The Senior (College Years 4)

“Great. Good for Eli. Life seems to be going well for him,” Ryan says, his tone vaguely sarcastic.

I glare at him, a nasty insult on the tip of my tongue, but I swallow it down. He’s dealing with his own problems and battling his own demons. We all handle our issues differently, and I shouldn’t judge. I don’t know him that well.

I just wish he would be a better brother to Eli.

“He’s doing very well. You’d know that if you called him more often.” Oops, a dig slipped out after all.

His lips thin but, otherwise, he doesn’t acknowledge my comment. “I’ve got my mother handled, but I appreciate you coming by.”

He starts to walk away, heading toward his mom’s room and I call out to him, “Do you really?”

Ryan pauses, glancing over his shoulder. “What did you just say?”

“Do you really appreciate me coming here?” I follow after him, dying to hear his answer. “Because you don’t seem like you’re happy with me showing up at all. You haven’t spoken to Eli today?”

“I came straight here after I got the call from the hospital last night. I’ve been driving ever since.” He turns to face me, resting his hands on his hips. He reminds me of Eli, though I can’t help but think my boyfriend is way cuter. Of course, Ryan also looks super tired with the dark bags under his eyes, but he is undeniably handsome. And right now, I can tell he’s irritated with me.

Well, that’s great. I’m irritated with him too.

“And you didn’t call your brother,” I say as I catch up with him.

He sends me an irritated look. “No, I haven’t. Why would I?”

“Why wouldn’t you?” I ask incredulously. “You knew he came to the hospital last night. Don’t you think you should’ve checked in with him and see what he had to say?”

He comes to a stop right before her room, glaring at me. “He’s not even here this morning.”

“He has a game to get ready for,” I return, crossing my arms.

“Football is more important to him than our mother. Noted.” He nods once, his expression flat as he starts for the door.

I step in front of him, getting in his way. “That’s not true. You have no idea what’s going on in his life, or what he needs to do. He was perfectly willing to not play today and come pick up your mother, but I told him I would take care of it. If he’d known you were coming, he wouldn’t have to worry at all, but you can’t even bother to send him a quick text to let him know what’s going on.”

Ryan says nothing and I shake my head, letting my frustration pour out.

“I don’t understand any of you. Seriously.” I step closer, lowering my voice. “Your mother has a drinking problem, and Eli doesn’t know how to fix it. She keeps playing it off like there’s nothing wrong, and he doesn’t know what to do. He needs your help. Your support. But you’re too busy doing whatever it is you’re doing, while you run away from your family and your problems.”

“You don’t know what my problems are,” he accuses, his brows furrowing.

“No, of course I don’t because you don’t talk to anyone. You don’t tell anyone shit. You just let it build up and it resides right there.” I poke at his chest with my index finger. “Weighing on your heart. You can’t run away from your problems, Ryan. They’re always there, sitting on your heart, reminding you of how much you’ve messed up your life.”

He glares at me, absently rubbing his chest. “Eli has mentioned you’ve got a mouth on you.”

“I don’t hold back,” I say proudly. “Now I’m going to go in there so I can say hi to your mother, but it’s on you to get her home. Step up and actually help out for once. That woman needs you. So does your brother.”

I huff out a breath and turn on my heel, walking straight into the room and hitting their mother with a bright smile when our gazes connect.

“Good morning,” I say as I approach the side of her bed. Her face is more bruised this morning and she looks tired. “How are you feeling?”

“Beat up,” she says with a small smile. “The nurses warned it would hurt more the morning after, and they were right. I ache everywhere.”

Reaching out, I gently pat her arm, grateful she doesn’t wince when I touch her. The last thing I want to do is hurt her. “Are they ready to release you?”

“Yes, soon.” She frowns. “Where’s Eli? I thought I heard him outside?”

“I volunteered to come get you,” I say. “But I just ran into—”

“Mom.” Ryan strides into the room with a giant smile on his face and an equally giant bouquet of pink roses in his arms. “Are you all right?”