“Yeah, Avery. You’ve been pushing other girls, trying to feel me out, and now you’re checking in to make sure it’s okay I go to the hospital. I’ve been there most of the week with her and the family, including Clara.” I thought all of this was behind me. “Did Clara or Dillon put you up to this?”
“No, man. I was just looking out for my friends. Nothing more.”
“Got it,” I said. “And what did Dillon say?”
“He said it was cool and that you had been there most of the week.”
“Yeah, that’s what I thought he said.” I rolled my eyes and eased back in my seat. When was everyone going to get off of my back about the past?
Will drove me to the hospital and dropped me off at the front entrance. “Thanks for the ride,” I said before I shut the door. I didn’t have a whole lot to say to him and still thought there was something fishy going on with the guy.
Clara was downstairs in the cafeteria waiting in line. “Hey,” she called. “Are you already back from the game? I thought it wouldn’t be until later.”
“I left early.” I didn’t want to tell her I had a spat with the coach or that I had hit him in the face.
“Well, Avery sent me down for some food. She hasn’t stopped eating since she woke up. I swear they took out her spleen and gave her an extra stomach.”
We shared a laugh. “But at least that means she’s getting her strength back.”
“Yeah,” she said. I hoped I hadn’t hit a sore spot with her. “That reminds me. I just wanted to thank you for helping her with the blood donation. It really means a lot that you care about her. And I know you don’t need it, but you have my blessing to see her if that even means anything.”
“It does.”
“Good.”
“Do you want me to help you carry some of this stuff back?” I took the tray from her, making it easier to hold their drinks. She had already gotten their food but still needed to pay.
“Yeah, but you should get you something while you’re here.”
“Nah, I’m good. I don’t have much of an appetite at the moment.”
“I know how that is,” she said with a big smile as if making fun of herself. She was actually really nice now that I had gotten to spend a week with her at Avery’s bedside.
“So, Will Tanner dropped me off. He had to call Dillon for permission first.”
Clara laughed. “He means well.”
“That’s what I keep telling myself.” I didn’t let her know that I wasn’t so sure about that.
Chapter 21
Avery
While Seth was at his game, I had another visitor show up.
Abi sat at the foot of my bed, painting my toenails. “You’re going to love this color,” she said. “It lasts forever.”
“And it’s crazy expensive. Clara was telling me about it. She went to pick some up and changed her mind when she saw the price.” I had noticed that Abi had a lot of quality makeup and was surprised by the prices of the few things I’d purchased. Thankfully, I had a couple of unused gift cards my father had sent to me on my last birthday.
“Yeah, I guess so. You can have this one if you want. I can pick up another.” She talked like it wasn’t a big deal, and while I had always figured she had some money, I was beginning to wonder just how much wealth she came from.
“That’s okay. You can keep it. I don’t paint my toenails much anyway.”
“You have to at least paint your toes.”
“It’s not like anyone else ever sees them.”
“Hello? Seth might see them.”
“I keep my feet looking nice. I just don’t like polish.” I didn’t see how it could be a big deal. “Anyway, I’m glad you came. I’ve wanted to offer you Clara’s old room. I need a roommate now that she’s moved in with Dillon, and I thought you might want to come live with me instead of the dorms.”
She shrugged her shoulder. “I’m kind of tough to live with.”
“Your roommate never has any problems.”
“Actually, I don’t have a roommate. She bailed on me a while back. My parents paid her to keep her mouth shut about the reason why, but since you want me to move in with you and we’re friends, I guess I should tell you.”
“Tell me what?”
“I have a few problems. I know I might seem normal, but medication helps with that. If I get off of it, which tends to happen now and then, I get a little unbearable.”
“It can’t be that bad.”
“Oh, it is. I wanted to live in the dorm to get the full college experience and to try to be a bit normal. But my parents have been at me to get my own place. Especially when they had to bribe my roomy to keep her yap shut about my little problem.” She took a deep breath. “I’m bipolar.”
“But you stay on your meds, and I could help you with that.” I didn’t know anyone else I would want to come and live with me.
“I appreciate the offer, but I just don’t know right now. I’m doing good, I’m making good grades, and I’ve got things the way I want them in my place.”
“I understand.” I didn’t want to push her.
“But the other residents really hate my music.” She sighed. “I’ll think about it. It might be fun.”
“Okay, just let me know. It’s no rush.”
About that time, Clara returned with nothing but a couple of drinks. “You will never guess who I found lurking around the cafeteria.”
“Do I want to know?” I asked as Seth poked his head around the corner.
“Hey, what are you doing back in town? You should be at the game.”
“It ended a bit early for me.”
I could already tell by his expression it wasn’t good. “Did you get tossed out?”
“Yeah.”
“Fighting?” I held my breath and waited for an explanation.
“Yes. But I had a good reason, and I’d do it again.”
“Was I the reason?”
“Yeah. Can you think of a better one?”
I sank in my bed. “Oh, Seth, I’m sorry. I swore I wouldn’t get in the way of the game, and I did.”
Seth shook his head, put my food tray on the table, and pushed it over my bed. “You aren’t to blame. I only said you’re the reason. There’s a difference. I’m to blame, and as I said, I’d do it again. Coach has been rough on me all year, and he just pushed it too far.”
“Wait, you hit Coach Carr?” I couldn’t believe it. He had not only gotten kicked out of the game but possibly off of the team too.
“I wouldn’t have come here if I had known you’d be so upset.”
“How could I not be?”
Abi looked at Clara. “I think we should give them a little space. I saw a table in the hall.” She hopped up and closed the nail-polish bottle as Clara took their food and hit the door.
“I’m not upset, babe. I actually feel okay with it. He said if I hadn’t gotten with you in the first place, there would have been no accident.”