

I sighed with relief. “Thanks, ma. I wouldn’t have called, except …”

“Except you couldn’t call her own mother.”

“Yeah, exceptthat.”

“It’s okay Eoin,” she said, her voice soothing. “We love Aoife, you know, and I’m happy to take care of her. Leave everything tome.”

I turned the ignition. “You’re a life saver, ma.”

She laughed. “Just remember this when I’m old and gray and your da and I need someone to take care ofus.”

“Don’t worry,” I answered with all seriousness. “I won’t forget.”

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