Page 33 of Glad You Exist

He checks up on me the most. He postmates me food every day, always accompanied by a text saying he just wanted to make sure I have one less thing to worry about.

I’ve noticed the slight changes in Brad’s personality too. He’s a lot more intense and serious now. More protective, probably because of all the stuff happening in my life right now. He for sure isn’t going all big brother on Kim.

Kim’s voice pulls me away from my Brad-infested thoughts.

“Liz. Why is Hunter Davis texting you?” I feel Brad stiffen beside me as we both turn to look at Kim waving my phone around. “More importantly, why is your phone so ancient?”

Hunter? My mind goes blank for a second before I remember he’s a junior I started tutoring last year.

Shoot. Did I forget to tell Jessica about his session today?

I roll my eyes and motion for her to throw it at me. “Because it still works?”

Kim tosses it at me, and Brad leans back so I can catch it.

I unlock my phone and tap on Hunter’s message, ignoring another missed call from Dad.

“Hey beautiful,

Jessica told me about your mom.

If you need someone to make you smile.

Shoot me a text, I got a milkshake with your name on it.”

I scoff.

Hunter is hilarious. Always going on about milkshakes. I hope he’s not bugging Jessica like this. She was gracious enough to sub for me and take over my tutoring for a month.

Still, I wish she hadn’t told Hunter. Now I’m wondering who else she told.

I toss my phone on the bed. I look up to find I’m being stared at expectantly like I was supposed to read that out loud or something.

Well, except for Aunt Rose and Summer.

Aunt Rose is massaging mom’s legs and Summer’s on her phone. They have better things to do than wonder why someone’s texting me.

I frown, “What?”

My brother looks slightly amused albeit curious, “Who is Hunter?”

I’m searching for an appropriate response when I realize he’s not even looking at me, he’s looking at Brad. I turn my head and find Brad looking at my phone intently. Then his eyes bore into mine and the intensity behind them is, well…for lack of a better word.Intense.

Kyle chuckles from behind Brad’s shoulder and answers for me,

“Football player. Running back.”

My brother’s amusement turns into bemusement.

“Why the fuck—sorry Aunt Rose—is he texting you?”

Aunt Rose rolls her eyes as she gets off the bed and leaves the room.

“Curse away. I’ll be right back, just going to ask for an update.”

I take the opportunity to get up. I check on Mom, tucking her blanket tighter around her.

I squeeze her hand, hoping to get one back but she just lays there, motionless. I lean in to kiss her cheek and whisper to her that I love her.

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