Resilient (12 page)

“Hey, dude!” Kyle says, standing up. “Before you say anything, I’m here to apologize for Saturday night and for Lindsay. I wasn’t a good friend, and I’m real sorry. I mean it.”

Kyle has always been the nice one, the one to do the right thing. That was why I didn’t understand it when he hooked up with my ex. He has always been there for me, standing by my side, keeping all my secrets. That’s what matters. I guess Livia is right, we all make mistakes.

“Yeah, man, no problem. I just wish you would’ve told me. I don’t care about Lindsay. What I didn’t like was that you went behind my back. I don’t get it.”

“I know, she came on to me and I didn’t think you would care. It wasn’t until later that I realized I should’ve checked with you first. I’m sorry.”

“Why were you so angry with me last Saturday?” I ask. “I thought you were going to punch me.”

“It’s just that, everything comes so easily to you. Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy for you, and I love you like a brother, but it makes me mad that you take everything for granted, all the girls you push aside without giving them a chance, the super abilities you have… And all you do is complain about it. You know, anyone would give anything to be able to do the things you can. I was just frustrated and drunk.” 

I sit down on the couch and run both hands through my hair, hard, trying to dispel the sudden tension in my body. “You don’t know what you’re talking about Kyle, it’s way more complicated than that. I push girls away because a real relationship requires you to open up, show your real self, like what Matt and Bri have. There’s no girl that I know who won’t run away screaming when they find out.”

“They’ll say—“

“That I am a freak.”

“Come on, Adam. They’ll think you are their superhero!” He laughs but I don’t. Things are not as easy for me as Kyle thinks. I wish I were normal, and that he wouldn’t be so jealous all the time.

“The grass is always greener at the other side.”

“Yeah, I know, and one day you’ll see your side is greener.” He flops down on the couch, letting out a huge sigh. “Anyway, the point is, I’m sorry it took me this long to apologize. I should have just talked to you.”

I can see that he means it, and he really wants to make amends. Truth be told, I miss him. Kyle and I have been friends for as long as I remember. These past couple of months were hard not talking to him.

“Friends forgive and forget, right?” I stick out my hand to shake. 

He pulls me into a hug and then claps me on the back. “I’ll never let a girl come between us again.” And then we’re best friends again, just sitting on the couch watching TV, like nothing was ever wrong.

Yet one tiny worry lingers. I hope his promise means that he’s not interested in Livia, because if he is, I can’t promise I’ll stay away from her. 

At the next commercial, he stands up and tosses me the remote. “I gotta go. I promised Dad that I would shut down the market tonight, but I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“See you later, man.” 

After dinner and a shower, I get ready to go to bed. It’s early but I didn’t get enough sleep last night and my eyes are burning. When I’m about to turn my TV off, my phone rings. I rush to it and it’s Matt. 

“Yo! What’s up?”

“Adam! I just left Kyle’s market and he told me you guys are back on speaking terms. Is that right?”

“Yeah, why?”

“How about a pool game to celebrate?” Matt sounds excited.

“Really, dude? I don’t have money to lose. I’m out of cash.” I’m just hoping he will let this go. 

“Oh, come on! Don’t be such a wuss. Get your saggy butt over here in ten. Kyle is on his way.” 

Before I can protest, he hangs up. 

*                            *                              *

When I get to Matt’s, I see Kyle’s car parked in the driveway. I walk in the house and Brianna is seated on the couch watching TV. 

“Hey, Bri!” I sit next to her and steal some of her popcorn. Her company is more welcome than Kyle’s. Honestly, I am half afraid Livia’s name will come up should I talk to him.

“So you came after all?” Bri asks through a mouthful of popcorn.

“It’s not like Matt gave me a choice. You know how he can be persuasive.”

She snorts. “So, tell me about Saturday night. You and Livia left together…then what?” She is wearing her ear-to-ear, gossip-loving smile. I know it well.

“Let’s just skip this, Bri. There’s nothing to tell.” I scoot around her nosiness and get off the couch to go meet the guys.

“Yeah, that’s what she said, too,” she calls after me. “Nothing happened. She sounded a little disappointed.”

“Did she?” I ask and Brianna laughs.

“I knew you cared. I’m starting to think you care too much. Don’t you?”

