Page 108 of Deliverance

On top of that, I’m pissed at myself.

I was supposed to be a fucking saving grace. Instead, I’m just another bump in the road for Leo and his guys.

The soft clink of a glass against the marble countertop drags me back to reality and my heart gives a kick. Mother Dearest is on a mission. She has to make sure I take my meds as prescribed and stay hydrated, and I hate that time has no option to fast-forward.

It’s been a little over a week since my release from the hospital and I’ve been doing everything in my power to get back into action. Exercise. Fresh Air. Healthy food. Even agreed to my mother’s pleas to see a shrink. Once.

Truth is, I just want to play drums and cracked ribs are usually an issue. On day two at home, I found myself behind my kit, banging on the snare and testing my limits. Breathing was painful. Lifting my left arm hurt like hell too.

“You look better,” Avery says.

He’s been checking on me every other day like clockwork, but something tells me he’s not really concerned for my health. He’s just bored surfing on his own and curious to see when I’ll be crazy enough to go and ride the waves with him.

I don’t want to disappoint the homeboy, but I don’t think it’s going to happen anytime soon. A couple of months perhaps.

We’re on the terrace of my Laguna Beach house, seated at the table. My spine is stiff; my ribcage is sore. Avery is totally oblivious to the fact that we’re being babysat by a senior citizen. He’s sipping on a beer, his gaze is trained on the horizon, where the waves spill into the sky.

“Thanks, Ma,” I say with a nod and wait for her to leave.

She doesn’t. Instead, she continues to hover, rearranging the plates with snacks and giving me stares.

“Don’t touch it.” I motion at my laptop as she attempts to close it and set it aside, away from the food.

“These are great, Mrs. S.” Avery picks up another piece of bread smothered with some homemade sauce, the contents of which I’m afraid to know.

My mother is great. I generally don’t have any beef with her, but I didn’t expect she’d take this wholesticking around to help me outshit so seriously.

“I’m staying until you get better. Don’t even try to argue with me on this,” she fumed after the doctor confirmed I had a concussion.

The first two days back home passed in a blur and I appreciated her presence, appreciated the homemade food and the evening chats, but eventually, this companionship became overbearing and now here I am—a slave in a kingdom of matriarchy, subjected to constant blockading and criticizing.

“There’s more in the kitchen.” My mother pats Avery’s shoulder and finally exits the terrace.

“Parents,” I mutter and clutch my ribs as I try to shift my numb body.

“What are the doctors saying?”

“Same shit. Eat. Sleep. Take pills. Blah, blah, blah.”

I’ve been through this more than once. It’s always the same. First come the pain meds that mess with my head, then there’s thebed restand thetake it easyrecommendations, and finally—my favorite one—a suggestion to find a less dangerous hobby or buy a slower car.

The last bit always makes me laugh.

“Hey, at least you’ve got someone taking care of you.” Avery chuckles. “Remember that accident I had last year when Sable was in Hawaii and I broke my shoulder?”

“Yeah. I remember.”

“Remember I had to call my cousin to come help me with bringing the groceries inside before those steaks cooked in the sun?”

We both laugh and I wince at the dull pain shooting through my side.Fucking hell.

“Trust me when I say, it’s better to have someone around.” Avery drives his point home.

“You haven’t lived with my mother for as long as I have,” I counter. It’s been almost ten days since she moved into my guest room. “She was only nice and accommodating during the first hour.

Grinning, Avery checks his phone. “Looks like I’m running out of time.”

I don’t want to hold him up. I’m not the best company when pain meds as strong as the ones I’m taking right now are involved. In truth, even having Toby and Leo over tonight may not be such a great idea, but the label has been on everyone’s back, and I simply can’t let the guys down.

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