Page 88 of Heal Me, Love Me

“Is this everything?” Frank asked as he lifted the bag containing Rowan’s gear.

“Yep, but we can get it,” he replied.

Frank nodded, then wrapped his son in a hug before either of them could say anything else, his arms coming around him hard.

I looked away, not because I didn’t want to see them hug, but because the easy affection between them caused an ache in my chest that felt a lot like envy. I’d never had that sort of relationship with my parents.

“You’ve got this,” his dad told him.

“I know.”

“And when you don’t feel like you do, call.”

“I will.”

His dad stepped back, his hands briefly gripping Rowan’s shoulders. “I’m proud of you.”

Rowan swallowed hard. “Thanks, Dad.”

His mom stepped in next, and Rowan barely had his arms around her before a tear slid down her cheek. “I’m sorry,” she whispered. “You know how I get.”

He wiped one of her tears away. “It’s okay.”

“I know this is a good thing for you.”

“Yeah.”

“I’m still sad.”

He squeezed her tight. “Me too.”

She pulled back and then held his face between her hands. “Call us when you land.”

“I will.”

“And when you get to the dorm.”

“Okay.”

“And any other time.”

Rowan chuckled. “Got it.”

I started toward the door when his mom looked over at me. Before I could brace myself, she gave me a hug too. “Drive safe.”

I hugged her back. “I will.”

“And text us when you get home.”

My voice roughened. “Okay.”

It was such a simple thing. Text us. Not text Rowan. Not make sure he lets us know.

Us.

Like I was part of the circle of people she worried about.

Frank offered me a hand, but when I took it, he pulled me into a brief hug as well. For half a second, my body didn’t know what to do, but then I hugged him back. When he let go, he cleared his throat. “Remember, you can stop by anytime.”