Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 76006 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 380(@200wpm)___ 304(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76006 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 380(@200wpm)___ 304(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
He felt safe and content, like maybe everything would be okay. He’d get his memory back, he’d stop having dreams about falling, and he wouldn’t be afraid to climb again.
12
Emerson
“What exactly do they do at occupational therapy?” Neil asked as he sat down in the chair across from Emerson’s desk in his cubicle.
He’d just returned to work after driving Rhys to his appointment and back on his lunch break, and he was cutting it close, even though his boss was being understanding about the situation. Still, he’d have to organize some spreadsheets while chowing down his lunch at his desk, and Neil was kind enough to include his order with his own.
Rhys had been exhausted after the session, but Emerson was able to get him to eat some soup before setting him up on the couch with the remote. He had a couple of hours before the kids got home. So far, their arrangement was working well.
“Good question,” he replied, as Neil opened the paper sack and pulled out a couple of burgers and fries. “Rhys said they do some motor skills and brain activities.”
“To help him remember?” Neil asked, uncovering his cheeseburger.
“Maybe.” He suddenly felt like the topic was too personal. It was also a touchy subject, and following the accident, when he’d felt most raw, he’d come close to telling Neil what happened between him and his best friend. But ultimately he’d decided against it, not only because it was private, but because it wasn’t like Neil could help him get over his crush on his best friend. He’d have to overcome that hurdle all on his own.
And last night didn’t help. The way Rhys had gotten cozy on his shoulder made his stomach quiver with longing. After reveling in his closeness for far too long, he’d helped him get settled in bed. Rhys just mumbled and fell back to sleep, which was totally endearing.
The fact that Rhys had relaxed enough—had trusted him enough—to fall asleep against him while Emerson checked out the skater video, made his heart soar. It had been a cool video, and Emerson was always impressed with the skill level of some of these athletes, but he usually agreed to watch stuff with Rhys because it was important to him. It wasn’t that he didn’t like sports—in fact, he’d been known to turn on minor league ball games during the summer, something else he and Neil had in common.
“How are classes going?” Emerson asked, then bit into a soggy fry. He wasn’t going to complain, because he was starving.
“Pretty good. I have a paper due in my pharmacology class.” Neil was nearly finished with his associate’s degree and hoped to move to the pharmacy department at the hospital as soon as there was an opening. It was slow going because he was taking online and evening classes, but how cool that he was actually working toward something.
Emerson had a steady job, the kids were on his medical, plus his parents’ life insurance had helped pay off some of the bigger bills, but he hadn’t gotten organized enough to fit school into his plans. It all felt too overwhelming at the time.
He logically knew this undertaking was way bigger than all that. He was helping his siblings become responsible adults, and not even his darkest nights, when he felt most devastated, could undermine that. They were his responsibility, and he needed to see it through for his parents. And for himself.
Fuck, he missed his parents. And strangely, he felt closer to them when he and his siblings were home together as a family.
Having Rhys stay in their room had at first felt sacrilegious, then like an answered prayer—and he was no praying man. But if anyone could breathe new life into their home, it was Rhys.
Fuck, he’d almost lost him too.
“Hey, almost forgot,” Neil said, interrupting his musings. “If the Rockets make it to the playoffs, are you interested in catching a game with me? I have a friend with season tickets who can’t use them.”
“Seriously?” The Rockets were a minor league team who played near Bangor and were having a kickass season. “I think I could probably swing it.”
It was honestly nice of him to ask. By that time, Rhys would hopefully be back on his feet and everything would return to normal. Whatever that meant. He shook the melancholy thought away.
“Awesome!” Neil grinned. “Fingers crossed they make it.”
“Definitely,” he replied as Neil balled up his lunch and threw the wrapper in the trash. “Thanks again for lunch.”
He heard excited voices and giggles when he swept through the door after work, and he couldn’t help grinning when he saw the three of them snuggled together on the couch, each with a controller in hand.
“It deploys automatically,” Sam instructed, nudging Rhys.
“Just give me time, and I’ll get the hang of it.” Rhys glanced briefly in his direction as Emerson hung his keys on the hook and placed his backpack in the corner near the coatrack. “Welcome home.”