Amazingly, Nate walked back in a minute later, a small, dark-haired man in his wake. He leaned over the bed. “Hi, Lucas. The doctor is on his way.” The nurse cradled the back of his head and tipped some lukewarm water down his throat.
From the hall came a constant beeping, and Lucas winced at the noise. His head felt as if it weighed fifty pounds. The nurse hurried out, and Nate sat in the chair at Lucas’s bedside again. He looked tense and exhausted.
“What…what happened?” Lucas felt as if he hadn’t spoken in days.
“You don’t remember?”
Lucas shook his head ever so slightly.
“You got hit by a car last night. Near school.”
Thinking back, Lucas still couldn’t remember any car accident. “You sure?”
“Of course I’m sure. You bruised your ribs and banged up your knee pretty bad. They said you bounced over the hood and bumped your head when you landed.”
“Oh.” Lucas wanted to say more, but didn’t have the energy.
A woman bustled into the room scanning a patient chart. “Hi, Lucas. I’m Dr. Kadikar.” Leaning over, she flashed a penlight into his eyes. “You had a nasty run-in with a taxi, but you’re going to be fine.” She briskly jotted down a note on the chart.
“You have a slight concussion, and we’re giving you painkillers for your ribs and your knee. You’re lucky -- your knee wasn’t broken, but you did twist the ligaments. It’s going to be a challenge to walk for a week or so, and you’ll need to keep your knee iced and elevated.”
Dr. Kadikar scanned the chart briefly once more. “I’m going to discharge you, but it says here you don’t have any immediate family.” She turned to Nate, who stood beside her. “I assume you’re going to be able to help him?”
Lucas opened his mouth to tell the doctor that Nate wasn’t even supposed to be there, let alone be his nursemaid. Nate spoke first. “Of course.”
“Perfect.” Dr. Kadikar smiled at Lucas. “Nice to have friends, isn’t it? Take care now, and watch out for those taxis.” Then she was gone, her white lab coat swirling behind her.
Lucas cleared his throat. “You don’t have to help. I’ll hire a nurse or something. I have good insurance.”
Taking the chair again, Nate sighed. “Don’t be stupid.”
“Why are you here?”
Nate looked down, hiding his expression. His voice was flat. “You don’t want me here?”
Of course I do
. “I mean, how did you know?”
“They called me just before midnight. You put me in your phone as an emergency contact, remember?”
A faint recollection crawled through his mind. “I’m sorry I didn’t change it. They shouldn’t have bothered you.”
“It’s not a bother.” Nate spit the words out.
“They should have called…” Lucas tried to think of someone else, and came up empty.
Nate ran his hand through his hair and peered out the window. “Right, I get it. I can call Casey for you. I should have thought of it earlier and gotten his number off your cell. Sorry.”
“No, that’s not what I meant --”
“Lucas?” Mrs. Kramer swept into the room, her husband and Sam in tow. “Oh, my goodness! How are you, sweetheart?”
Lucas didn’t have a chance to reply before Sam moved around the other side of his bed and examined Lucas’s purple and swollen knee. “Dude! I popped my knee out of joint once playing ball. Hurts like a bitch, huh? But don’t worry, it’ll heal faster than you think.”
“Oh, you poor dear.” Mrs. Kramer clucked her tongue and shook her head. “We came back just as quickly as we could.”
“Back?” Lucas’s head felt foggy.
“Nathaniel called us last night in Chicago. We caught the earliest flight we could today and Sam picked us up at the airport.”
“I was in Jersey City with the guys, but doofus didn’t think to call me,” Sam piped up.
“Because you’d have been
so
much help.” Nate rolled his eyes at his brother.
“Hey! I can be helpful.”
Mr. Kramer raised his hands. “I’m sure we’re giving Lucas an even bigger headache than he already has.” He squeezed Lucas’s shoulder gently. “How are you feeling, son?”
Hearing Mr. Kramer call him that gave Lucas a rush of warmth, followed by thoughts of his father and a pang of guilt and loss. He smiled weakly. “Like I got hit by a truck.”
“Don’t worry, you’ll be feeling better in no time,” Nate’s mother assured him. “I’ll make some matzoh ball soup as soon as we get you home.”
Lucas swallowed hard over the lump in his throat. “That’s so kind of you, but I’m going to get a nurse. I can’t inconvenience you like that.”
“Inconvenience?” Mrs. Kramer laughed. “Don’t be
meshugenah
. It must be that bump on your head.”
