Page 32 of Glad You Exist

I tilt my head in response as I take in the room. Everyone is still staring at me. Brad looks away just as my eyes meet his. He’s hunched over in his seat, his gaze on the floor.

I tear my eyes away and frown down at my brother, “What time is it?”

He checks his phone, “Almost four.”

My eyes bug out, and this time, I groan.

When Nurse Zjan was making her rounds, it was barely twelve. I remember this because she offered to bring me lunch when she walked in and found me there curled up beside Mom. Which means I slept for three hours and missed lunch.

As if reading my mind, Kim goes over to the small table where the kitchenette is. I notice the table is full of paper bags and drinks. She grabs one and hands it to me.

“Here. Kyle and I brought Dick’s. I figured we could all use some.” Her eyebrow quirks up at the dirty pun. Given the situation she lets her unintended joke fall flat and just smiles.

I placate with her a small smile of my own.

Regardless, I’m grateful she’s trying.

I open the bag and pause.

“Have you guys eaten?”

Kim sighs dramatically, “Noooooo. Brad was making us wait for you.”

Aunt Rose lets out a chuckle as she brushes Mom’s hair out of her face.

“We just didn’t want you to eat by yourself.” She adds, helpfully.

Kim leans in and whispers, “Brad looks like he wants to poke my eyes out.”

I peek over her shoulder and yeah, I guess the look on his facecouldbe described as just that.

Dan snorts as he gets on his feet and grabs a chair next to Summer.

Summer rises from her seat then bends down to whisper something in his ear. I watch Dan nod and look up at her with the gentlest expression I have ever seen on his face.

My brother is falling in love.

Summer squeezes his shoulder then gets to work on sorting burgers and fries on paper plates. Kim pivots back to help her sort and Brad gets up to help hand them out.

I rub the sleep out of my eyes and use the scrunchie on my wrist to put my hair up while everyone gets their food. I mumble a thank you to Brad who hands me a bottled water.

I expect him to sit back on the couch with Kyle but instead he sits beside me with two paper plates. He takes the paper bag from me, placing my burger on the plate with fries on it and hands it back to me.

“Eat.”

I blink at the tone of his voice. It is both gentle and forceful. A hint of worry furrows his brow as he patiently waits for me to do what he says.

So, I take a bite of the burger and raise my eyebrows in inquiry. When he continues to say nothing, I take another.

The edges of his lips perk up in amusement. It’s such a sudden change that I end up staring at his mouth longer than it would have been polite to do so. He looks startled for a second before he busies himself with his own burger.

I look away and not for the first time this week, watch again as Summer dotes on my brother. I can’t believe it took this long for them to find each other when they practically grew up together. They seem so perfect together. She manages to make him smile and even laugh despite our circumstances.I’m so glad he’s not alone in this.

I look around and realize that I’m not either. Kim and Kyle are whispering and smiling at one another while they eat. I know they undoubtedly have better things to do, but instead they’re here with me. Came without me asking.

And Brad. Well… I wouldn’t expect anything less from him.

I glance at him through the corner of my eye and feel my heart lodge in my throat.

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