Page 77 of UnLucky Christmas
Thankfully, he doesn’t let go of me. “Janelle called Macy and Macy called me. How’s your dad?”
I finally pull myself together, and we sit down.
“He’s okay.”
Ben returns a few seconds later. Grant stands up and holds his hand out while I introduce them. Grant is several inches taller than Ben too—my family didn’t get the height gene.
“Thank you for coming and being here for Whitney,” Ben says. “I didn’t know you existed, but that’s a story for another day.”
Leave it to my brother to throw in a joke. I smack him on the arm.
Grant gives me a faint smile.
“There’s nowhere I’d rather be.” He pauses. “And our relationship is kind of a new development.”
My heart swells, threatening to break free of my rib cage. I reach for his hand and lace my fingers in his.
Within the next few minutes Janelle and Emme arrive. While we chat, I hear my phone buzzing in my bag. I have several messages from Macy waiting for me.
Are you okay? Is your dad okay?
Did Grant make it there? He’s very worried.
Love you, friend. Let me know if you need anything.
Tears sting my eyes. And I type a response.
My dad is stable. Grant’s here. Thank you for calling him. Love you too.
A nurse finally comes out to get Ben and me. We walk down a long hall with rooms on either side until we finally reach his.
“Hey, I know you guys,” he mumbles. He raises his arm and then winces in pain.
I immediately start to cry. He looks pretty banged up. He has a massive bruise on his forehead above his left eye and his lip is cut and swollen.
“Don’t worry, kiddo,” he says, watching my reaction. “I’ll be good as new in no time.”
I press my lips together and nod.
“Do you remember what happened?” Ben asks.
He waves his hand back and forth. “It’s a bit fuzzy. But at least I can finally get a new car.”
It’s so typical of my dad to make light of this situation.
“Where’s Emme?”
“She’s in the waiting room talking to Whitney’s newboyfriend,” Ben teases, raising his eyebrows.
“Ben.”
Is he really doing this while our dad is laying in a hospital bed?
“The guy is huge, Dad. He could be a tight end or a wide receiver. How tall is he, Whit?”
They might need to roll another bed in here if my brother doesn’t stop.
“It doesn’t matter.”
