Page 101 of You're so Bad

ChapterTwenty-Six

Leonard

It feels like everything is hanging in the balance. It’s been one hell of a day. Highs in the clouds, lows dancing down with the devil.

At least I’m with her.

After Burke and I got done talking, he dropped me off home. I walked through the house five times, going room to room like I was looking for something, Bean following me because she probably hoped that something was food—and then I realized why I felt restless. Because I was looking for her, and she wasn’t there.

I don’t know if I have it in me to be the man for Shauna, but I realized then that I had to try. So, I put on my boots and ran six miles like an idiot, nearly getting creamed crossing the road.

It was worth it.

I tell myself that if I could find it within myself to do that rather than hiding or running, then I can do this too. All it will take is pressing the button. Answering the call.

He’s dead.

He’s alive.

He’s—

I press it.

“Leonard?” Reese’s voice comes over the phone, and I nearly drop it. Until this second, I didn’t realize how worried I was about this kid—a kid I barely even know. In the back of my mind, I was certain he’d bit it. That he was dead, and it was my fault for being such a deadbeat dumbass that I didn’t do more to stop it.

“Thank the Christ, kid. I’ve been flipping out, wondering what happened to you. Where are you?”

“I’m at your place. I decided I was going to take a bus out of town, get as far away as I could. I like the beach, so I went to Wilmington. But there was some trouble at the shelter I was staying at, and—”

I flash back to that hotel room—the sound of the door opening, ripped so hard the chain broke. My father, coming at me with that bat, his eyes cold. I didn’t start crying until the fourth time he hit me, because that one broke my arm.

Shauna puts a hand on that same arm, squeezing. She’s saying my name, I realize, and so is Reese.

Shit. Reese.

“Stay put, kid. I’m coming.”

“Can you get some cereal and milk? The only food here is mustard and bread and a box of mac and cheese. But there’s no milk. Don’t you eat adult food?”

“Not when I can help it. There’s some fruit rollups in the cupboard over the sink. You should’ve seen what all we had for you last week. How’s them stitches?”

He pauses, which isn’t good. “It’s puffy…and it smells a bit.”

I swear under my breath.

“You been taking care of it?”

“Not as good as I should have.”

I look up at Shauna, my mind working at the problem.

Constance. Constance was a nurse. Sure, she stopped being a nurse twenty odd years ago, but I’ll bet it’s like riding a bike. Someone who’s been a nurse will know if it’s infected.

“We might have someone who can help us with that.”

“I can’t go to the doctor, man. He’ll find me.”

“I’m not talking about the doctor. I’m talking about someone better than the doctor. Don’t leave, Reese. We’re gonna help you.”

---