Page 42 of No One Else

This time I smile for real, imagining Evan’s reaction if he knew what his dad was saying. No wonder he’s never invited me over.

“I can see why he’s smitten. And good to put a face to the name.”

I laugh lightly, scooting further back on the couch cushion, relaxing now.

“Did you want to go see him? His room’s down the hallway,” he motions to the right. “It’s the last door.”

“Thanks.”

I make my way to his room, knocking softly, and when there’s no answer I open the door a crack. Weak light from his desk lamp fills the small area, illuminating Evan’s big body under the covers in his bed. I walk in and shut the door quietly behind me, not wanting to disturb him. He’s snuffling in his sleep, his nose blocked up, and even though objectively it’s disgusting, I can’t help but find it a tiny bit adorable.

I sit down on the edge of his gray plaid comforter, laying the back of my hand against his forehead. He definitely has a fever. The ibuprofen I brought should help with that. My fingers drift over, brushing the hair out of his eyes, drawing forth a soft, sleepy sound from him. I snatch my hand back, not wanting to get caught like this.

I spend a few more moments gazing at him, a sense of protectiveness filling me. He’s in for a reckoning once he wakes, but it’s so rare I have the chance to look at him unguarded, I have to take the opportunity while I can.

I get up slowly and join Pete back in the living room, smiling brightly at him. “How would you like soup for dinner?”

10

Evan

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THE URGE TO PEE WAKESme, but it takes a minute to get out of bed. Dear God, how did my body become this sore this fast?

A bout of sneezing comes on, three in a row again, and I quickly grab a tissue off my nightstand to contain it.

Wait, I used up all the tissues. Did Dad run out to the store and get more?

No, he would have had to move my Bronco and the keys are sitting... right here on my nightstand. I stare at the tissue box, my eyes traveling over to the throat lozenges and bottle of cough syrup next to it. Where did all this stuff come from?

I get up and pee before I burst, and when I exit the bathroom, a woman’s laugh rings from the kitchen. What the hell?

I round the corner and find my dad and Natalie of all people sitting at the kitchen table, relaxed and comfortable like they’re old friends.

“So then Evan pulls off his underwear, naked as a jaybird,” Dad says, wiping at his eye, “and tells his mom he doesn’t want to be a big boy anymore. He wants to be a baby so he can wear diapers.”

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