Page 83 of Puck Drop
Either way, things will work out, I tell myself. They have to.
TWENTY-SEVEN
Logan
The beeping noisecoming from one of the machines attached to Sebastian is hypnotic. The longer I listen to it, the more it blocks the outside world. It is peaceful in the strangest way.
I jump when someone touches my arm. I look up only to find Sebastian’s Aunt Kathy hovering over me.
“I got you a sandwich, honey,” she tells me. “And a cup of coffee.”
She places both items on the small table by my side, giving me a sympathetic smile when I nod in thanks.
I stand up from the uncomfortable chair, then take a few moments to stretch my back, letting out a sigh of relief when I feel it cracking.
“Sebastian used to do that all the time when he lived with me,” Aunt Kathy chuckles. “I hated it. It sounded like his back would crack in half.”
I start laughing, the sound way too loud for our setting. I immediately stop, worried that I would wake him up. But then Iremember that it would be a miracle at this point if he did wake up at all.
“You’ve been here for two days straight,” she continues. “Maybe you should go get some rest, Logan.”
My eyes go back to my friend’s face. His mouth is wide open, a ventilator stuck down his throat. There is so much more going on as far as medical equipment goes, I can’t even process it. He has ice packs on his torso and legs, and every so often, his arms come up, like he is a puppet. The first time I witnessed it, I freaked out, but then they explained to me that it was just a natural reaction of his body, and that it had nothing to do with him actually moving because he wanted to.
“He was so excited to come back to New York,” I tell his aunt. “All he talked about was this party, and how he wanted to visit with you after.”
Aunt Kathy pats me on the leg. “I know, honey. He called me so often about it, I about told him to leave me alone,” she chuckles.
Smiling, I grab the cup of coffee she brought for me and take a sip. It’s hot, and it feels amazing going down my throat. I sit back down, ready for a few more hours of just staring at Sebastian’s lifeless body.
“He was my only friend when I moved to Texas,” I say out of nowhere. “I didn’t even think he’d want to talk to me,” I snort. “After all, he is a first line player. I was a third stringer for the Sliders…”
“Psh,” Aunt Kathy waves me off. “He never cares about things like that!”
I nod and take another sip from the coffee cup.
“He actually called me on the night he found out you were going there,” she tells me, and I turn surprised eyes her way. “He’s always been outgoing and made friends easily,” she adds. “But when he learned you would be there with him, he felt asense of home… I hope that makes sense,” she chuckles in self-deprecation.
With my ankle now over the opposite knee, I bounce it with nervousness.
“He called me when you were having trouble with that girl,” Aunt Kathy says in a casual tone.
My foot moves faster against my knee.
“He asked what I thought about it, and I told him. Then, a couple of days later, he called me back to say he used what I told him, and that he thought you were impressed with his advice.”
I turn to face her, my face a mask of surprise. “Are you telling me that all that didn’t come from him?”
“He most likely added his own spin to it,” she laughs. “He always had to put his two cents, even when it wasn’t necessary.”
The way she says it makes me laugh. She does know him very well.
“Is that why he doesn’t have a girlfriend?” I tease.
Aunt Kathy looks at me over her glasses. Whatever she has to tell me, I am here for it.
“Do you know how hard I tried to get this boy a girlfriend?” she asks.
Throwing my head back, I laugh at the obvious frustration in her voice.
