“Yes, you are sometimes,” I said.
My father glared at me.
“But you’re our asshole, and sometimes I’m one too. We used to get along better. Do you think you could forgive me for being with Nick?”
“Then or now?” Eli asked.
“There is no now,” I said.
Eli nodded. “I don’t know that I can ever be his friend, but I can let some of this animosity go.”
“That’s a start, son. Thank you.” My father pulled him in for a hug.
I couldn’t be sure we were starting down a new path where Eli wouldn’t be so angry all the time, but I needed to hope we were. “Now that’s taken care of, can you go check on Nick?”
Eli frowned. “I thought you said there was no now?”
“We’re not in a relationship, but we are friends. Working to heal the community he grew up in was his dream. The community turned on him and now he’s quit. I’m worried about him. Aren’t you, Dad?”
My father nodded. “When you put it that way, I am.”
“Where’s my phone? I want to call him.”
“Here’s the stuff you were wearing,” Eli said handing me my clothes. I pulled my phone from my pocket and dialed Nick’s number.
“This is Dr. Foster. If this is an emergency, go to the hospital or call 9-1-1. Otherwise, leave a message.”
I sighed. “Nick, it’s Mia. I just heard the news and wanted to check in with you.” I wasn’t sure what to say after that. That wasn’t true. I wanted to tell him I loved him and wished I could hold him. But with Eli and my dad in the room, and my denying something between us, I said, “Please call me when you can,” and then hung up.
I looked up at my brother and father. “Would you mind going to his house and checking on him?”
My father looked at Eli. Eli nodded reluctantly. “I’ll go.”
“Do you think that’s a good idea?” my father asked.
“If he wants to take a swipe at me, I’ll let him have one. I think I deserve it—”
“Eli—”
Eli held up his hands at my father’s interruption. “But I’ll behave. I promise.”
I had to hope he could keep that promise. “Thank you.”
He nodded. “I’ll be in touch later.”
When he left, my dad came back to my bedside and took my hand.
“Why don’t you sit? Or are you tired? We can catch Eli and he can take you home.”
“I’m not leaving. Not now anyway.” But he did go to sit in a chair.
“Do you think Eli will behave?”
“I think what happened to you was a wake-up call. I just hope it lasts.”
Me too, I thought. “If Nick quit, he might leave town. Maybe go live near his parents.”
My dad shook his head. “I’d miss him, but I can’t blame him. What about the lawsuit?”