Page 67 of The Drop

"Hey, it's not funny," Cami shakes her head at us. "You were both miserable, and we had to do something, but then you worked it out, so we didn't end up having to do it."

"Also, that would have happened on day two, but Adam wanted to hand-paint the sign," Gunnar says, massaging his temple like he's got a headache.

"We wanted to order one, but he insisted on doing it himself," Bear adds.

"You made a sign?" I ask Adam, who looks up and shrugs.

"It has alternating colours for each letter." He shrugs again, slumping further into the sofa.

When he first said it was a mistake going to see my mom, I thought it was because he was trying to be an asshole, but now I'm not so sure.

"That was thoughtful," I say, looking at him.

"I didn't want it to be some shitty sign." He crosses his arms and pouts, looking away like he's uncomfortable with eye contact. "What would have been thoughtful is if someone had got it for this intervention."

"No!" Cami and Gunnar say together as Bear murmurs, "I said you would have wanted a sign."

"I feel like we are off track a little here." Grant sighs, putting his head in his hands.

"What's the real reason you don't want me to see my mom, Adam?" I attempt to be the bigger person here even though i'm still pissed at him, there’s something more going on with him.

Everyone looks at him, and he finally looks toward me.

"Because I've been where you are before, thinking they will change, but they are always going to let us down, Brookie,"

"Your parents?"

"I don't want you to end up like me," he whispers, clasping his hands between his legs and letting out a long sigh.

Cami moves to sit on the sofa arm next to him and rubs his back.

I can tell that whatever happened with his family, he's not ready to fully discuss, and tonight isn't the night.

"B, we just want you to be one hundred per cent sure you know what you're doing," Cami pleads with me. "Why do you want to see her now?"

"When I spoke to her, I genuinely felt like she wanted to talk this out," I explain "I can't expect you guys to understand completely, but spending time with Gunnar's parents just reminded me it's not something I'm going to have if I don't have a relationship with her."

Grant reaches over and touches my arm comfortingly while Gunnar looks a little guilty, probably because he takes them for granted when they try to look out for him.

"I won't know if she is going to change unless I go." I bite my lip and look at Adam, who is still looking frustrated.

"If you need to go, Brookie, go," he says, standing up and holding his arms out, and I stand up and hug him. "But I still think it's a mistake, and I need you just to be okay with that."

I sigh and hug him a little tighter. He will tell me about it when he's ready. But I hope he's wrong and my mum and I will work through this.

"Are we all good?" Cami asks hesitantly, biting her nail. Adam and I both nod, and she lets out a breath. "Thank God. There's a party on campus; shall we go?"

"Brookie, let's go bury the hatchet with some lukewarm beer." Adam pulls me with him towards the door, and I look back at Grant, who is looking just as disappointed as I feel. I wanted to get comfy with him for the rest of the night.

Bear and Cami get up and grab their coats as we all head to the door while Gunnar stays seatedleaning his elbows on his knees.

"You alright, bud?" Grant asks him when he still doesn't move.

"Yeah." He sighs, sounding defeated, and gets up. "Kind of want to join, but Sasha's already in bed, and I've been out long enough."

I elbow Adam before he can say anything to rile him up.

"Why don't you just ask her?" Bear speaks up instead, and we all groan, knowing that's the wrong thing to say.

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