Lucas darted a glance to Nate. Sure, Nate might have come to the hospital when they called, but there was no way he wanted Lucas back at the Kramers’ house. Not after what Lucas had done. “Really, I couldn’t.”
Mrs. Kramer followed his nervous gaze to Nate. “Now I know you boys didn’t get along being roommates, but you’re still friends, aren’t you?”
“Um…” Lucas wasn’t sure how to answer.
“Of course,” Nate said.
“Then it’s settled.” Mrs. Kramer patted Lucas’s arm. “You need to know when to ask for help.”
The nurse came back and Mrs. Kramer took control, getting Lucas’s pain medication prescription and filling out all the necessary forms. Sam rambled on to Lucas about the latest problems with Amanda, and Nate stood quietly in the corner, watching.
Lucas spoke up. He was sure Nate would be extremely unhappy with Lucas invading his house. “Really, I can’t impose on you.”
Mrs. Kramer glanced up from the form she was filling out. “This is what family is for. Now there are a few blanks here that you’ll need to give me the answers for.”
Lucas turned his head, blinking away tears as he answered her questions and the Kramers prepared to take him home.
Chapter Eleven
Mr. Kramer leaned the crutches against the bedside table that sat between the twin beds in Nate’s room. Lucas was propped up in the bed closest to the door, and Mrs. Kramer gently slid another pillow under Lucas’s swollen left knee.
“How’s that feel?” She smiled at him expectantly.
“Fine.” Truthfully, it felt hideously painful, but no amount of pillows would change that.
Nate stood by the window, watching his parents fuss over Lucas. Lucas felt another stab of guilt that he was invading Nate’s space. The room was virtually unchanged from when he’d first stayed there almost a year ago. The childish sailboat wallpaper remained, and clothing piled up around the room, since Nate had transformed his closet into a darkroom.
“Now I’m going to make you some soup.” Mrs. Kramer glanced at her watch. “It’s almost dinnertime anyway. Do you want anything right now? Are you hungry?
“No, I’m fine. Thank you.”
“Okay, Nate can watch you.” She turned to her son. “Now remember he has a little concussion --”
“Mom, I remember. I was there when the nurse gave his spiel.”
“Deanna, let’s leave Lucas to get some rest.” Mr. Kramer steered his wife to the door.
She nodded, and to Lucas said, “I’ll be back up to check on you.”
“Thank you again for everything.” Lucas felt both grateful and guilty.
When they were gone, Nate sat down on the twin bed opposite Lucas. “So.”
“So,” Lucas replied. “I’m sorry about this. I shouldn’t be here.”
“I told you I can call him for you. I’m sure he’ll come get you.”
Lucas frowned. His head still felt packed with cotton balls. “Who?”
“Your boyfriend.”
“My…you mean Casey?”
“Unless you have another one.”
“No; I thought I told you. We don’t talk anymore.”
“You broke up?”
“I guess. We were never really together. I mean, not like…
we
were. Not even close.”
Nate stood and paced over to his desk, where he fiddled with some paperclips. “Sorry things didn’t work out for you guys.”
“I’m not.”
Nate was about to reply when Sam opened the door. “Hey, you remember that babe Andrea from school?”
It took a moment for Lucas to realize he was talking to him. “Uh, I think so.” He had vague memories of a nice girl who’d clearly had a crush on him.
“I ran into her the other day. She asked about you, but I was thinking of asking her out. You mind?”
“No, it’s fine. What about Amanda?”
Sam frowned. “It’s over with her. She doesn’t want me the way I am. She wants me to change.”
“Can you blame her?” Nate dryly asked.
“Hey, at least I only moved home because I had nowhere else to go. You’re back here because you miss Mommy.”
Actually, because I cheated on him
. Lucas coughed. “I really need a nap.”
“Sorry, man. We’ll talk later, okay?” With that, Sam was gone.
“Nate, I --”
“Get some sleep.” Nate pulled his desk chair out and sat down, facing away from Lucas. He opened a drawer and pulled out a textbook, flipping it open as he slid his glasses out of his shirt pocket.
Lucas decided he was too tired to argue.
* * * * *
Opening his eyes, Lucas groaned. His stomach churned, and he seemed to be producing too much saliva suddenly. He’d woken up for dinner and had eaten the bowl of soup Mrs. Kramer had made for him. Now it didn’t seem as if it had been a good idea.