“Maybe you should think a little less, Bri.”

I get into the media room to find Kyle and Matt drinking beers and chalking their pool cues. “Didn’t you two get enough to drink last weekend?” I say, grabbing a cue from the rack. 

“Matt’s parents won’t be home until tomorrow, so we might as well drink what’s left.” Kyle hands me a beer.

“I’ll pass.” 

“What’s the matter with you, Adam? Still hung over?” Matt asks. I ignore him. “Here, grab a can.” He throws it to me. Matt is always pushy. Kyle usually gives in, but not me, not this time.

“I’m cool, dude!” I start dropping the pool balls into the frame, moving them around into the right configuration.

Matt eyes me and says, “I heard what Aphrodite did to Livia. How is she doing?” 

Talk about salt in a wound.  It wasn’t so much what Aphrodite did, more of what I didn’t do. Before I can answer Matt’s question, Kyle jumps into the conversation.

“I went to see her today,” he says. “She said she feels fine and her leg is getting better already. But it’ll be a while before she’s up and running again.”

“That sucks!” Matt says. 

I watch as Kyle talks about his visit with Livia. I saw her wincing and I know her leg hurt. She didn’t seem fine to me. When he talks about her, I get a feeling that he cares too much—to use Brianna’s words. I wonder if she feels the same way about him. She did look way too comfortable dancing with him last Saturday. My hand closes in a fist as I realize how much I don’t like the idea of them together. But I know Kyle wouldn’t hurt her; he is not like that. He is not like me. 

“She’s smoking hot man!” I hear Matt saying, putting me in a worse mood. His eyes swerve to me. “Did you two hook up last Saturday?” 

I didn’t expect the question and it takes me a moment to answer him. If I said yes, Kyle would move on, and I wouldn’t have to worry about him putting moves on Livia, but I can’t lie; she would hate me for that. 

“Nope. Nothing happened.” I gesture to the table. “You wanna break?”

“You hesitated, dude. I’m not sure if I believe you.”

“Believe whatever you want.” I say, and feel Kyle studying me.

After playing two games, Kyle puts a fifty-dollar bill in his pocket. “I’m out,” I say, taking a sip from my Coke.

“Your game is off tonight,” says Kyle. “If you were drinking, I would blame the alcohol.”

“I’ve just got things on my mind right now.” 

But Kyle knows me too well and he knows something isn’t right. The look on his face confirms my suspicion. Three months of fighting hasn’t affected our ability to read one another. 

“Well, I gotta get some sleep,” I add, heading for the door. “I’ll see you guys tomorrow.”

*                            *                              *

As I’m pulling out of Matt’s gate, I see a person standing outside. It’s a guy in a hoodie, and he steps out right in front of my fender. I hit the brakes hard. He crosses in front of my car and goes right for my window, which is down because the evening is warm. He pulls the hood off his face—the Stevens guy is standing next to my window. Anxiety courses trough my limbs, and I tighten my grip on the steering wheel.

I stare at him, contemplating if I should roll up my window or not. He obviously followed me here. He could be a psychopath, or he could have information. I remember what he was saying in Dad’s office and I don’t know if I really want to know the truth behind it. 

But before I can make up my mind, he says, “We need to talk. Let me in.”

“You are not getting in my car. In fact, I have nothing to say to you.” I am hoping he’ll turn around and leave.

“I’m sure you have many questions about yourself, and I can give you the answers.”

“I have no idea what you are talking about, and if you don’t leave my father and me alone, I’ll report you to the cops.” I shut my window, step on the gas, and drive away.

It was a mistake to even stop the car. What was I thinking? What could a stranger possibly know about me? He said he has answers, but how? And to what questions?

When I get home, I find Dad on the computer in his office. 

“Adam!” He smiles. “How are you?”

“Good, I guess.” I walk closer to him, my hands a little shaky, either from anger or frustration. “Dad, who was that guy yelling at you at the hospital the other day?” 

He pauses, choosing his words carefully. “He’s an unstable man, Adam. Probably due to a trauma he went through seventeen years ago.”

“What happened?”

