Page 12 of Boys Like You

“Are you okay?” Mercer asks, his eyes still not leaving Rocky, making sure his friend is okay.

“Just a bit nervous, I suppose. Everything in the hospital was okay, I felt safe in the room – now I’m leaving into the world, I have something wrong with my head, blocking out my own memories – what if someone hurt me and tries to find me? It’s all overwhelming.” His gaze shifts to me.

“I can’t speak for you and your experiences, but I know from mine that every day things get a little bit easier, especially when you have people to support you.” I don’t get a chance to respond, Beth pulls up in her white minivan and Rocky calls out “shotgun” as he races for the front seat.

“Is he expecting me to race him? I can barely walk straight.” We both laugh as Rocky jumps into the car and closes the door quickly.

“That’s just Rocky; he has too much energy with his ADHD. Medication makes him drowsy, so his parents have him on a controlled diet, and with his athletics he is fine most of the time. It’s only a trial for now,” Mercer tells me while loading the bags into the boot of Beth’s van. Once the bags are loaded, he opens the side sliding door and helps me in. “I’ll meet you there, I have my car.”

“Okay.” He closes the door, and I watch him walk away. Beth asks if I’m ready, and I nod as she pulls out of the hospital. Rocky gives me a verbal tour of everything we pass, but nothing rings a bell. He tells me they all go to school about half an hour from here in the opposite direction.

Apparently, Beth lives in Morgan Bay, right off the beach. He doesn’t say much else about where they all live; it’s probably pointless anyway because it all means nothing.

I watch out the window when we turn onto a street along the beach front. The houses we pass on the left-hand side are beautiful. Beth pulls into a weird driveway at the end of the street. The front of the house has a massive window on the second storey. Across from that is the beach. It looks amazing from here and I can see stairs that lead down to the water. By the time we exit the car and Rocky gathers all my bags, a white 4WD pulls into the driveway; the car is massive, short in length, but tall. Parking under a tree, Rory jumps out of the driver’s seat with some grocery bags, smiles at me and follows Beth inside. Next to pull in is Mercer.

“What kind of car is that?” I ask Rocky. It looks almost like a tank.

“Hummer,” is all he says. As Mercer exits the car, a canary-yellow jeep parks beside him, and I realise, through my amazing power of deduction, that it has to be Levi and Maximus. Sure enough they both jump out.

“Sorry we took so long, Maximus had to read all the damn boxes, and made me ask the pharmacist a million questions, but in the end we have everything you need.” Maximus looks down at his feet, his cheeks going bright red.

“Thank you, I appreciate it.” Without thinking, I lean in and kiss his cheek. His body stills for a second before he looks up and smiles. Levi throws his arm around his friend’s neck and laughs, making Maximus have to fix his glasses, and we all go inside. Rory is helping Beth pack away the groceries.

“I have set JD up in your old games room, I figured she would need the extra space and it’s away from the kids,” she explains. Looking up at me, she continues, “I converted the garage into a games room back when I had all the boys; it was just sitting there unused. It even has an ensuite – having so many kids it was always good having two toilets and showers.”

“I hope you didn’t go to any trouble.”

“No trouble at all, my brother John lives for this kind of thing; renovations are his specialty. Watching him have to work with Mr Cole’s direction was worth it, payback for all the times he tormented me as a child.” She laughs to herself, obviously thinking about her brother.

“My dad has been messaging me non-stop asking if JD has seen the room yet. He’s so excited; decorating is his passion. I hope he didn’t drain your bank account.” Mercer’s eyes cut to mine as he talks to Beth.

“Oh hush, how about you boys go show JD her room while I get dinner sorted? John will be back with the kids soon. And call your dad back.” She waves us off and Rocky jumps behind me, I flinch closing my eyes. Mercer steps in front of me placing his hands on my shoulders. “Are you okay?”

I nod. “He just startled me, I’m fine now. Let’s check out this room.”

“Rocky, you get the bags,” Mercer demands, I glance at Rocky and he looks away. I feel terrible. I've made him feel bad. Levi, Rory and Maximus lead the way, followed by Rocky with the bags, Mercer and I trailing behind.

“Holy shit, this is sick,” Rocky says, dropping the bags. I look around. The bed is raised off the floor – a closet underneath. The theme of the room is the beach, featuring distressed beach wood, a mini lounge room with a tv, two small couches, a rug and coffee table. Against the wall on one side is a desk and on the other is a set of drawers with a touch lamp on top.

“Your dad is so talented,” I say in shock.

A small boy comes running into the room shouting Mercer’s name. Rocky flies up the stairs to my bed whispering ‘hide me’. I watch as he throws the covers over his head.

“Are you here to show me some moves?” the kid says, stopping by Mercer’s side. He looks at Mercer, waiting on his answer. Mercer looks at me and I shrug – who am I to disappoint the kid?

“Sure, just until dinner. JD, did you wanna watch?” he asks me. I’m still not sold on the idea of being around kids. I don’t know why, it’s just this feeling inside me.

“I might just chill here and unpack, I need a minute.” Mercer nods while the kid drags him from the room. Rocky climbs down off the bed when the coast is clear, slightly standing behind Levi, who hits Rocky in the chest with an oomph. “Let’s go make sure Mumma B doesn’t need a hand now the kids are back. “How about you, Rocky, come help?”

“Nope, I do my bit on Sundays. I love Mumma B but those damn kids and all their energy freaks me out.”

“Maximus?” Levi asks. He just shakes his head, puts his headphones on and lays back on one of the couches, his legs hanging over the side. “Fine, we will call when dinner is ready.” With that, Levi and Rory leave the room to seek out Beth. I think they are just trying to give me some space and not overcrowd me.

Rocky is back lying on my new bed against the wall, his arms folded behind his head, his eyes closed. I climb the stairs to join him, taking the spot next to him.

“Are you really that freaked out by the kids?” I ask, seeing if he will open up. Not that I expect him to, he’s only just met me and I have nothing to give him in return. He rolls on his side to face me.

“Yes and no. My doctor and parents decided I should try and go off my medication.” He looks torn over this decision, and I want to know what makes him tick – if it’s something he wants or if he is just a people pleaser.

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