Lucas squinted at the clock on Nate’s desk, where Nate had left a small lamp on. Lucas had gone back to sleep after dinner and now it was almost midnight. He closed his eyes, willing the nausea to pass. He hated throwing up. Worse yet, he wasn’t sure he could make it to the bathroom.
Red light shone from around the door to Nate’s closet, and Lucas knew that meant he was inside working. As his stomach roiled, Lucas considered calling to Nate to get his help.
No, he couldn’t.
Nate had done enough for him. Lucas didn’t need to impose any more than he had, and he knew Nate would ruin his pictures if he opened the door before they’d developed. Lucas took another breath and tried to talk himself out of being sick.
His stomach lurched, and Lucas forced himself up, sliding his legs over the side of the bed as he whimpered in pain. His ribs burned as he reached for the crutches, heaving himself upright.
Taking a tentative step, Lucas gasped at the pain. Bile rose in his throat, and he urged himself toward the darkened bathroom on the far side of Nate’s room. He made it as far as the door before he bent forward, vomiting on the bathroom tiles. Losing his balance, his right crutch slipped out and Lucas went down to his knee. He cried out as his left leg followed, his swollen knee splayed out awkwardly.
Suddenly, strong hands lifted him beneath his arms, and Nate gently sat Lucas down on the carpet, leaning him against the wall outside the bathroom.
“I’m sorry.” Lucas was embarrassed to realize that he was crying.
“Shh.” Nate went away, but came back a moment later with a cool washcloth. He wiped Lucas’s face and then his mouth. “Are you going to be sick again?”
Lucas nodded, and Nate grabbed his garbage can, dumping out balled-up paper on the floor. Coughing, Lucas bent over the can and threw up again while Nate gently rubbed his back.
When he was finished, Lucas felt even more embarrassed. “I’m sorry,” he repeated. “It was good soup.”
“It’s the concussion. This happens sometimes.” Nate ducked into the bathroom and rinsed the cloth out before wiping Lucas’s face once more.
“How do you know?”
“I read about it.” Nate got up again and came back with a glass of water. “Just have a little bit for now.” Nate held the glass for him, and Lucas swallowed some of the water. His mouth tasted like vomit, and he grimaced as he leaned his head back against the wall gingerly.
Nate held the cloth against Lucas’s forehead. “Why didn’t you call me when you felt sick?”
“I didn’t want to bother you more than I have already.”
Nate huffed in annoyance.
Or was it concern?
“You could have cracked your head again when you fell.” He took the garbage pail and disappeared into the bathroom. He was in there for a while, and Lucas assumed he was cleaning up the mess Lucas had left.
When he returned, he held out a toothbrush with a line of toothpaste on it. “This will make you feel better.”
Lucas obediently took the toothbrush and cleaned his mouth. Nate held up the garbage pail for him to spit into. After he was finished, Lucas closed his eyes and leaned back. Although his body ached, he felt relieved that the nausea had passed.
The cool washcloth returned, refreshing on his skin. Nate knelt beside him, and his arm slid around Lucas’s shoulders. Lucas leaned into him, his eyes closing once more. He relaxed into Nate’s arms, feeling safe again. “Thank you.”
Nate didn’t reply, but held him close.
* * * * *
The next morning, Nate sat at his desk once more, his reading glasses on and head bent over his notebook. Lucas watched him, staying as silent as he could so Nate wouldn’t realize he’d woken up. He remembered how Nate’s arms had felt around him as he’d helped Lucas back into bed the night before. Lucas hadn’t wanted him to let go.
Watching Nate write in his notebook, Lucas wished for the millionth time that he hadn’t ruined their relationship. He eased himself up on his pillows, grimacing.
Nate turned in his chair. “Feeling better?” All the tenderness of the previous night had vanished.
“Well, I don’t feel like throwing up all over your bathroom, so that’s something.” He cleared his scratchy throat. “Sorry about that. About everything.”
Nate pushed the chair back. “Stop apologizing. You got hit by a car; it’s not your fault.” He picked up the crutches and held them out. “You need help?”
Lucas nodded, and Nate helped him get to his feet. Lucas insisted that he could go to the bathroom alone, and although it was awkward and painful, he succeeded. When he hobbled back out, Nate was on his cell.
“Maybe.” He was silent for a few moments, regarding Lucas across the room. “I’ll call you later, okay?”
Lucas made his way back to his bed as Nate snapped his phone shut. Lucas couldn’t help but ask. “Who was that?”
