Page 110 of Puck Block

“That depends on what you’re asking,” I say slowly. “If you’re asking how long I’ve loved her, then I could answer with years.”

His jaw clenches. “How long have you beenfuckingmy sister behind my back?”

Well, this is going to go over well.

“Emory!” Taytum sits up and gapes at her brother. “Seriously?”

He ignores her. “Answer the fucking question, Ford.”

I answer without any added jokes. “A couple of months.”

His jaw falls before he quickly regains the ability to speak. “Months?”

“Not months!” Taytum corrects, looking over at me. “We didn’t have se–”

“Spare me the fucking details,” Emory interrupts her.

My heart monitor starts to beep again, and Taytum looks at it, then to me, and then to her brother.

I sit up a little taller with my best friend’s sister beside me and try to take the fall for it. “We were going to tell you.”

Emory crosses his arms, and he is in full defensive mode. “I don’t give a shit. You’re not fucking my sister anymore.”

Taytum climbs to her feet, and I hate that she acts like a pillar between us. Anger rushes through my veins, and I fling the heart monitor off my finger because my pulse is only going to continue to get higher.

“Emory, you’re being ridiculous. You can’t honestly expect me not to date anyone for the rest of my life!” She throws her hands up. “God! That’s how this whole thing between us started!”

He runs his hand through his hair with frustration. “This is not about that! Don’t you get it?”

“Get what?” I ask.

Emory’s arms fall to his sides. “How the hell do you think you can take care of someone like her? You can’t even sit in a hospital without the doctors threatening to sedate you.” He points to the door. “Yeah, they told me you woke up and lost your shit like before. Have you ever thought about how you’ll be there for her when she ends up here again? Because we all know how shitty she is at taking care of herself.” His hands go to his waist, and the longer I hear him tell me that I can’t take care of her, the more my blood pressure rises. “You can’t even take care of yourself.”

Taytum steps in front of her brother. “I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself, Emory!”

“You are not! You can’t even take the right dose of insulin!”

Taytum’s eyes snap over to me, and through the whizzing of her hair, she looks devastated. I answer her silent question right away. “I didn’t.”

“And then there’s this bullshit! You two with your little secrets!” Emory yells. “What happens when you realize you don’t want her anymore, Ford? Huh? I lose you as my best friend, or I lose her as a sister? I’ve seen it a thousand times before. You say you’re into someone, and then the second it becomes real, you back away and mutter some stupid joke.”

I get up from the bed with the stupid fucking IV pole following me like shadow. “It’s alwaysbeen real with her, so don’t you dare come in here and spew some bullshit that I’m going to be the one to hurt her. You think I’d risk our friendship or risk disappointing your parents for some casual fling? Do you truly think that little of me, Emory? We grew up together. You know me better than anyone.” I briefly look at her. She’s breathing fast, and her eyebrows are pulled taut. “Besides her.”

“Guys! Just stop.” Taytum tries to step in between us, but Emory quickly moves her off to the side.

“Taytum, go,” I urge.

She stomps her foot. “I am not leaving you two in here like this! And get back in the bed! You have a concussion.”

“Go!” Emory barks, keeping eye contact with me.

Taytum crosses her arms in defiance, but I still try to plead with her. “Taytum, please.”

“And let him hit you? You have a concussion, Ford. I’m not leaving.”

Emory feels betrayed. I get it. But how could he ever think I’d hurt her like that?

“You can hit me if you want,” I say to him, “Disown me as a friend. Tell your parents some bullshit, and get them to hate me too. But it won’t change anything, Emory. I love her. I have always loved her, and deep down, you’ve always known. I wouldn’t risk everything for just anyone.”

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