Ichuckled. “Send the websites my way. I’ve got some time on my hands, so I’llcheck ‘emout.”
“Good.”I could hear her smiling. “Anyway,You’ve Got Mailis about to start,and I actually like that one. So, I’ll talk to you tomorrow, okay?”
Isighed mournfully, not wanting her to go. I didn’t want to feel the distancebetween us grow. I’d been here before, dammit, and I didn’t want to go back.But instead of whining or begging for her to stay on the line, I just replied,“Okay.”
“Tryto keep that ‘roidrage under control, or I’mgonnakick your ass,” she joked.
“Ha-ha,”I drawled, hoping she couldn’t hear the increasing loneliness in my tone.
“’Night,old man.”
“Goodnight,kiddo.”
23
NeverMake Aunt Sarah Mad
CHAD
AWEEKPASSED BYslowly, and I felt myself slowly getting better. The painwas constant but less severe now, and I knew the steroids were helping. Yet,they’d also become the worst part of it. I tried to be more conscious of themood changes, of my hunger and restlessness, but it was difficult when I wasn’taware of it most of the time.
“Whenthe hell am Igonnabe off this shit?” I grumbled tomyself, popping another dose and choking it down with a gulp of water.
Mamaand Sarah sat at the kitchen table with a box of doughnuts, and dammit, Ireached for another. It was my third today. I knew that, and still, I couldn’tstop myself from eating it. I was starving. Alwaysfreakin’hungry.
Sarahsmiled up at me. “You’relookin’ better, honey.”
“Oh,yeah,” I muttered sarcastically around a bite of glazed doughnut. “I’mlookin’somuch better.”
“Chad,”Mama scolded lightly. “Be nice.” Then, she looked to Sarah and laid a hand overhers. “It’s the Prednisone. He’s moody.”
Sarahnodded sympathetically. “Molly told me.”
“What’dMolly tell you?” I asked, my ears pricking at the mention of her name. I sat atthe table and swiped the back of my hand across my forehead. “God, is it hot inhere?”
“It’sJune in Texas, honey,” Sarah teased with a light laugh, and she turned to Mama.“You’d think this boy spentallhis time on the road.”
“It’sthe Prednisone.” Mama waved it away. It’d become her practiced line, afterreading up on the drug online. I guess it was better than her initial bout ofdenial. “Hot all the time, weight gain, moodiness, hunger, acne, inability tosleep … He’s been hit with it all.”
“Thanks,Mama.” I was glad she hadn’t asked me about any changes to my libido. I’m notsure I’d hesitate to mention that, nope, it hadn’t been affected at all. Ifanything, my sexual appetite was worse than the one in my stomach, and Imight’ve been blaming my nightly phone conversations with Molly.
“Mollysays you’ve beendoin’ yoga?” Sarah asked, leaningback in her chair.
Inodded. “Everymornin’.”
“Hasit been helping at all?”
“It’shard to say,” I answered honestly. “I’m not noticing much of a change with mystomach, but I am still technically in a flare, so …” I shrugged flippantly.“But I think it’s helped with my mood, and I’m enjoying it. So, it’s not acomplete waste of my time, I guess.”
“Molly’sexcited for you to join her yoga group,” Sarah said, grinning. “She loves beingwith Kylie and Tess. They’ve become such great pals. It’s sad that she won’tget to see ‘emall that often once the tour’s over.You know how difficult it’s always been for her to make friends.”
We could move to Connecticut.At the thought,I instantly fell into adaydream of Molly and me living together in a house of our own. We’d live nearDevin and Jon, and she’d be able to hang out with Kylie and Tess all the time,if she wanted.
God,the thought was nice. A little crazy, maybe. We weren’t even together, but hey,Devin and Kylie were best friends before they became a thing. They livedtogether for years before they started dating, too. Who says we couldn’t be thesame?
“She’shavin’ such a good time,” Sarah went on. “It’s nicethat she’s finallygettin’ to seesomethin’outside of this place. She’s never really wanted to leave, but I’m glad she’slivin’ a little.”
Mamanodded. “I know. I’ve beenwatchin’ her pictures onInstagram. She looks so happy.”
