Let's Do This by Loren Leigh

Author:Loren Leigh [Leigh, Loren]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-04-11T16:00:00+00:00

I rest my elbows on my knees, trying to get comfortable on the plastic chair, and wipe my fingers underneath my eyes. I’m exhausted. Late flight into O’Hare. Barely made it in time to hug Raleigh before he was wheeled back. His doctor said the surgery will only take a little over an hour, although the seconds always crawl when we’re in the hospital. One hour feels like four days.

But I’m here.

I still can’t believe the guys and Kelsey did this for me.

My mom steps around the corner with a paper coffee cup in each hand. Yellow Styrofoam cups I recognize from all the time we’ve spent here at Northwestern Memorial. Her curly hair flies everywhere as she plops down next to me and hands me one of the cups.

“Your dad ran across the street to get a newspaper.” She takes off her lid and blows on the coffee. “Raleigh was so relieved that you made it. It means a lot to him.”

“I needed to be here.” I glance around at the drafty little sitting area. The gray Chicago winter sky outside the windows makes it feel chillier than it is. “I know I’ll be home in a few weeks for Christmas, but you know . . .”

I’ve never missed one of my brother’s surgeries. I actually got benched once last year for missing a game, but fuck it. Some things are more important.

Mom replaces her lid and then reaches over to pat my knee. “You look good. Your hair’s gotten longer.”

“Has it?” I run my thumb over the steam coming out of the little drink hole on top of the cup. “I’ve been feeling pretty good lately.”

She smiles. “So, things are going well?”

“You could say that.” I’ve already DMed Burkie like fifty times. Sent four pictures. Flirted with him about all the dirty, dirty things we’re gonna do over FaceTime later.

But being here . . . it’s making me think a whole lot about next year.

Burkie will be gone. And I guess that means all this fun we’ve been having will be over?

I press my thumb over the drink hole.

His room will be empty. He won’t be there when I climb the stairs. Or in the locker room. Or on campus. My throat tightens, a stark coldness lingering there.

Mom takes a sip of her coffee and then wrinkles her nose. “Did I ask the wrong question?”

“No.” I straighten and take my finger off the hole then hold the paper cup with both hands, warming my palms. “Of course not. I’ve just been thinking a lot the last few days. About stuff in the future, I guess.”

“Like what?” Mom waits for me to answer, blinking expectantly.

When I still don’t talk, she just keeps staring, dark brows raised, brown eyes alert. She doesn’t say anything more, just waits.

And it always works. I swear, I can’t hold shit in around her if I tried. Voodoo Mom magic.

I carefully swirl the liquid in my cup. “Nothing to worry about right now. We’ve got a lot on our minds with Raleigh.

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