“He lost his child the night you were born. He had a bad car accident and his infant son didn’t survive. The day he was checked out of the hospital was the same day your mom and I were taking you home. He saw us in the parking lot and came up to us, screaming that we were taking his son. Security had to take him away.” Dad shakes his head and sighs. “Poor guy, a tragedy like that can really mess up someone’s head.” 

Dad studies me and I study him back, measuring his ability to lie to my face.

I remember Stevens saying his son was never hurt or sick. Then Dad said Stevens checked in to the hospital due to a bullet wound, not a car accident. I should believe what Dad is saying—it makes sense—but something doesn’t feel right. I nod, pretending that I buy his story, and leave the room.

I am going to piece this together on my own. The next time I see Stevens, we’ll have our talk.

I’m feeling pretty good about taking a shower and dressing all by myself this morning. My leg is far better than I expected it to be forty-eight hours after the accident. The only thing bothering me right now is this cast. It’s awkward to walk with and I feel like I’m going to lose my balance. Of all things, it feels unnecessary.

In the kitchen, there’s still coffee in the pot. From out the window, I can see Mom talking to Adam. I make my way to the sliding door just as they’re coming in.

“Livia! Why didn’t you call me to go get you?” Mom says, staring at me.

“I feel better. My leg doesn’t hurt. I didn’t want to bother you.” I wave at Adam, who is dressed in a black and white flannel shirt and nice jeans—not riding clothes.

Mom gives me a look but says, “I have to go to the grocery store and Adam is going to stay here and keep you company.”

“I don’t need a babysitter!” I snap. I don’t want Adam to think I’m needy.

“Livia, thank him for the favor.” She turns to look at Adam, who is giving me a taunting “you’re in trouble now” look. “I appreciate you coming over, Adam. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

“Take your time, Mrs. Berwick. I don’t have any place to be.” Of course, he is all good manners now.

Mom hurries to leave with the boys and Adam makes his way into the house. Bento comes up to him, smelling him up and down. “Hey boy!” Adam says, tousling his ears. He turns his attention to me. “So your leg doesn’t hurt at all?”

“No, it doesn’t.” I sit down at the kitchen table.

“That’s what you told Kyle yesterday, and then you told me something different.”

“What do you mean?”

“He was telling Matt and me last night that you were feeling great. But I recall watching you wince in pain and asking for pillows.” He’s opening all the cabinets, searching for cups. 

“The cups are in the top left one. And about Kyle, I’m glad you two made up.”

“You like him, don’t you?” He gets a cup of water and sits next to me. “You didn’t want him to worry about you.”

“It’s not like that,” I say, meeting his gaze. I don’t understand where this is coming from or why he’s worrying so much. “I just don’t want anyone feeling bad for me.”

“You didn’t bother to hide the truth from me.”

“Did you want me to?” He runs his hand through his hair, leaning back in the chair. “I was just wondering why.”

“With you, I don’t feel the need to pretend. It’s not like you really care if I’m better or not.” I look away from him. 

“Why would you think that? I do care.” His voice is sharp with frustration.

“You care because you think this is your fault, not because you care for me.”

“You couldn’t be more wrong.” His eyes drill into mine and I swear I see a glimpse of irritation. I’m not sure if he really means what he says, but the possibility that he does care makes me want to smile, and when I do, he bites his bottom lip.

“So what do you want to do?” he asks.

“I don’t really care.”

“We could watch funny videos online.”

“That sounds good, actually!”

He stands and offers me a hand. I take it, and his touch makes me shiver inside. I wonder if he notices the effect he has on me. After all, his face has been a constant presence in my mind these past few days.

“Where’s your computer?” 

“It’s in my room upstairs,” I say, walking over to the stairs. He rushes to my side, putting his hand on my lower back. We are so close to one another, I can feel his body heat. 

“I’m fine to walk, really. It doesn’t hurt anymore.” 

He gives me space but lingers close enough to catch me should I overestimate myself.

We get to my bedroom door and he pushes it open. “I took Aphrodite for a run today,” he starts up. “She did fine, but Alo is coming over in the afternoon to do some real training on her.”

“Thanks for checking on her,” I reply, and his returning smile is sincere.

We end up sitting on my bed, watching stupid YouTube videos until we’re snorting with laughter. Adam laughs so hard that it makes me laugh at him instead of the videos.