Nate regarded him evenly. “You really want to know?”
Lucas had a sinking feeling that he didn’t, but he nodded.
“His name’s Reed.”
“Reed? Sounds like he should be on a soap.”
“Maybe he will be one day. He’s an actor.”
“Oh.” Lucas attempted to rein in his jealousy. “Where’d you meet him?”
“At a bar.”
“He sounds…” Lucas tried to think of an appropriate adjective. “Um, nice.”
“He wants to go out later. Saturday night and all.”
“Great. Sounds fun.” Lucas tried to sound enthusiastic. Maybe he and Nate could be friends in the end, and for that to happen, he had to get used to the idea of Nate seeing other people. “You should go.”
“Yeah, maybe I will.”
Silence stretched out, and Lucas squirmed, trying to get comfortable on the bed. His ribs ached and he felt like an idiot.
“Knock, knock.” Mrs. Kramer opened the door, a breakfast tray in her hands. “Lucas, it’s time to take your pills.”
“Mom, you can watch him today, right? I’ve got stuff to do.”
“I don’t need anyone to watch me. Really.” Lucas hated feeling as if he was an invalid. Even if he was.
“Don’t you have to study? Those law books won’t read themselves, Nathaniel.”
Lucas kept his expression neutral at the news that Nate still hadn’t told his parents he’d switched to photography.
“Exactly. I’m going to the library. I don’t think I’ll be home for dinner.”
“All right. Call if you’ll be late.”
Nate nodded, and Mrs. Kramer left after promising to bring Lucas some books to choose from. Lucas ate some of his oatmeal as Nate disappeared into his darkroom. He came back with some of his camera equipment to put in his messenger bag.
Lucas cleared his throat. “What are you waiting for?”
“What?” Nate didn’t look up.
“Telling your parents about photography. You know they’re going to find out sooner or later, right?”
Nate clipped his bag shut. “Are you planning on telling them?”
“No, of course not. I wouldn’t do that to you.”
“Well, I wouldn’t have thought so, but stranger things have happened.” Nate’s jaw clenched.
Anger flared in Lucas. “Jesus, I made one mistake. Believe me, I’ve learned from it, okay?” His appetite gone, Lucas twisted to put his tray on the bedside table. His ribs blazed, and he grunted.
Nate was suddenly there, taking the tray and putting it down. “Careful.”
Lucas nodded. Nate looked as if he was about to say something else, but instead he grabbed his bag. “I’ve gotta go.”
Mrs. Kramer returned a few minutes later and perched on the side of Nate’s bed, chiding Lucas for not finishing his breakfast. Under her watchful gaze, he ate a few more spoonfuls of oatmeal while she filled him in on the latest gossip from the synagogue.
“Now, Mrs. Rosen’s daughter is a lovely girl, but she can’t seem to find a good man. She’s a few years older than Nate, but I don’t know, maybe I should fix them up. What do you think?”
“I’m not sure. Nate’s not really…into setups.”
“Did he ever introduce you to any girlfriends while you were living together?”
“No. I think he’s just really busy with school, Mrs. Kramer.”
“Hmm, perhaps. He’s just never had time for girls, though. I don’t understand it. He’s a good looking boy, don’t you think?”
Lucas concentrated on his oatmeal and hoped she couldn’t sense his heart pounding in his chest. “Uh, yeah. Sure.”
She sighed and brushed back a lock of her smooth, graying hair, a ruby bracelet shining on her wrist. Lucas pointed to it with his spoon. “Wow, that’s beautiful. Where did you get it?”
“You like it?” Mrs. Kramer held her wrist out before her, smiling. “It was an anniversary present. I don’t usually wear it around the house, but…sometimes you need a little sparkle, you know?”
Smiling, Lucas nodded. Nate’s mother had been so kind to him, and he hated lying to her. He wondered how she didn’t suspect that there was a deeper reason Nate didn’t have a girlfriend, but he certainly wasn’t going to be the one to tell her.
Mrs. Kramer eyed his tray. “Do you want seconds? I can make you more.”
“No, no. Thank you. I don’t know how I’ll ever repay you for everything you’ve done for me.”
“And I told you, repayment isn’t necessary. You’re a good boy, Lucas. We love having you.” She took his tray and pressed a kiss to his forehead. Lucas inhaled the floral scent of her perfume and smiled. “Now let me go get you a fresh ice pack and some books to read. Unless you want to come downstairs and watch TV?”