Page 122 of Third and Ten

Are you at home?

JD

Pretty sure I am.

Tenley

Should I come over to check on you?

JD

OK. I’m just so tired. Is a school night?

Tenley

JD, don’t go anywhere. Promise?

JD

…

I wait a few seconds for another text to pop up, but I’m more concerned about his well-being than anything else at this point. I pull out of the parking lot as I stuff my phone into the pocket of the hoodie I’d thrown on over my scrubs earlier. I’d taken it from him a couple of weeks back, and I hadn’t realized until now that I’ve been wearing it every day since I last saw him.

To my relief, his truck is parked in the driveway, and a few lights are on inside the house. I probably should be satisfied with that, but I can’t bear to think of leaving him alone inside, sad and drunk and lonely, especially since it’s all my fault. I walk up to the front door and knock softly, then press my ear to the windowpane. I don’t hear any movement, so I pull out my phone.

Tenley

Hey, do you know where JD keeps his spare house key?

Ethan

why do you ask?

Tenley

Just tell me where the damned key is.

Ethan

there’s a magnetic box over the window on the right side.

Tenley

Thanks. This conversation never happened.

Ethan

but it totally did, and now i’m saving it for a rainy day. *smiling face with sunglasses emoji*

I roll my eyes but follow his directions to find the key box. Then I unlock the door and replace the spare key before venturing inside.

“JD? Hey…it’s me, Tenley. I’m coming in, okay?”

There’s a low grunt coming from the living room, so I make my way over to the couch to find him lying face down, fully clothed, the top portion of his body covered with a throw blanket that’s too short to reach his feet.

“Are you all right?” I pull the blanket back from his head, and he rolls onto his back.

“Tenley?” he asks, squinting at me.

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