Total pages in book: 49
Estimated words: 48146 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 241(@200wpm)___ 193(@250wpm)___ 160(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 48146 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 241(@200wpm)___ 193(@250wpm)___ 160(@300wpm)
B.
17
EMIL
I didn’t know what to think about what happened between Bones and his parents. I knew they cared—why else would they rearrange plans to show up?—but maybe their delivery could’ve been better. They did talk about Brody a lot, but what did I know? I’d only met them a few times.
I almost asked Bones if he wanted to join me and my parents for dinner, but maybe that would only rub more salt in the wounds. Besides, it sounded like he wanted to be alone.
After I said goodbye to my parents, I headed back to the room, but Bones was still MIA. I got a text invite from Justin to hang out in Leah’s room tonight since her roommate was out. That sounded like a better option than pacing and worrying about when Bones might show up.
“I ran into Henry,” Leah said as I passed them edibles, then ate a gummy myself. “He mentioned they were watching football tonight in the clubhouse.”
Maybe that was where Bones had headed. I breathed out in relief, glad he’d be surrounded by friends.
“Hard pass,” I said, and Leah laughed. Those guys lived and breathed the sport, which I supposed was a good idea if you were trying to have a winning season. But one game a week was plenty for me.
“So…I saw Bones was hanging out with you and your parents,” Justin said.
“Yeah, I invited him so he wouldn’t be alone before his parents showed.”
“You two have gotten close, huh?” Leah asked.
“Yeah. I’d even venture to say we’re friends.”
“Say it isn’t so!” Justin teased, and we all laughed.
I wanted to tell them more, but it wasn’t a good idea, especially if it ended badly.
We watched a romantic comedy and Leah and I painted each other’s fingernails. We’d just finished when my phone started blowing up with texts from Lark.
Bones had a freak accident at the clubhouse, and Henry said they took him to the Urgent Care center.
My stomach sank. What sort of accident?
I don’t know, just lots of blood, but not life-threatening!
I jumped up, adrenaline flooding my body. All I could think to do was go to him. See for myself. Make sure he was okay.
Thanks for the heads-up.
I grabbed my things.
“Where are you going?” Leah asked.
“There was an incident at the clubhouse. Bones got hurt.” And now I was imagining him jumping off furniture or acting like an idiot. “I don’t know the details, but I’m about to find out.”
Justin and Leah exchanged concerned glances. “Keep us posted,” she said.
I jogged down the stairs and to my car. The Urgent Care center was only a couple of blocks away, so it wouldn’t take me long. I didn’t even care if I looked ridiculous showing up. I was concerned about him, especially after what happened today.
When I got inside, Flash and Henry were in the waiting room.
“What happened?” burst from my lips.
Henry grimaced. “He tried to open a beer bottle—”
“With his teeth,” Flash finished.
I narrowed my eyes. “Let me guess—he cracked a tooth?”
“Bingo.”
I squeezed my eyes shut. And breathed out, thankful it wasn’t more serious. “What a fool.”
Henry nodded. “It fell out, and he almost lost it.”
“There was a lot of blood, so at first, we had no idea what was going on,” Flash said.
I felt a stitch of discomfort. “Was he drunk?”
Henry shook his head. “Nah, that was his first one.”
Flash rolled his eyes. “He showed up late and in a mood.”
“Probably blowing off steam after a day with his parents,” I told them.
I didn’t know why I was defending him. He was an idiot, but I didn’t want him hurt. Or hurting. And he definitely was today.
I looked toward the front desk. “So what can Urgent Care do about a tooth? Isn’t that a job for a dentist or the ER?”
“Believe it or not, they have an emergency oral surgeon on staff. They paged him because you only have a couple of hours’ window to save a tooth.”
“You learn something new every day. You’d think this would’ve happened during a game, not while drinking beer and watching football.”
“That’s why we wear mouthguards on the field,” Flash pointed out.
“Makes sense. So now what?”
“We’re waiting for the procedure to be over.”
“Okay…well, I’m already here.” I sat down. “I can wait too.”
I texted my friends to update them, then made small talk with Flash and Henry.
“Lark told you?” Henry asked.
“Yeah,” I murmured, glancing at Flash. “He figured I’d want to know, being his roommate and all.”
Henry smiled. “Glad he did.”
“Do you think…we need to tell his parents?”
“He asked us not to. He pulled out his insurance card, and we helped the triage nurse fill in the blanks.”
Yeah, I could see why he’d think that wouldn’t go over well. Especially when they were planning for a fundraiser.
A few minutes later, a nurse came out. She said the procedure had gone well and they were able to save his tooth. “He can go home as soon as his anesthesia wears off. He was only lightly under, so it shouldn’t take long.”