Page 66 of Won't Let Go
Finally?!
“What do you mean, finally?” I squeak, peeking at my son out of the corner of my eye as I drift back and forth beside him.
“It took you long enough.”
“Hunter.”
Shoulders hunched forward as if he’d rather be anywhere else than here talking to me, he shrugs. “What? Josh is my dad. Now it’s real.”
“So, you’re okay with all this?”
“I like it here. A lot. So yeah…” I barely catch his nod. “I’m okay with it.”
“It’s gonna be a few more weeks before we can go home.”
“Are you done trying to kill yourself? Are you getting better?” He side-eyes me, and I stop swinging.
Reaching over, I rest my hand on his knee, and he doesn’t shrug it off. “I’m so sorry.”
He pokes the middle of my hand. “I need you to be okay, Mom.”
“I’m trying.”
“I need you to try harder.”
“I will. Jo—your dad is helping. We’ll get through this. I promise.”
“You’re not gonna push him away, are you?” Refusing to look at me, Hunter traces the top of my fingers with his.
“No. Why would I do that?”
“You’ve been doing that to everyone.”
My heart clenches. “I know. I’m working on it. Do you need to talk to someone?”
“I already do.”
“Who?”
“My dad.”
Of course he does. Josh already said they talked a lot.
“I mean, besides him.”
“I talk to Deke, too. Sometimes. I’m doing okay. I just need you to be okay.”
“I am.”
Hunter nods just once as if he’s accepting my words at face value. “Good.”
“Is there anything else we need to talk about? That you want to tell me?” I squeeze his knee.
A deep blush suffuses my son’s cheeks as he kicks the heel of his boot into the mulch.
Oh. I know this look. It’s about a girl. We haven’t been down this road yet. He’s been too caught up in video games, friends, the club, and me.
“Who is she?” I test, keeping any judgment from my tone and my smile to myself. Because this is adorable. My son has a crush.
