Every Heart Read Online Free PDF Page B

never stopped loving Nate and I don’t know if I ever will.
    “He wants to see you. He meant no harm when he came to your place. He’s in bad shape and is healing the best he can. He lost part of his leg when he was gone and mentally he’s pretty messed up.”
    “I know he didn’t mean for anything bad to happen, it just caught me off guard. He was the last person I ever imagined to see.”
    “Arion, I know you need some time to figure everything out, but please know that both Barb and I are here for you if you need anything at all.”
    “Thank you, Jeff. I really don’t know what to do. I just need some space to sort things out. Please tell him that, but I’ll be in touch.
    “Okay, I will.”
    “Oh, how’s Zeus?”
    “He’s good. He’s such a happy pup now that Nate is home. I know it was hard for you to leave him with us, but it all worked out with Nate coming back.”
    “Thank you for taking care of him.”
    “Of course, dear. You take care of yourself.”
    “You too.”
    He hangs up and Bain walks over to me with a huge cup of coffee in hand. “Was that Nate’s dad?”
    “Yeah, he left me a voicemail and said Barb is really sick, so I called him back.” I take a sip of my coffee then settle into the couch.
    “What did he say?” he asks.
    “That Barb is sick and that’s partly why Nate came here.”
    “Do you believe that?”
    “I don’t know what to believe, Bain, everything is such a blur.”
    “I know, baby,” he says pulling me close to him.
    “He also said Nate was held hostage for almost a year and lost part of his leg.”
    Bain reaches over and rubs my back. “I’m sorry, Arion.”
    “This can’t really be happening, can it?” Tears well in my eyes and he takes my coffee from me, setting it down and then scoots closer, wrapping me in his hold.
    “Don’t get upset, baby, we’ll figure this out…together. You hear me?”
    Nodding my head, I hold on to Bain with everything I have.
    Together…together…together. The word rings in my head. If only it were that simple.

“Seriously, Dad, you have to let me call her. I’m losing my mind over here…I need to talk to her.”
    “Nate, I won’t do that to her and you shouldn’t either. You need to show patience and let her be, dammit. The poor girl has been through enough already. Do you really think it’s a good idea, when she asked for space?”
    I shake my head knowing he’s right. The last time that I saw her, I put her in the hospital. The last thing that I want to do is cause any more harm. When she’s ready she’ll come to me. I need to give her time. It pisses me off that I have to, but I do.
    “I got to get to a meeting, son.”
    I nod my head, doing my best to stay calm; I have to keep my temper under control. It’s my own fault I can’t contact her right now. I made the decision to show up at her house and now I have to pay the price.
    He gives me a hug and says, “Thank you for taking care of your mom today.”
    I watch him leave, resting my hand on top of Zeus’ head, taking a few minutes to myself. Fuck, I just want to see her. But then I get a flashback of her collapsing in the hallway and it reminds me why I have to wait ’til she’s ready.
    I take a few deep breaths and head down the hall to my mom’s bedroom. She is lying comfortably on her bed, with her Kindle in hand, reading being one of the last pleasures left to her.
    “Hey, baby,” she says.
    “Hey, Ma.” I set my crutches propped up on her dresser and lie on her bed; Zeus lies next to it on the floor. Since I’ve been home, he has been by my side non-stop. “How are you feeling?” I ask.
    “I’m okay, how about you?”
    “I don’t know, Mom.”
    “Wanna talk about things?” she asks.
    I can’t help but chuckle at this. That’s all I feel like I do anymore, from one doctor to the next. But I know she’s only trying to help. “What is there to talk about? Arion’s with someone else, and she wants nothing to do with