He didn’t want the call to end. “Is everything okay? I mean, I know this is a problem, but...in general.”
“Everything’s okay. I’m sorry there was such a scene. I was looking forward to making you breakfast, you know.”
“Is Nick going to his dad’s this weekend?” He knew he shouldn’t push, especially in the middle of a situation with Nick, but he couldn’t help it.
“Yes, but I have to see if he’s okay. It’s...complicated.”
It wasn’t a no, so he’d take it. “We’ll play it by ear.”
“I really need to go. I want to make sure he went home and isn’t getting in more trouble somewhere.”
“Call me and let me know how it goes. And if he’ll be here tomorrow.”
“I will. Bye, Ryan.”
He closed his phone and sat there drumming his fingers on the steering wheel. What a mess.
But for once in his life, this was one mess he wasn’t in any hurry to extricate himself from.
*
Lauren had just pulled out of the insurance company’s parking lot when her phone rang again. Thinking it had to be Nick, she answered it without looking at the screen. “Hello?”
“You haven’t called me.” It was Hailey, and Lauren rolled her eyes. “I know you’re at work, but I heard Rose Davis’s car was parked outside your house all Saturday night and I’m pretty curious why I didn’t know about that.”
“I’m not at work. I’m on my way home because Nick didn’t get off the bus at the Northern Star today.”
“Possibly connected to Rose’s car spending the night at your house?”
“I’d say probably.” She really didn’t want to go into it, but she might as well get it over with. “Dean brought Nick home early. Sunday morning, actually. We were still in bed.”
“Oh, shit. Was it bad?”
“Dean was a jerk about it and I had to throw him out. Nick’s been quiet, but I thought he was doing okay. He’s having some issues with his dad and Jody, too, so maybe it was just too much.”
“What a freakin’ headache. But was Ryan worth it?”
Lauren smiled, even though Hailey couldn’t see her. She couldn’t help it. “He was worth it.”
“Oh, customers. Call me later.”
When she got home, Lauren was relieved to see Nick’s backpack dumped inside the door, as usual. Though she’d been pretty sure he had come home instead of going to Ryan’s, not knowing exactly where he was wasn’t a good feeling.
“Nick?”
He came out of the kitchen, opening a can of soda. “What are you doing home early?”
“I’m home early because I got a phone call you didn’t get off the bus at the lodge.”
“I was going to call you. I just wanted a drink first.”
“What about calling them? They were expecting you and it’s not like it was a social visit. You have an obligation to be there.”
He set his jaw in an imitation of Dean’s stubborn look. “I didn’t feel like it today.”
“You keep telling me you’re responsible enough to take driver’s ed and drive my car, but then you pull something like this?”
“Something like what? I don’t want to see him. It’s weird.”
She had no doubt it was a little weird. But it didn’t change the fact he’d made a deal with Ryan and now he wasn’t living up to it. “You see Jody every weekend. That’s not weird.”
“Dad married her. It’s different.”
He certainly hadn’t been married to her in the beginning, but Lauren let that whole thread drop. “Fine. Put your shoes back on and get in the car.”
“Where are we going?”
“We’re going to the lodge so you can apologize for not showing up and tell them you’ll be there tomorrow.”
“Can’t you just pay what’s left?”
“No, I can’t.” She prayed for patience because she was about out. “This is your mess, you gave your word and you’re going to honor it.”
“Whatever.” He shoved his feet into his sneakers and stormed out to the car.
Nick ignored her for the entire drive, which was fine with her. Her stomach was twisted up and her head was starting to ache. By the time they parked behind Ryan’s truck, she was ready for the entire male species to disappear off the planet.
Until Ryan walked out onto the porch and smiled at her. She didn’t want him to disappear anytime soon. Then he turned his attention to Nick and his expression was a little less warm.
She had to give her son a little nudge to get him up on the porch, but then he straightened up and looked Ryan in the eye. “I’m sorry I didn’t call and tell you I wasn’t coming.”
“You worried Rose and probably your mother, too.”
“But not you, right?” He said it with a little bit of a sneer, but Lauren stayed back. If Ryan didn’t like his tone, he’d let him know.
“Not really. I know why you didn’t show up.”